by Jillian Dodd
I let out an awkward chuckle. "The papers seem sort of anticlimactic."
"That may be," Cade states, "but they will protect you. You need to take the emotion out of it."
I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and sign the papers.
As Cade files them away, I ask, "What should I do about a publicist? Can you recommend someone?"
"Let me talk to Vanessa Flanning. She works with some of my other clients, but I don't know if she's taking on any new ones. I'll let you know as soon as I find out," he says as he walks out the door.
I immediately burst into tears.
"Come here, baby," Cash says, gathering me into his strong arms.
She Was Screaming
Cash
Last night my brothers forced me to go to our cousin's football game at our old high school. I felt bad leaving Ashlyn after the day she had, but she told me she wanted to just go home and go to bed.
I tried to get out of the game, but my brothers weren't having it.
I sent her a text last night and asked how she was doing, but she never replied.
Which meant I worried all night.
But when I wake up this morning and check my phone, I see that she was up early.
Ashlyn: Sorry I didn't reply last night. I was exhausted. Want to ride with me to work?
Me: I have to go into the office for some human resources training this morning.
Ashlyn: Okay.
Me: But I was thinking I could come over and make you breakfast.
Ashlyn: You'll have to hurry. I only have 45 minutes before I have to leave.
I don't bother replying, I just throw some clothes on and jog--okay, run--to her house.
When she answers the door, she's wearing a short sheer robe that leaves little to the imagination.
"I was just getting ready--"
Our lips crash into each other as I pick her up, carry her into the bedroom, and strip off that robe.
Later, I'm at the office when I get a text from Cade.
Cade: Just a heads up. Both her manager and publicist received their documents about thirty minutes ago. I expect there will be drama. I don't want drama on the set. See to it that there isn't.
Me: I'm not there. I'm in some boring as shit Human Resources class you said I had to attend.
Cade: Shit. I completely forgot about that. Meet me downstairs ASAP and we'll head over together.
"What's wrong?" I ask the second I see the look on my brother's face.
"I screwed up. Called security too late." We jump into his car and he tears down to the studio. "Bart went storming over there. Burst onto the soundstage in the middle of a scene. The director just called me, pissed. I assured him it wasn't her fault. That I dropped the ball and should have called security before I ever sent the letter."
"What did they do? Did they drag him out of there? Arrest him?"
"I don't know."
"Cade, that should've been your first question!" I call Jerome, one of the guys who works the boom.
He immediately answers.
"Where is she?" I ask.
"She's in her dressing room."
"Where is her manager?"
"I just saw him go back there."
"Go now. Barge in if you have to. She just fired him and could be in danger."
"I'm sure she's--"
"Go! NOW!"
"I'm on it, boss."
My heart feels like it's going to pound out of my chest. I should have fucking been there.
"Can't you go any faster?" I say to Cade. "Why the hell do you have a DB-9 if you're going to drive it like an old lady?"
Cade punches it. I hear noise in the background.
Her scream.
Why is she screaming?
Then I hear what sounds like her door being kicked down.
"Jerome!" she screams.
"Get the fuck off her," Jerome yells.
He was on her? I'm going to fucking kill this man with my bare fucking hands if he hurts one single hair on her beautiful head.
"She was screaming in her dressing room," I say to Cade.
He blows through the guard stand without bothering to stop and a security guard is now chasing us with a golf cart.
Cade is flying down the road. He hasn't even stopped in front of the set building before I'm out of the car and running toward her dressing room. I realize I dropped my phone, when I put my hand up to my ear to hear what is transpiring.
I'm racing down the hall when Jerome comes out of Ashlyn's dressing room with Bart by the scruff of the neck. He's flailing around, trying to punch Jerome. Ashlyn follows, her lip cut and bleeding.
I don't ask questions.
My fist connects with Bart's face, causing a loud, satisfying crunching sound as the asshole goes down, his mouth bleeding.
Jerome rolls him over and puts his knee into his back as security finally shows up and cuffs him with plastic ties.
Cade comes running in, out of breath, as Ashlyn rushes into my arms and breaks down in tears.
"We're going to need your statements," the security guard says.
Bart looks up at me, he's struggling and pissed.
"I don't know who the fuck you are," he says, "but I'm going to have you arrested!"
I let go of Ashlyn, lean down next to the asshole, grab his hair, and speak very clearly. "Who I am is a lawyer. Who I am is the guy that protected an innocent girl and the guy helping her from being assaulted. I'm also the guy who helped her decide she didn't need a spineless, double-crossing, dishonest piece of shit like you working for her. I'm also the guy who will have a restraining order filed against you. You ever come within a thousand feet of her again, you needn't worry about going to jail. You need to worry about what I'll do to you. Are we clear?"
"Fuck you," he mutters as they escort him out.
I grab Ashlyn's hand and tell my brother he needs to find out who let him on the set and fire him.
Then I drag her out the back door for some air.
"You're kinda a beast when you get mad," she says, sliding her hands down my arms. My fists are still clenched, but when she touches me, I relax.
"Like Beauty and the Beast?"
"No, like beast mode. It was hot." She starts crying. "And really sweet. No one has ever stood up for me like that. I don't even know what to say."
