“Eat up and enjoy.” He winked.
“So.” In an abrupt move, she turned back to Isaac.
“I swear I wasn’t trying to even look at your garnishes.” Isaac held both hands up. “Now if Logan would have served like an edible flower or something, it would have been a game changer.”
“Well, Mr. Abrams, now that you know probably more about me than you wanted, are you going to tell me what you do?” Rather than slipping an errant piece of food on Logan’s plate, she reached down and put her hand possessively on his thigh.
As strange as it seemed, he was never the man who had the woman at the table. Somehow he was destined to be the one who watched others, but for the first time, he got the girl and a spectacular one at that. Everything about her amazed or enticed him, especially their private conversation they had in front of his friend and how she seamlessly went back to her other conversation as to not make Isaac feel uncomfortable.
“Logan didn’t tell you?” As if he were telling a secret, Isaac cupped his hand over his mouth. “I own a laboratory.”
“A laboratory?” She used one nail to trace the inseam of his jeans, down to almost his knee and then up to his mid-thigh. “Like with beakers and Bunsen burners?”
“I even wear a white coat.” His friend puffed his chest out. “It’s a lab plus a small, boutique manufacturing plant.”
“What do you manufacture?” Her fingernail traveled up and down its chosen path again.
Between talk of garnishes and her passive yet sensual attention, his body reacted. Wanting to lead her up the right path, he spread his leg slightly.
“Nutraceuticals.” Isaac dropped the word that usually no one understood.
“Oh, like nutritional supplements?” Ivy took direction well and raked her fingers a little higher, discovering almost instantly what he wanted her to find.
“Yes, I am fascinated by all-natural remedies. It is amazing what we haven’t tapped into what nature provides for us.”
“I agree.” Without a hitch, she continued the conversation.
He stifled a moan as she brazenly ran her hand over him, and he put his hand on her back, treating her to a more PG-rated massage.
“Exactly.” Isaac beamed at her. “In fact, I can tell you two secrets about your chief chef.”
“Really? Do tell. I have a few of my own.” She rubbed her hand over his every contour.
He shut his eyes. All he wanted to do was get her up in his room and consummate their couple-ship. Though at first, he wanted to find out how far she would take it. He didn’t think he could be aroused to this level with just some simple touching.
“First, Mr. Alexander invested in my laboratory after I finished my doctorate program.” Isaac’s voice broke through his desire. “Second, I am his supplier of vitamins. In fact, I custom blend his myself.”
“Really?” Ivy gave him a squeeze.
“Yes.” Logan hissed. “Like that.”
“I like to think I am the reason for his vitality.” Isaac laughed.
“That’s funny. I was thinking I might be the reason.” She removed her hand.
“Ivy!” He gasped and opened his eyes, blinking several times to focus.
“Fine, she’s the reason, but maybe she’ll thank me for your stamina later.” Isaac got out of his seat, walked over to his bag, and tossed him several baggies of his beloved white capsules. “I think I’ll take a rain check on dessert. After committing to only share forks with one another, I think the two of you need to be alone to conduct your own experiments.”
“Thank you.” In no shape to stand, he pointed at the door. “I’ll call you later.”
“It was an amazing pleasure meeting you, Miss Ivy.” Isaac shook her hand. “Feel free to swipe a couple of those vitamins from him. He says they give him plenty of energy.” With one last wave, he let himself out the door.
They turned to each other, and as if acting with one mind, both left their seats.
In an instant, he pulled her into his embrace and crushed his lips to hers, backing her up to the far wall. His kiss was hard, deep, telling her how bad he needed her. “Why did you stop?” He tore open his jeans and snaked his hands up her skirt.
“Because we couldn’t do this right in front of your friend.” She twisted her fingers in his hair.
“I never wanted someone like I want you.” Again, he kissed her.
Once more, her hand found him. With nothing in her way, she gripped him and gave him several satisfying strokes.
“Damn.” No longer possessing any fine motor skills, he shimmied his wallet out of his back pocket and pressed it into her free hand. “I need to make love to you right now. I can’t even get upstairs.”
“I suppose those vitamins do work.” She let go of him to get the condom.
“You work. You’re my IV.” He managed to get one chuckle out. “Hurry, baby, I’ll make it up to you later.”
“I’m just so relieved they’re vitamins.” She dropped his wallet to the floor.
Even in his sensitized state, he not only heard her words, he understood her meaning and he lifted his head. “What do you mean by relieved?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “I’ve seen you with those baggies of pills before and wondered about them.”
“Then why didn’t you ask me?” The arousal fading fast, he pushed back. “They’re not pills. They’re vitamins. You would’ve known if you’d asked me.”
Her complexion paled, and she pressed her lips together.
“Why would you be with me if you think I’m doing something like that?” He fastened his pants and turned his back to her. “Did you just expect it?”
“Logan—”
“I don’t know why you would even want to be with me, let me drive you around, let me make love to you, if you thought I was sneaking drugs behind your back.” He turned back around. “Hell, I’m so good I didn’t even bother hiding my phone call yesterday. Who knows, maybe I only brought my friend here to throw you off the trail.”
