Darcy in Hollywood...Victoria Kincaid

It's always good to have Victoria Kincaid visit and she's back this time with her latest release, Darcy in Hollywood. I'm glad we were finally able to get a date to work out for both of us, Victoria. :) 

The blurb and excerpt have piqued my interest. It sounds like Darcy as an actor might have as much to learn as Darcy as a gentleman. Then there is George Wickham, always at the ready to stir things up a bit. Oh, I do need to find some time to read this one. Thank you, Victoria, for stopping by and sharing with my readers, plus having a giveaway. 

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Hi Janet and thank you for welcoming me back for a visit!  The scene below takes place early in Darcy in Hollywood after Darcy has nearly hit Elizabeth with his Ferrari (it’s their first meeting, not auspicious).  While dodging the car, she falls and hits her head.  He calls an ambulance so she can be evaluated for a concussion at the ER. I hope you enjoy it!

Rich and arrogant movie star, William Darcy, was a Hollywood heartthrob until a scandalous incident derailed his career.  Now he can only hope that Tom Bennet’s prestigious but low budget indie film will restore his reputation.  However, on the first day of filming, he nearly hits Bennet’s daughter, Elizabeth, with his Ferrari, and life will never be the same.  Okay, she’s a little sarcastic, but he’s certain she’s concealing a massive crush on him—and it’s growing harder to fight his own attraction….

Elizabeth Bennet has a lot on her plate.  She’s applying to medical school and running the studio’s charity project—while hoping her family won’t embarrass her too much.  Being Darcy’s on-set personal assistant is infuriating; he’s rude, proud, and difficult.  If there’s one thing she dislikes, it’s people who only think about themselves.  But then Elizabeth discovers Darcy has been doing a lot of thinking about her.

She might be willing to concede a mutual attraction, but events are conspiring against them and Darcy subject to constant public scrutiny.  Do Darcy and Elizabeth have any hope of achieving Hollywood’s elusive happy ending?

The minute the ambulance pulled up at the curb, two EMTs jumped out.  A short Hispanic woman immediately hooked Elizabeth up to a blood pressure monitor.  The other EMT, a tall man with wavy brown hair who could have been a model, gave her a smile straight out of a toothpaste ad.  “Can you tell me what happened?”

As she recounted the incident, not mentioning Darcy’s name, he took her pulse, shined a light into her eyes, and examined the bump on the back of her head. 

“That’s a nasty bump you’ve got back there,” he commented.  “I think we’ll need to take you to the hospital for a workup.”

Elizabeth nodded and then winced at the pain.  “I don’t think I lost consciousness and I’m not disoriented, so if it’s a concussion it’s a mild one.  But I should probably have a head CT to be sure.”

He blinked.  “Are you a doctor?”

“No, but I was pre-med in college. I’m applying to med schools now.”

“Ah.” He grinned at her as he and his partner pulled the gurney out of the back of the ambulance.  “I considered med school myself but decided I liked acting more.”

“Please don’t tell me you only play an EMT on TV,” she teased.

He laughed with big hearty guffaws.  Wow, a real, down-to-earth human being despite his acting ambitions.  Well, they didn’t usually turn into Darcy-sized bastards until they made the big time.  “I am a real EMT.  This is my day job until I get my big break.  What better place for an aspiring actor than on a movie studio?”  He helped her onto the gurney and strapped her down before offering his hand.  “George Wickham, EMT to the stars.”

She shook his hand.  “Nice to meet you, George.  I’m Elizabeth.”

George and his partner wheeled her toward the ambulance.  “Don’t worry, Elizabeth, we’ll take great care of you.” 

William Darcy had cared more about his Ferrari and his career than Elizabeth—and her own family had cared more about Darcy.  It was nice that someone cared about her—even if it was his job. 

The EMTs slid the gurney into the ambulance and locked it into place.  George’s partner jumped out and closed the doors; presumably she would drive.  After hooking her up to a heart monitor, George strapped himself into an adjacent seat with a clipboard in his lap.  “So I’m going to need to fill out a detailed report.  What was the name of the person driving that fancy ride back there?”

