Craving Midnight Read online

  Craving Midnight

  A. M. Hargrove

  Contents

  Copyright

  Acknowledgements

  Quote

  Dedication

  Playlist

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Epilogue

  About A.M. Hargrove

  Stalk Annie

  Bonus Material from HJ Bellus’ New Release The Flight of Hope

  A Peek from Chasing Vivi

  A Peek From A Special Obsession

  CRAVING MIDNIGHT

  Copyright © 2017 by A.M. Hargrove

  All rights reserved.

  * * *

  This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at [email protected].

  * * *

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to peoples either living or deceased is purely coincidental. Names, places, and characters are figments of the author’s imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously.

  She’s a starlet with secrets. He makes scandals go away. Together, they’ll make sparks fly…

  * * *

  Midnight Drake’s squeaky clean reputation has suddenly taken a nosedive. She’s horrified after she wakes up naked from a drugged stupor, but the worst is yet to come. She just found three sex videos on her phone of a night she can't remember. Midnight wonders if her promising new career will go up in smoke …

  * * *

  Harrison Kirkland cleans up Hollywood’s sordid messes for a living, and he’s never met a scandal he couldn’t contain. But when he’s assigned to fix the sultry Midnight’s problems, he never expected to get dragged in after her…

  * * *

  Behind Midnight’s diva exterior, Harrison discovers a mysterious woman with a web of secrets he can’t untangle. The deeper he’s pulled into her world, the stronger his desire for her grows, but can he handle the truth about her past? If he’s not careful, the next heart that’ll need fixing… will be his…

  * * *

  Craving Midnight is a red-carpet ready contemporary romance novel. If you like steamy chemistry, flawed characters with compelling secrets, then you’ll love A.M. Hargrove’s pulse-pounding story.

  * * *

  *This book contains sensitive subject matter that may not be suitable for all readers.

  * * *

  Cover: Letitia Hasser RBAdesigns.com

  Photography: Wander Aguiar

  Models: Jonny James and Desiree Crossman

  Editing: Jennifer Sommersby Young— www.commanaut.com

  Proofreading: Sydnee Thompson

  Acknowledgements

  Wow … this book. Can I just say crazy? If you’ve read my other stuff, you’ll notice it’s a bit different from the rest. Yeah, it was a stretch, but I thought it was time. Midnight’s journey was not only painful for her, but for me as well. I hope you felt it in the pages as you absorbed the words.

  Many thanks go out for this one. I need a wig because I pulled out too many hairs during the editing process. But thank you to all my beta readers for your awesome feedback—Terri, Ashley, Chanpreet, Kristie, Andrea, and Heather. My pestering questions on how to get this book to where I wanted it to be had to drive you all crazy. Thanks for holding my hand.

  Thank you Jenn Sommersby Young for your awesome help with all your movie knowledge and your super editing skills.

  Thank you to all my girls in the NCC—Angel, Terri, Michelle, MJ, Megan, Ann Marie, Kristen, Heidi Jo, Heather, Gina, T.K., and Sarah. You guys are so awesome and I love how much we are there for each other. Let’s keep it rocking!

  Hargrove’s Hangout peeps—you guys are the best! I love hanging out with you. I’m sorry I’ve been MIA but you know how I disappear when it’s crunch time. I’ll be back with guns a blazing now that this puppy is done. Get those sexy pics ready to roll! WOOT!

  For those of you who aren’t members of Hargrove’s Hangouts, if you want to join in on the fun, click here.

  Thank you Nina, Chanpreet, and Jenn at Social Butterfly. I love you ladies, especially when I’m having a freak out.

  And thank you Rick and Amy at Red Coat. Thanks for your appreciation of Walter and my use of the F-bomb (this goes to Rick-haha)!

  Lastly, thank you family. I can’t wait until January. Coco will be one happy lady!

  To keep up to date with the latest from me, sign up for my newsletter here.

  “Love’s a bloody river with level-five rapids. Only a catastrophic act of nature or a dam has any chance of stopping it—and then usually succeeds in diverting it. Both measures are extreme and change the terrain so much you end up wondering why you bothered.”

  * * *

  —Jericho Barrons, Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

  This book is dedicated to all my readers. Thank you for sticking with me. I love you guys!

  Playlist

  “From Afar” … Vance Joy

  “Green Gloves” … The National

  “Sucker For Pain” … Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa

  “Say Something” … A Great Big World

  “Stay” … Rihanna, Mikki Ekko

  “Rise Up” … Andra Day

  “Til It Happens To You” … Lady Gaga

  “Words of Mine” … Cary Brothers

  “Ghost” … Striking Matches

  “Kissing Your Tattoos” … Eli Lieb

  “If You Say So” … Lea Michele

  “Over The Hills And Far Away” … Led Zeppelin

  “Seven Wonders” (remastered)… Fleetwood Mac

  “Shattered (Turn The Car Around)” … O.A.R.