She wrapped her arms around her shoulders. “You don’t understand.”
“I know I’m not as smart as you. I don’t even have a degree behind my name, let alone two, so why don’t you explain it to me.” Rage heated through him and he raised his voice.
“I . . .” Her breath caught and she swallowed. “I wanted my chance to be with you.”
“What?” He stepped closer. “I must be stupid. What does that mean?”
Again, she didn’t answer, only lowered her head.
“You didn’t think this was going anywhere.” He filled in for both of them. “You wanted your fun and were ready to go back to Mr. Reliable once the curtain closed on the anniversary party. What did you think? I would reveal some big secret if you mastered the trick to getting me hard?”
“You know, I don’t think it’s too difficult of a thing to master.” Without looking at him, she collected her purse and walked to the door. “I think I should leave.”
“You’re smart. Do what you think is best.” He ground his teeth together. “Don’t forget we are meeting with Ryder this week. Aside from that, I assume I’m off the clock.”
“How could I forget? That’s the only reason you think I’m here.” She slipped out the door.
He stood, watching the door close and hearing her car engine start. She proved to be no different than any other woman who wanted to add a notch to her bedpost with his name on it, but in a strange twist of fate, he wasn’t the one driving away.
HOLLYWOOD STARDUST
CUT TO:
EXT. SERVICE STATION – AMARILLO, TX – DAY
The four wait for the verdict on the car.
CHARLES
We’re never going to make it back in time. We’re using the whole week just to get there.
STEVEN
That’s not even the half of it. Who here wants to call home and tell them we failed?
CHARLES puts his hand to his head.
CHARLES
Don
’t say the word fail.
STEVEN
Why not? Everyone has to fail at some point.
WILLIAM
Way to look at the bright side, dude.
ROXY
Steven’s right. We all have to fail sometime or how do we ever know if we’ve won?
Chapter Fourteen
At the beginning of the week, the idea of going up to the mountains with Logan to the location where Ryder was producing and directing his movie seemed really romantic.
Of course, the romantic notion also included Logan driving up the two-lane mountain road, then stopping for breakfast, and maybe taking in a little of the San Bernardino Forest. The area was rife with Hollywood history and used for location shootings for decades, including one of her grandfather’s films.
Instead, she woke up before the sun rose and made her way alone with only the Hollywood Stardust sound track as her companion. First, it seemed fitting, but once the chart-topping, penultimate song boomed through her car stereo, the song where Steven and Roxy danced, the tears she refused to let fall for two days overcame her.
One second she was Logan Alexander’s girlfriend. Though they had hidden the true meaning of their conversation with fruits and vegetables, the message was clear. The next, she not only let her dumb words about the vitamins escape, but as the cherry on top of Logan’s sundae, she revealed she really never thought they would stay together.
The look on his face told her everything. Even he wasn’t a good enough actor to hide his disappointment. If she wasn’t stupid and hadn’t doubted him, she would still have him.
As she finally made her way to the small main street in the mountain town, she stopped in a little clearing, pulled down her visor, and took a look in the mirror at her makeup-smudged face complete with blotchy complexion. She would forever go down in history as the woman who tossed Logan Alexander aside. Lest she forget, she could add to her list of accomplishments that she chose Logan over her steady and stable friend who somehow got the idea he should marry her, and she never even bothered to call.
Without second-guessing her next move, she dialed Matt.
“Hello,” he answered on the second ring.
“It’s Ivy.” Poison Ivy. She grabbed her makeup bag out of her purse.
“I’m aware. I’ve had your number programmed in my phone since we sat together in undergrad chemistry.”
“Matt.” She wiped the smeared black mascara from beneath her eyes.
“I’m sure by now, you know the big fool I was going to make of myself in front of your family. Do you think we could not mention it?”
“But—” She fixed her eyes and added a bit of lip gloss.
“Please don’t say you’re sorry.” He cut her off. “I wouldn’t have wanted you to say yes because you felt you had to, and I’m glad I didn’t get to hear you say no. In a way, your boyfriend did me a huge favor.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” Not anymore. She looked up to the ceiling and blinked. Matt didn’t produce tears, Logan did, and she had no right calling Matt to make her feel better.
“Whatever. If you don’t mind, I’m not quite ready for the ‘we’re still friends’ line. I’ll e-mail the files to you if you want to use them to help with your research.”
“Thanks.” She started the car and glanced at the directions Logan gave her.
“I have to get to work.”
“Okay, I’ll let you go.” The phone went dead, and she continued her journey, making the final turn onto a dirt road.
Her car bounced over the uneven road, but with a little more force on her accelerator, she made it up the ledge, slamming on her brakes at the sight of Logan standing right there. She tried to remind herself Logan was the fantasy, part villain, part superstar all rolled into one scrumptious package. The only problem was that he was more magnificent in reality.
With a shake of his head, he guided her to a parking place under a tree, keeping up with her car the entire time.
Her heart sped to such a point she had no doubt she would pass out, but she managed to get the car in park. For a second, she waited to see if he would open the door for her, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw him standing there with his arms crossed.