The ambulance lurched into motion.  “I’d rather not say.”

George frowned.

“He didn’t actually hit me.  I fell down and struck my head.  And, um, I’d like to keep his name out of the papers.”

George tapped his pen against the clipboard.  “Was it William Darcy?”

She gaped at him.

He gave her a knowing grin.  “I knew he was starting to film a new movie at the studio this week.  Who else would drive such an ostentatious red Ferrari?”

Had she already put the film in danger?  “Please don’t tell anyone.  I don’t care about Darcy, but my dad is producing the movie.  They don’t need bad publicity.”

He made a locking motion at his mouth.  “My lips are sealed.  This wouldn’t be the first time the studio had a car accident with ‘John Smith’ driving.” Elizabeth exhaled her relief.  “But between you and me, Darcy’s a bit of a dick, isn’t he?”

Finally, someone who understood!  “Hell to the yeah!  I guess he expected me to fall at his feet, but honestly it’s hard to be starstruck when your body gets a shot of adrenaline that will last until Christmas.”

George leaned closer.  “How did he hit you?”

Elizabeth started to shake her head before realizing that made it hurt.  “He didn’t hit me.  He almost hit me.  I was on the sidewalk, and his car was heading toward me.  When I tried to run away, I fell and hit my head.  His car hit the streetlamp instead of me.”

George chuckled.  “The man really is a menace behind the wheel of a car.”

Elizabeth’s thoughts were more than a little muddled.  But it occurred to her that George’s reaction was rather…gleeful. 

“Do you know Darcy?” 

George’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile.  “You could say that.  Our families were friendly when I was a kid.  We went on vacation together.  I played with both Darcy and his sister, although I was closer to his sister’s age.”

Now Elizabeth’s curiosity was piqued.  “But you’re not friends anymore?”

“Apparently there were limits to the friendship.  You know the Darcys are real blue bloods.  Hollywood royalty descended from a branch of the Vanderbilt family.”

Elizabeth nodded.  Everyone knew that Darcy’s mother was a famous movie star and that his father had been an award-winning director before he retired. 

“I made the fatal mistake of dating Darcy’s sister, Georgiana.  We went out for two months in high school, no problem.  But then her family found out.  They cut off all ties with my parents and threatened legal action if I ever went near Georgiana again.  Darcy even punched me.”   George rubbed his jaw as if remembering the pain.

“That’s terrible!  Just because you loved his sister?”

George shrugged.  “I guess I wasn’t what his parents had in mind for her.”

“How did she take it?”

His mouth twisted.  “I don’t really know.  I never saw her again.  I called her, emailed, texted, but she never responded.  I realized later that her parents probably made her change all her accounts.  And they took her out of the country; they really wanted to get her away from me.  All of this was years ago, though.  She’s an adult now.  I figure she can get in touch with me, but they must have convinced her that I’m the scum of the earth.”

“That’s terrible!”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “Although, it made me a stronger person.  And who knows?  If they hadn’t done that, I might not have become an EMT, and then I wouldn’t have met you.”  He gave her a coy smile.

She raised an eyebrow.  “Are medical personnel supposed to flirt with their patients?”

“Not usually, but it’s acceptable if they’re exceptionally pretty.” His smile could have coaxed anyone into mischief.

Elizabeth laughed.  “You’re incorrigible!”

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 What do you think of this scene? What about the blurb? What is the scandalous incident that derailed Darcy's career? I want to know. What is the "real" reason Georgiana's parents cut ties with Wickham and his family? So many questions, and so much I want to find out. Reading time better come quickly! 

Thank you, Victoria Kincaid, for thinking of my blog and my readers. We are always honored to have you drop in. Your book is already getting some good reviews and that has to be satisfying. One of you lucky readers will get a chance to read it yourself. Ms. Kincaid is giving away one eBook and the giveaway is international. Leave us your thoughts to be entered in the giveaway. If you want me to know who are and email you should you win, you need to leave me a way to do just that! :) Good luck to all. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM on the 22nd of July.