Snippet Tuesday

Here's a snippet from one of my works in progress. John is a big-time movie star, and Max works for him. Both of my WIPs are about Hollywood. It's getting hard to keep them straight.

In the nightclub, Max spotted Karen near the entrance, looking out-of-place. She wore a knee-length black dress with a high neck, which he suspected was risqué for her. Here, it was impossibly modest. And impossibly lovely. He went over to her and found himself hugging her before he even said a word.

"Rough week?" she asked. He thought he could hear a smile in her voice.

"Yes. I'm sorry." He released her.

"It's okay," Karen said.

"You're sure?" He wanted to hug her again.

"Sure. Did you know this place has a twenty dollar cover charge?"

"I'm sorry--let me pay you back."

"It's okay, really. The only reason they let me in is I claimed to be meeting John Raven. See that big dude over there?" She nodded toward a large bouncer-type. "He's given me five minutes to join John Raven's party or he's throwing me out."

"Well, let's go, then."

He drew Karen back to the group. They had settled at a set of tables in the corner, which had apparently been reserved for them.

"John? I'd like you to meet my friend, Karen Johansen."

John looked up at Karen. Then, a smile like Max had never seen before spread over John's face. He looked as if he illuminated from within. Max was taken aback. For the first time, he really saw what had made John Raven a star.

John stood up and came over to them. He held out his hand. "Any friend of Max's is a friend of mine," he said. Karen hesitantly took his hand, at which time John covered it with his other hand and then--Max couldn't believe it--lifted it to his lips. Karen's brows rose.