Hollywood Hero

By Madelle Morgan

A steamy Hollywood romance with a playlist! Unrequited love is hell on earth. Personal assistant Wendy Davila is in love with her bad boy boss, Halden Armstrong, A-list star of the Apollo superhero film franchise. But she can’t compete with the succession of stick-thin blond beauties he’s caught and released. Or can she? When Halden asks Wendy to accompany him on a fishing trip to Muskoka, it’s her chance to remake her dark-haired, curvy Latina self into his ideal woman and cast her hook for Halden. The movie star has been burned by love. The last thing he wants is a woman like his ex who faked it until she landed him. Wendy is special, and the private trip is an opportunity to explore his feelings for her. However, the Greek god has an Achilles’ heel. Can he trust Wendy with a secret that could ruin his career? And will she still care for him when she learns the truth? When Apollo falls off his pedestal, Wendy must decide if the man she adores is a keeper. Hollywood Hero is Book 3 in the Hollywood in Muskoka series. This star-crossed lovers story can be read as a standalone humorous romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: McBride Publishing Group
• Release date: Mar 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781988917054

Book preview

MadelineMcBride_HollywoodHero_2500px.jpg

Hollywood Hero, Hollywood in Muskoka series, Book 3

©2021 Madelle Morgan

Published by McBride Publishing Group, 2021

All rights reserved under international and Pan-American copyright conventions. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work in any form is illegal. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part without written permission from Madelle Morgan (MadelleMorgan.com).

This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, locations, incidents, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual District of Muskoka events, residents, locations, businesses, and organizations is coincidental. No disrespect to any person, living or dead, is intended or implied.

All product names, logos, and brands are the property of the respective owners. All company, product, and service names used in this book are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.

Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, any website addresses contained in this edition may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid.

Cover design by Kimberly Killion.

Interior book design and formatting by Tamara Cribley

Library and Archives Canada

ISBN 978-1-988917-07-8 (Kindle edition)

ISBN 978-1-988917-05-4 (ePub edition)

ISBN 978-1-988917-05-4 (Apple Books edition)

ISBN 978-1-988917-04-7 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-988917-08-5 (audiobook)

This book is dedicated to my late father, a reformed bad boy, former semi-pro football player, and avid fly-fisherman who took me and his grandson trout fishing on a private lake.

Said the doctor as he extracted a fishhook from my mother’s scalp, You hooked her once. You didn’t have to hook her again.

Acknowledgements

Story editor Lillian Chow and author Erin Scothorn provided important feedback. My amazing editor M.A. Demers of mademers.com polished the book. Hollywood Hero benefited greatly from her extensive knowledge of the North American film industry. Any errors are my own. Kim Killion of thekilliongroupinc.com created covers that beautifully illustrate the characters and Muskoka setting. Tamara Cribley of deliberatepage.com is my excellent formatter.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Cast

Playlist

Chapter 1: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Chapter 2: Bring it On

Chapter 3: Dazed and Confused

Chapter 4: Just Friends

Chapter 5: Something Wild

Chapter 6: Much Ado About Nothing

Chapter 7: Definitely, Maybe

Chapter 8: Love on the Menu

Chapter 9: One Heavenly Night

Chapter 10: Reality Bites

Chapter 11: Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Chapter 12: Trouble in Paradise

Chapter 13: Lady in the Lake

Chapter 14: The Goodbye Girl

Chapter 15: The Back-up Plan

Chapter 16: Man Up

Chapter 17: Going the Distance

Chapter 18: Working Girl

Chapter 19: I Love You Again

Epilogue: From Here to Eternity

The Executive’s Errand Description

Books by Madelle Morgan

About the Author

Follow Links

Cast

(in order of appearance)

Juana Wendy Davila: Personal assistant (PA) to Halden Armstrong, 24

Marie-Eve Tremblay: Hair and makeup artist, 22

Halden Armstrong: CEO of FarStar Films and star of the Apollo film franchise, 33

Garth Armstrong: COO of FarStar Films and Halden’s brother, 31

Rachel Lehmann: University of California in Los Angeles student, 23

Zane Emery: Muskoka real estate agent, 28

Skylar Boon: Owner of Boondocks Lodge in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, 22