  “Curse + Crush” … Dispatch

  “Nothing Else Matters” … Metallica

  Chapter 1

  Midnight

  My life has finally turned around. Things are looking up. Coming to New York has always been a dream for me, and now here I am, on a photo shoot for my upcoming film no less. And this time, it isn’t for some shit role, or a porn flick being shot in the back of a dank warehouse where I would be freezing to death because the director wanted my nipples to constantly stick out. No, I’m here because of the major new contract I recently landed for the film Turned. I plan on working my ass off to prove to the world that Midnight Drake has what it takes to be taken seriously as an actor.

  Gazing out the window of my hotel room, the New York City skyline is even more stunning than I’d imagined. LA is great and I love it there, but nothing beats the Empire State Building. I don’t c
are what anyone says. My phone rings, interrupting my musing.

  “Hello?”

  “Midnight, it’s Dex McCloud. Just wanted to let you know we’re all meeting downstairs in five minutes.”

  Dex is the photographer. “Oh, thanks. I’m on my way.”

  We’re meeting in the lobby to take some promo shots for the film. It’ll be the lead male actor, the producer, and me. I’ve never been this pumped up about anything in my whole life.

  Grabbing my coat, purse, and a handful of gummy bears, I head for the elevators. The last thing I want is to be late. We’re supposed to meet by the huge floral arrangement and I’m the first one here. Points for Midnight. Glancing around, I notice lots of business types hurrying by, but then there are tons of elegantly dressed people meandering around. It makes me feel slightly out of place, and even happier that I wore the outfit I chose. The conservative black pants and black sweater are perfect for where we are.

  The only thing that stands out is my red lipstick. It’s sort of my trademark. I feel naked without it. Maybe it goes back to when I was young and remember my mom always wearing it.

  Shoving those memories aside, I scan the room.

  A man approaches me with a warm smile. He has a camera strapped around his neck, but I’m still wary. You never know with the paparazzi these days.

  “Hi, I’m Dex McCloud,” he says, extending his hand. I offer my own smile and take his hand, shaking it.

  “Hi, Midnight Drake.”

  “Yeah, I recognized you.” His friendly tone puts me even more at ease. “Glad you’re here. I usually have to wait on everyone.”

  “Ah, I hate to be late. Is Danny here?” I ask. He’s the producer.

  “He should be. And so should Holt.” He checks his watch, then looks back at me.

  “How long do you expect this to take?”

  “Not long at all. I thought we’d go across to Central Park. I usually can get what I need in about thirty minutes. And the lighting is perfect for outdoor shots today.”

  “Sounds great,” I say.

  He eyes me for a moment. “You’re a lot smaller in person than on camera.”

  “Oh.” I don’t quite know how to respond to that. Does he mean I look fat on screen?

  Then he shuffles his feet and adds, “What I meant is on screen you look a lot taller. You’re actually quite petite.”

  “Yeah, I always wanted to be five ten, but only made it to five four. It’s why I usually wear heels, which I didn’t today.” I sigh. “I had these illusions of becoming a famous model when I was a kid and you can see how well that worked out for me.” A weird laugh bubbles past my lips. I ended up doing B-rated movies after porn, which isn’t exactly modeling’s first cousin. I leave that tiny detail out though, because no one is aware of the porn bit. Having my nose slightly altered, ditching my brown contacts along with the bleached hair helped to alter my appearance, so no one realizes I was the former Lusty Rhoades.

  “I think the modeling industry is crazy. You’re beautiful and would make a perfect model. They want their models to look emaciated. Consider yourself fortunate.”

  Raising my eyes to his, I inhale the breath of fresh air that he is. “Wow. You have a very unique opinion, you know that?”

  “I spend a ton of time behind the lens and recognize what true beauty is. Those poor scarecrows are not beautiful. They’re pitiful. Anyway, congrats on your upcoming movie.”

  “Yeah, thanks. I’m super excited about it.”

  Holt and Danny stroll up and our sweet conversation halts. “Hey, kids,” Danny says. “Thanks for flying out here, Midnight. We were on such a tight schedule with Holt’s last film, there was no way we could squeeze in a flight back to LA.”

  “No problem,” I say. Holt zeroes his icy stare on me. He despises the fact I’m in the film. He wanted someone famous who could guarantee a box office hit, but he ended up with a girl who is almost unknown. His disdainful glare has me feeling like I’m a virus.

