annual visit to L.A., I hate driving here. The roads are crazy, so it’s easier to have Daniel drive me.”
“Right, so it’s not because you are a billionaire business tycoon then?”
He smiled slightly, “No,” he answered, but I was not convinced he was being completely honest with me. I just stared out of the window as Daniel started the engine and pulled out into the traffic. The car was silent, except for the sound of the engine, but that was barely there, I could hear him breathing and it sounded like he was getting upset. “Would it bother you if I was?” he asked suddenly. I turned my head to look at him. “It’s just you seem upset about my response.”
“No, it wouldn’t bother me at all, but I was just wondering a couple of things.”
“Okay, I will play this game, what were you wondering?” I sighed and shook my head. “Sorry, Grace,” he frowned, “I just don’t know what’s going on.”
“You and me both.” I huffed.
“Okay, I am not a billionaire, not even close, but I am not poor either. I have a driver here because, like I said, I don’t like driving in L.A. Does that tell you what you want to know?” he asked impatiently.
“Yes, and no.” I frowned. “I think you should just take me back to the hotel.”
“Why?”
“I just need to go back; I should have said no.”
“Grace?”
“Alec?” I retorted, I just felt like I shouldn’t have been there.
“I am taking you sight-seeing, like we agreed, you have no reason to be concerned or confused. Tell me what is wrong?”
“The receptionist at the hotel said that this was a date and, I mean, that’s not a problem or anything. I am just…”
“That’s my fault, I thought that after last night I could consider this as a date. I am sorry if I got the wrong end of the stick.”
“I would just have liked to be asked,” I muttered.
“Okay, Grace, would you like to go on a date with me this afternoon?”
“Actually,” I smiled, “I am busy.”
“My friend Camilla would like you,” he grinned. He had mentioned Camilla at dinner. I knew one thing though, I had to let down my guard or I would scare him away completely.
“So, where are we going first?” I asked.
He smiled again almost looking relieved, “Up to Hollywood, I thought we could go and see the sign, then down to the Hollywood Boulevard. Then I thought we could go to Malibu Beach and have a late lunch on the pier.” He answered.
“Fantastic,” I gleamed.
I decided to keep my mouth shut unless I had something nice to say. I had only met the man a couple of times, why did I feel so defensive around him? I wanted him to like me I suppose, he had complimented me on everything and asking me on a date was definitely a good start.
After the long walk up to the sign, which, I might add, is up a dirt and rubble track on the side of a hill overlooking a valley. I took hundreds of pictures, making use of my camera and Alec didn’t seem to mind me taking pictures of him. When we returned to the car, hot and flustered, Daniel gave us each an iced cold bottle of water. By the time we got to ‘the walk of fame’, my insides were beginning to gnaw at themselves, I was ravenous and with the many stars on the pavement being surrounded by different food venders, I found it extremely difficult to concentrate.
At the Chinese Mann Theatre, I