Brandy: Skylar’s female Chesapeake Bay retriever, 11

Greta Bedard: Housekeeper and cook, Boondocks Lodge, 73

Jacques Bedard: Fishing guide, Boondocks Lodge, 75

Tiffany York: Garth’s actor girlfriend, 26

Jenna Jordan: B-list movie star with a Lake Muskoka summer home, 38

Marianna Martinez: A-list movie star, 21

Catrina Turner: Muskoka police officer, 34

Playlist

Hollywood Hero has a soundtrack. When you see this symbol [ ] in the chapter, listen to the song that accompanies the story. You’ll need to listen on your smartphone, laptop, or another device.

Listening to songs while reading the story is optional, but if you’d like to try it, here’s how:

Option 1: Create a playlist before starting to read the novel

If you subscribe to a music streaming service, create a Hollywood Hero playlist using the titles of the songs below. Then when you see [ ] together with the title of a song in the text, listen to that song on your device.

Option 2: Madelle Morgan’s YouTube playlist

Open YouTube.com in your browser and search for Madelle Morgan Hollywood Hero. Click on the playlist entitled Hollywood Hero. As you read the novel, when you see [ ] together with the name of a song, listen to it on Madelle’s YouTube playlist.

If you can’t find the YouTube playlist, go to MadelleMorgan.com/HHplaylist and follow the instructions.

Note: certain songs may not be available in your country on YouTube.com, in the iTunes Store, or from Spotify, Apple Music and other music streaming services.

All About That Bass, performed by Meghan Trainor, from the album Title.

Fall in Love If You Want To, performed by Gord Bamford, from the album Tin Roof.

Meant to Be, performed by Bebe Rexha, featuring Florida Georgia Line, from the album Expectations.

Stuck, performed by Caro Emerald, from the album Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor.

Man of the Woods, performed by Justin Timberlake, from the album Man of the Woods.

I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song), performed by Brad Paisley, from the album Part II.

Barracuda, performed by Heart, from the album Little Queen.

Your Body is a Wonderland, performed by John Mayer, from the album Room for Squares.

Summer Nights, performed by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, from the film Grease.

The Gambler, performed by Kenny Rogers, from the album The Gambler.

Señorita, performed by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, from the albums Shawn Mendes and Romance.

Scars to Your Beautiful, performed by Alessia Cara, from the album Know-It-All.

He’s Mine, performed by Mahalia, from the album Love and Compromise.

Most Girls, performed by Hailee Steinfeld.

Hero, performed by Mariah Carey, from the album Music Box.

Always on My Mind, performed by Willie Nelson, from the album Always on My Mind.

The Hustle, performed by Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony, from the album Disco Baby.

I Love Me, performed by Demi Lovato.

Love You Too Late, performed by Cole Swindell, from the album All of It.

Break Free, performed by Ariana Grande, from the album My Everything.

Nobody but You, performed by Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, from the album Fully Loaded: God’s Country.

Chapter 1

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Unrequited love is hell on earth.

Do it. From her perch in a hair salon off-off-off Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, Wendy glared at Marie-Eve’s reflection in the mirror. Late afternoon sun, hot for mid-June, angled through the window to their left.

Marie-Eve, a Canadian hair and makeup artist who occasionally worked on film sets, wrinkled her pert nose in a discrete grimace and tried again. You are certain? Your dark hair, so thick and curly, is beautiful. She twisted a lock of the long hair around her finger and released the bouncy ringlet. Ignoring the determined set to Wendy’s jaw, Marie-Eve tried again. I can do highlights?

Wendy frowned at Marie-Eve’s gentle resistance. Straight and blond. That’s what I want.