I wrap her in a tight hug. "You don't need to say anything, baby."
She looks up at me and whispers, "If this were a fairytale, I'd have to kiss you for saving me." She looks at the people milling about. "But I don't want to get you in trouble."
I kiss her forehead then examine her lip.
"What happened?"
"He burst onto the set in the middle of a scene and started yelling. Everyone seemed pissed at me. Then he grabbed me and said we're going to talk in private--then when he got me to my dressing room, he shoved me against the wall and told me I couldn't break his contract. Started trash-talking Cade. About how Cade only wants me to take the other movie because it's more money and in his best interests, not mine.
"I told him I knew about the producer role. About the lease. How he'd been lying to me. How it was unethical. Then I told him before he got a fucking dime from me, there would be an audit of the books and if there was any mishandling of funds, I'd be filing charges against him. That him using me was over.
"He was furious, said that I owed him. When I said I didn't owe him shit, he backhanded me."
"Are you okay now? We should get in there and get some ice on your lip."
"Yeah, I probably should. I have a red carpet event to attend on Sunday."
"Cancel it."
"I can't. It's for the studio. They already think I'm unreliable."
"Then I'm going with you."
"You'd do that?"
"Yep. I'm going to guard your hot ass."
She laughs, which makes everything seem brighter.
Once inside her dressing room, I get ice for her lip.
"What time do you have t
o be there?"
"Four o'clock. The screening starts at five, which means it really will get started around six-thirty. Then there's a VIP after party. I can skip that but--"
"You shouldn't."
"Do you have something you can wear?"
"I could wear the suit we got mar--"
Cade interrupts us. "Security would like to take your statements."
"Cash, can I speak with you for a moment?" Cade asks while Ashlyn is answering questions.
"Uh, sure," I say, reluctant to leave her.
He pulls me outside to the same spot where Ashlyn and I just were.
"What the fuck was that?"
"You would have done the same thing."
"No, I would have held him down until security got there. And why were you hugging her?"
"Because she looked like she needed a hug."
He taps his foot. The same tap he used to do on the pitcher's mound when he was nervous.
"Still got the foot tap, huh?" I tease.
"I'm serious, Cash."
"Did you or did you not tell me to get close to her? Am I doing my job?"
He shakes his head but says, "Yes, so far, you are."
"Then back off. And go do something productive like file a restraining order against that asshole."
I walk away from him. I don't care if he's my brother or my boss. She needs me right now.
Except when I get back to her dressing room, I'm told by Jerome that she's already back on set.
Crazy Hot
Ashlyn
I wake up to a kiss on the forehead.
"You stayed?" I ask, surprised he didn't sneak back home last night.
"I couldn't leave you," he says, curling me into his arms, his lips pressed against my temple.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep on you. I didn't mean to."
"You had a pretty emotional day. I was amazed that you were able to continue working after all that. It was impressive."
"Well, you know what they say. The show must go on."
"What do you want to do today?"
"I have absolutely no plans this weekend except for the movie premiere on Sunday afternoon. I have to be at the hotel at noon to meet the hair and makeup team."
"You mean we have to be there."
"It will be boring, but I could schedule a massage for you. That's the first treatment I'll be getting. We could both get one."
"I need one, really. I've had a hell of a time. See, I met this girl. We hooked up. It was crazy hot. Then we went to Vegas, got married, and she ditched me."
I playfully smack his arm. "Be nice."
"Do you know what you're wearing? Should I wear my suit from the wedding or did you want to come pick out something else?"
"I have no idea what I'm wearing. My stylist, Zoey, will be there with a rack of options for me to choose from."
"And I have a brother down the beach with a closet full of options."
"Oh, that sounds fun. I'd like to dress you."
"I'd much prefer you undress me," he teases.
"You think your brother will have bacon again?"
"Only if you beg," he says, rolling on top of me and giving me a steamy kiss.
Everyone Goes
Cash
When we get to the house, it's quiet, but Carter's car is in the garage.
I run into my room and quickly change clothes, throwing on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
"Why don't we cook this time?" I tell Ash. "You mix up the eggs. I'll start the bacon."
She rummages through his pantry and pulls out a box. "I think we need pancakes too!"
I push her into the pantry and kiss her.
We're starting breakfast when a gorgeous, leggy blonde comes out of Carter's room wrapped in one of his shirts. Which is really good news, because it means my brother was too busy to notice I wasn't here last night.
"I thought I smelled food," she says, plopping down at the island. "Is there any coffee?"
"We haven't made any yet," I say.
She puts her elbow on the bar and rests her face in her palm. "I could use some."
I'm about ready to tell her this isn't a restaurant and she can make her own damn coffee when my brother joins us wearing just a pair of athletic shorts and a smile. It's the kind of smile you'd see after he'd thrown a touchdown pass.
Which stops me in my tracks.
This girl wasn't just sex. If she were, he'd have a cocky, satisfied grin. He likes her.
"I'll put some on," I say, reaching my hand across the bar. "I'm Carter's brother, Cash." I point to Ashlyn. "And this is Ashlyn."