  I sort of don’t blame him. He’s the sexy, hottest man of the year. He reigns as king when it comes to leading men. When I secretly inspect him, it’s easy to see why. Brown hair kissed by the sun, eyes so green they look like gems, perfect teeth and a mouth to match. The man is pure sin on two legs. And he ends up with a nobody for a costar. Nope, it’s hard to blame him one bit. But I’m going to win him over, little by little, even if I have to buy him a fucking puppy.

  “Everybody ready to take a little walk?” Dex asks.

  “Why the fuck not?” Holt says sourly.

  Danny shoots him a glance but says nothing.

  “Sure,” I chirp. “Let’s go.”

  We exit the hotel out the main entrance. The Plaza is gorgeous. I’ve never stayed anywhere this fancy. We follow Dex across the street into the park. True to his word, he’s finished in thirty minutes. We return to the hotel and Dex wants to get some shots of us drinking coffee in the restaurant.

  Holt grumbles and then says, “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Why don’t you make it tea? Don’t they serve tea here? Maybe add a biscuit or something.”

  Dex looks extremely uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Mr. Ward, but if I don’t get enough shots, everyone will want to bring you back together. It’s best we get everything now while we’re here.”

  An impossibly long sigh roars out of him. Jeez, you’d think Dex was asking him to pull his fingernails out, one by one, with the way he’s acting.

  Smiling, I say, “I’m fine with whatever you decide, Dex.” I decide to be the one to make his job less difficult.

  “Go on there, Little Miss Sexpot, score some brownie points while you can.”

  What the fuck! I totally expect Danny to step up and say something, but he’s such a wimp, he acts like he didn’t hear a thing. Well, I won’t stand for that. I’ve had enough of Holt’s surly act.

  “Holt, I’m sorry you don’t like the fact I was cast in this role, but that does not give you the right to insult me.”

  A nasty grin curls his lip. He lowers his eyes and they skim over my body. I instantly feel dirty.

  “Is that right?” Then he takes a step toward me and invades my personal space. He leans in close and whispers so that only I can hear him. “What I’d like to know is how someone like you got cast in a film with me. What did you do, Midnight? Did you put that hot mouth of yours around Danny’s dick and do him a few dirty favors?”

  A red ball of fury nearly blinds me. I’m not sure how to respond to this asshole without sinking to his level. I do know one thing: I haven’t encountered someone this vicious in a long time. It takes me back to a time I can barely force myself to think about.

  Shaking myself out of that memory, I grit out, “Step away from me, Holt.” When he doesn’t, I walk away, toward Dex, and ask him where he needs me.

  “Why don’t we get a table at the restaurant,” he suggests.

  On the way, I question how I am going to tolerate working closely with Holt for the duration of the film. The man is revolting.

  Once seated, the three of us smile as if we’re the happiest people around. I cover up my dislike for Holt by pretending I’m in a happy place. But I notice the steely glint in his green eyes, the disdain imprinted on his expression. The curl of his lip that I used to think was sexy I now only see as cruel. Dex is quick, and soon, the session is wrapped.

  Danny, who finally takes his eyes off his phone, asks, “So, what are you two up to tonight?”

  Holt mutters something about meeting friends. I hardly pay attention. My mission is to stay as far away from him as possible.

  “Midnight? What about you? You interested in grabbing a bite to eat?”

  “Sure. What time?”

  “I’m all about early. Is six okay?” he asks.

  When I check the time, I see it’s already five thirty. “That’s fine. I’ll meet you back down here then. Do we need a reservation?”

  “No. There’s a great place right around the corner.”

  Dinner with Dann
y turns out to be great. One on one, he’s very outgoing and friendly. I decide to take a chance and ask about Holt.

  “It seems Holt isn’t very excited about my role in the film.”

  Danny nods. “He wanted his main squeeze. That’s how Holt is. Every time he makes a film, he pushes for his girl of the moment to be cast as the lead female actor. I keep telling him his women don’t have any experience.”

  “I hope I’m not overstepping, but what made you choose me?” My curiosity is killing me.

  “I don’t mind telling you at all. Your presence on-screen is unreal. When we looked at your screen tests, we were blown away. And you were the perfect fit for Christine. Your hair, your eyes, your stature. You were born for the role. Don’t worry about Holt. He does this to everyone he works with—tries to intimidate them. Don’t let him. Ignore him. He’ll get over it as soon as he works with you a couple of days and catches your emotion on the set.”

  “That’s comforting, but he makes me want to punch his face.”

  Danny takes a sip of his bourbon. “Yeah, I get that from all the women who work with him at first. He’s an asshole. What can I say? But wait until you watch the finished product. You’ll be raving about him then. Especially when you see your bank account.”