Halden Armstrong, A-list star of the Apollo superhero film franchise and her boss, had wasted no time hooking up with yet another willowy blond beauty after his divorce from Candy Kane became final. Two nights ago he’d escorted Marianna Martinez to the opening of her latest movie, Space Siren. Paparazzi caught them kissing at the after-party.

Was Halden dating Marianna? Wendy’s heart twisted like a wrung-out cloth. Speculation had dominated that Monday morning’s entertainment and social media feeds. The starlet was talented, extraordinarily beautiful, and hot, hot, hot. Once Marianna sank her manicured talons into Halden, Wendy would have no chance at all. Ninguna posibilidad. Not unless she transformed her Latina self into his ideal woman: beautiful, blond, and model thin like his ex-wife.

They separated after their wedding a year ago. I should never have waited until he signed the divorce papers last week, she moaned.

Behind her, Marie-Eve shifted her gaze from a hair color chart to frown at Wendy. Is this about Halden?

Wendy slapped a hand over her mouth. Oops. Did I say that out loud?

Forget this dye job. Marie-Eve waved the color chart in the air for emphasis. "You must be yourself. It is the only way to l’amour."

I’ve been myself for ten months, working with him every day. Wendy slumped in the salon chair. "He likes me, si. He tells me all the time that he appreciates what I do for him. Unfortunately in all these months he’s never suggested exploring an intimate relationship." Tears welled. Her throat thickened. She hiccupped, sniffed, and wiped the back of her hand across stinging eyes.

"But he is your employer! Aren’t such affaires romantiques counter to the rules in California?"

Sometimes when I catch him looking at me, or he accidentally touches me… Her voice trailed off. The trouble is I have no idea how he really feels about me. As a woman, that is.

Wendy put the personal in personal assistant. She made it her business to know Halden’s tastes. She kept a list on her phone of his food and drink preferences, his favorite restaurants, brands of clothing, shoes, sports equipment, and digital technology. She bought gifts on his behalf for his extended family, close friends, and film industry contacts. She anticipated every request, uncannily able to read his mind because she obsessively tracked his wants and needs. She’d made herself indispensable. Yet every night she sat alone in her airless Los Angeles studio apartment while he escorted the most beautiful women in the world to film premieres, parties, and trendy see-and-be-seen restaurants.

Wendy had to make Halden notice her as a potential lover, and fast. Heels stretched her five-foot-three-inch height, today she would tick the hair color box, and she’d taken up running to melt off the many burritos padding her size-twelve body.

She waved a hand at Marie-Eve’s reluctant reflection in the mirror. Do your magic. Give me straight, golden-blond hair.

Marie-Eve’s shoulders sagged. Agreed. I will dye it. But straightening your hair permanently—I cannot do that today as well. It will demand too many chemicals. I will use an iron.

Wendy opened her mouth to argue, then reconsidered. Marie-Eve was the hair expert. I don’t have a choice, do I? I’ll buy a flat iron on the way home.

Marie-Eve tried again. "Hair is only one aspect of the image. Your physique is magnifique."

You sound like my mother. "In the film biz, people have a totally different concept of magnificent, Wendy muttered obstinately. An actress with my figure would be lucky to land a part as the best friend of the star."

[ All About That Bass]

Halden turned off his smartphone and tossed it onto his sleek glass-and-steel desk. How in Hades did the media get my personal number? I’ll have to ask Wendy to change it again.

Garth, his brother and the chief operating officer of FarStar Films, Halden’s production company, leaned back on the charcoal leather sofa in Halden’s expansive office and crossed chino-clad legs. That’s the fourth change this year. His tone was factual, unsympathetic. Given the alternative, it’s merely inconvenient.

Halden glowered from his chair behind the desk, bit back the swearword on the tip of his tongue. His brother usually had a good point to make, if Halden kept an open mind and listened. Alternative? he ground out. What alternative?

"No coverage of you with Marianna at the Saturday night premiere."