She opened the door.
“The crew is already here.” He jutted his jaw out. “I was waiting for you.”
“I’m right on time.” Her voice came out weak.
“Do you have everything you need?” He fired the question at her.
Fine, they had disposed of the niceties. “Give me a second to collect my things.”
“Well, hurry, people are waiting. I want to get this done with and get out of here.”
She grabbed her mess of a purse and got out of the car.
Even with his sunglasses on, she could tell he stared at her. Though she wanted to ask what was wrong, she knew the answer and simply stood without moving. She supposed flinging herself at him and asking him to forget what she’d said was also out of the question.
“Is that what you’re wearing?” He tapped his foot.
His question came out more as an accusation. She licked her lips and swallowed. “I suppose so.” After trying on about five different ensembles, she had opted for a high-waisted, black formfitting skirt with a white button-down, fishnets, and heels. Fine, she went for an outfit to show off any curves she possessed, hoping he would miss her. Maybe she was only good at getting him hard. Well, not anymore.
“Stay right there.” He stomped to his car.
Logan opened the trunk, pulled out some fabric thing, and then went to the passenger side to grab something else. While she waited, one of her heels sank into the dirt below her. Fine, heels weren’t the best option in the middle of a national forest, but they fit the outfit perfectly.
He returned and thrust a stack of papers to her. “Hold this for a moment.”
“Shouldn’t we get to Ryder?” She took the pile, glancing down at what appeared to be his mail.
“You don’t need to be doing anything but what I say.” He shook out the huge black piece of fabric and held it up to reveal a long black trench coat. “Put this on. It’s much more appropriate.”
Spring in Southern California wasn’t exactly long black trench coat season, even in the mountains. Actually, she wasn’t sure if any time in Southern California was long black trench coat season. She looked up at the clear blue sky. The birds literally sang around them in this little piece of wilderness. With him in his normal uniform of jeans and a button-down, she didn’t think he feared for her getting chilly.
Apparently, he didn’t even want to look at her, and not wanting to make any more of an issue, she allowed him to put the coat on her.
As she went to adjust her purse and his papers into the other hand, he took her purse, but notably did not take his items.
“I can’t have you dropping things all over.” He put her bag under his arm, slipped the garment over her, and came around her front where he proceeded to tie the belt, taking special note to cover her neck.
“Logan.” In the lined coat a sick heat overtook her, made worse by the way he walked away the second she said his name.
“Come on.” He pulled his hair out of his ponytail.
She followed, and he seemed to slow down enough for her to catch up.
“Take care of this.” He put the rubber band on top of the mail.
While she wanted to drop everything and shoot the rubber band at him, again she chose to remain silent and not take in how his hair wafted around him as he walked.
In an attempt to prevent her heels from sinking into the ground, she tiptoed and let Logan lead her through some trees.
“There they are.” A familiar, yet unfamiliar, voice greeted them.
Logan stopped at her side.
Ryder Scott.
Right in front of her stood Ryder Scott.
Her heels sunk, but for one shining moment, her troubles vanished.
Logan exuded gorgeous bad boy, but Ryder dripped
Hollywood star. Dark, wavy hair framed a face that almost couldn’t be real. Every angle, every line, every curve of his features were perfectly proportional, as if he were created from some master plan and not born like the rest of the human population. As a teenager, his dimples had caused more than a stir, but today, with a few years behind him, they served to accentuate a gleaming smile and equally sparkling deep blue eyes.
By now, she thought she was beyond being starstruck, but then again she never stood less than two feet away from Ryder Scott.
Tall, lean, and dressed in jeans and a red T-shirt, he closed the distance between them. “How are you?” He gave Logan a pat on the shoulder before turning to her with his hand outstretched. “Hello, I’m Ryder Scott.”
A giggle escaped her throat. Yes, a full-fledged giggle with heated cheeks and everything. “I see that.” She put her hand in his. “I’m Ivy Vermont.”
“Ivy Vermont.” He kept hold of her and put his other hand over hers. “Ivy and I.V.”
“I have already discussed her unique initials with her at length.” Logan cleared his throat.
More like he said she was his IV. Rather than remembering that, she focused on Ryder.
“Maybe you discussed it, but I haven’t quite scratched the surface yet.” Ryder raised one eyebrow in her direction. “I have heard a lot about you.”
“You have?” Though no one had told a joke, and she didn’t really wanted to know what Logan had said recently, she giggled again.
“I suppose I don’t need to ask if you know about me.” He pulled her toward the chairs set up in a little clearing. “But I do have some new things that may surprise you.”
Logan walked between them, causing Ryder to let go of her hand, and took the middle chair. “Come sit down, Ivy.” He patted the chair next to him like he was calling his dog. “You look a little pale. Maybe you’re coming down with something. “
With no choice left, she took her seat. She was only coming down with a case of wanting to slap Logan across the face.
“Hold on.” Ryder held his hands up as if framing the scene. With a shake of his head, he took the empty chair, moved it to the other side of her, and sat down. “This is much better. Do you feel all right, Miss Ivy?”
Typecast Page 16