"Ashlyn Roberts," she says with an excited smile. "I'm Vale. We met backstage at the Victoria's Secret fashion show. You were with Harper."
"I remember," Ashlyn says. "How are you?"
"Good. Came here to soak up some sun before New York Fashion Week starts. Are you coming to any of the shows?"
"We're just wrapping up filming, so I won't get to come for the whole week. If all goes well, I'll be there Saturday through Thursday."
"And I'll be there with her," I say, getting the coffee started and hoping she really will let me be there with her.
"See, Carter," Vale says with a little pout. "Everyone goes to Fashion Week."
"You should go," I say, just to be a shit. I mean, I am his little brother. It sort of comes naturally.
"I didn't realize you were such a fashionista," Carter says to me. Then he turns to Ashlyn. "Is he really going with you?"
"Of course," Ashlyn says, playing along with me. She gives the pancake batter another whisk and says, "Carter, I think you need to come make the pancakes. Aren't they your specialty?"
Carter's cheeks turn pink as he and Ashlyn share a knowing smile. Which pisses me off. How the hell does she know what his specialty is? And why the hell did he blush?
Carter pours pancake mix onto the griddle then turns back toward us. "I'd like to go to Fashion Week, but it's football season. My schedule is crazy. I'll be scouting new clients at college games as well as going to a lot of my current client's pro games."
Vale sighs, gets up from the counter, and pouts. "I'm going to change."
I roll my eyes when my brother goes chasing her tail. I tilt my head and watch her retreat though, because the girl has a very nice tail. My brother has good taste.
Ashlyn smacks me up the side of the head. "Stop that."
"She's practically naked. Hard not to look," I say in my defense. "Are you really going to let me go to New York with you?"
"Yes. Want to know why?"
"Because you love me?"
She looks into my eyes for a beat then says, "Zach will probably be there."
I don't get to reply because Vale breezes back into the room with a smile on her face.
"He's coming," she happily announces.
"I'll bet he is," I say under my breath to Ashlyn, who stifles a laugh.
"That's awesome," Ashlyn says to Vale. "There are so many events and parties to go to. We'll have fun."
"So are you two dating?" Vale asks casually, pointing toward us. "I thought you were with Zach Ellison?"
My brother smirks at me in amusement.
Asshole.
"They broke up," I tell Vale, avoiding the other question, but then she raises her perfectly formed eyebrows at us.
Ashlyn grabs the coffee pot. "Coffee's done!" Which, thankfully, causes Vale to switch subjects.
"I'll have to admit that I'm feeling a little hungover." She points at Carter. "That one is trouble."
Ashlyn pours herself a cup, sits at the bar next to Vale, and points at me. "They're both trouble."
We eat breakfast and then Vale gives my brother a steamy kiss and says, "I'll see you later."
I give my brother a smirk after she leaves.
"Traveling for a girl, isn't that against the rulebook?"
"Rulebook?" Ashlyn asks.
"Shut up," Carter says. "She's cool."
"Uh, oh," I laugh. "Sounds serious."<
br />
"Stop teasing your brother," Ashlyn scolds as we're finishing up the dishes. "Vale is cool. How long have you known her, Carter?"
"I met her at a Super Bowl party last year. She calls me when she's in town."
"You're her booty call. How sweet," I tease.
"I am not. We maybe kinda like each other."
"I would think she maybe kinda more than likes you if she invited you to Fashion Week. She wants to show you off. You don't usually do that if you only kinda like a guy," Ashlyn states.
"Really? Hmm," Carter says.
"He's starting to sweat, Ash. We better get going."
On the way back to her house, she stops every so often to look for seashells.
"So, um, how do you know pancakes are my brother's specialty?"
"I was teasing him when we were in Vegas about all the girls who hit on him. He said if he likes a girl more than just a one-night thing, the next morning he makes her pancakes."
"But he blushed."
"I think it's because he likes Vale a lot."
She bends down to examine another shell then shoves it in her pocket.
"How come you always choose the broken ones?" I ask. "You have a bowl full of them by your bed."
"Because they remind me of life. Each shell is like a fragment of a life lived. I feel like the ones that wash ashore all perfect looking died young. The broken ones are more interesting. Like see this one, see how thick it is, but notice the edges are super smooth? This shell is broken, but over time its edges got smoothed out. And look at this one. Notice how jagged it is? It's a new break. Like it hasn't gotten to heal yet."
I pull her into my arms. "Which kind of shell are you?"
She holds up the one with the smooth edge. "I think it depends. My dad died a long time ago, so that hurt or break would probably be smoothed out by now, maybe."
"And what about your mom? You really don't talk much about her. At the wedding, you said she only talks to you when she needs money."
"I told you that?
"Yeah."
She sits down in the sand and sighs.
"The public knows me as Ashlyn Roberts, the girl who burst into Hollywood and set the town on fire with her talent at seventeen. What they don't know is I got lucky. That I left home the night one of my mom's drunken hookups decided I'd be fun to play with. When I yelled at him not to touch me, my mom told me to stop being so dramatic. That was the last straw. I kicked him in the balls and stole my mom's drug money out of the cookie jar. I walked out the door and never looked back. It's hard to believe how much my life has changed since then.