Halden sighed deeply, catching the drift. As always, Garth’s primary concern was the bottom line. In a perfect world, Halden wouldn’t need to pimp himself out to pump up publicity for the opening weekend of Marianna Martinez’s latest film. However, she was the much-hyped female lead in FarStar’s next film, Apollo Rises, scheduled to start shooting in the fall. His publicist had encouraged him to be seen with her in public. There is nothing like a Hollywood romance to create interest in a product. He had agreed to attend the parties, escort her on staged dates. That didn’t mean he liked it.

Or her.

In front of the paparazzi she launched herself at me like a gymnast on a trampoline and stole a kiss, he grumbled.

And in high heels. Impressive. Garth’s expression lacked the sympathy Halden felt he deserved. However, his brother continued, "we both understand how important she is to the success of Apollo Rises. So what’s the issue?"

I wanted to watch the movie, but she wouldn’t shut up.

Garth cocked the head so similar to Halden’s that they were often mistaken for twins despite their three-inch difference in height. Imagine how many men wished they were in that seat next to her, he scoffed. She’s gorgeous, she won a Golden Globe, she’s a sci-fi fan favorite, she has three million Instagram followers. So she’s chatty. Big deal. He shrugged massive shoulders on a muscular body as formidable as in his college football days.

Halden ran both hands through shaggy hair he was growing long for his upcoming film. He hated wearing wigs. I’m not finished. She complained about the film’s lighting, the direction, the script, and the fit of her costumes. I tell you, she’s going to be a problem. More trouble than she’s worth.

Garth leaned in. "She’s worth a lot. Bottom line, she’s a box office draw. The Apollo film franchise needs her. Apollo’s Vengeance grossed only $215 million at the domestic box office, down $80 million from Apollo: The Battle for Troy. If Apollo: Intergalactic War doesn’t hit opening week targets in North American theaters this summer, we’ll lose big bucks when negotiating international distribution agreements for future films."

With a brief nod Halden acknowledged the truth of his brother’s statement. Most of FarStar Films’ revenue came from foreign countries. Yet that financial pressure didn’t divert him from warning Garth of the downside to signing the female control freak hidden inside an incredible body.

"Marianna’s directors in her first two movies must have had saintly patience. Finn is too immersed in Intergalactic War postproduction to have heard of Marianna’s behavior during her latest shoot. When he gets tipped to what he’s in for, he may back out of directing the next one. After directing three movies back to back for us, he’s making noises about needing a long break."

At that, Garth pulled out his smartphone. Both brothers believed Finn Castleford was essential to the success of their film franchise. Losing their director would be both financially and artistically disastrous. I’ll text my assistant to schedule a conference call for the three of us. Forewarned is forearmed.

Halden pushed away from his desk and paced in front of the office window overlooking an industrial park, frustration weighting every step. His brother was more worried about losing Finn than dealing with a pain-in-the-ass lead actress. Halden swiveled and crossed his arms over his chest, the warrior stance of Apollo the Greek god mirroring the fierce resolution in his next words. I finally ejected Candy from my life. Twelve weeks on set with another manipulative woman is too much to ask. She’s trouble, I tell you.

Garth flung out the definitive reason they needed Marianna. Need I remind you that the Academy now has a category for popular movies?

Halden groaned. It all came down to money. No matter how many people eventually rented or bought a film, or how glowing the reviews, the industry measure of popularity was box office revenue in the first few weeks after the premiere. He couldn’t argue with the fact that Marianna in a skin-tight, low-cut costume put adolescent male butts in theater seats.

Garth’s smartphone began playing the ominous The X-Files television show theme song. He tapped the screen to cancel the alarm, then stood. I have a video call in ten minutes. As he glanced over at Halden his expression softened. With your legal hassles and all, it’s been a tough year. You’re exhausted. You need a vacation. You’ve been talking about buying a fishing lodge up in Canada since your wed—

He cut off the reference to Halden and Candy’s disastrous wedding at a resort in Muskoka, Canada the previous June. Embarrassment flushed Garth’s fair skin. Take a couple of weeks to scope out real estate listings on northern lakes, maybe fish a little.

With you? Hope sparked in Halden’s chest.