Typecast

by Kim Carmichael

  The entire crew made their adjustments.

  “I do feel as if I’m burning up.” She lifted Logan’s papers and used them as a makeshift fan.

  “Do you think you have a temperature? Maybe we need to do this another day?” Logan thrust his hand onto her forehead. “You do feel a little warm.”

  She opened her mouth to protest.

  “Of course she does, she’s wearing the trench coat you insist on carrying with you everywhere like you’re waiting for some monsoon.” Ryder stood up and motioned for her to do the same.

  She got up along with Logan.

  “It’s very cold out here in the wilderness,” Logan noted.

  “It’s at least seventy-five out.” Ryder wrinkled his nose and untied the belt. “You consider anything without room service the wilderness.”

  The coat opened, bringing with it a waft of cooling, soothing air. “Oh, that’s better.”

  “Yes, much better.” Ryder took the coat off her and returned it to its owner. “You have great style. Don’t cover it.”

  She glanced between Ryder and Logan. While Ryder smiled, Logan glared at her.

  “I think we should get to the interview.” An emptiness took residence right in the center of her chest.

  They all returned to their respective seats.

  “Do you need anything in your bag, notes or anything?” Logan held her purse up.

  “You told me to keep it conversational.” Why he insisted on holding her bag when he wouldn’t hold her hand was beyond her.

  “You’re right. I’ll keep this just in case.” He returned her bag to his lap and leaned over to Ryder. “I’ve been coaching Ivy. She suffers from stage fright.”

  “Logan.” Well, until this moment, she was suffering from heartache and didn’t have enough room for stage fright. Now that he mentioned it, she ground her teeth together.

  Logan motioned forward. “You bugged me incessantly to get his interview for you, and I pulled many strings to block out this time with Ryder, so get to your questions.”

  Ryder pursed his lips.

  “Fine.” In an attempt to take a breath, she bought some time by fiddling with his paperwork.

  “She likes to hold on to my paperwork.” Logan nodded. “Get to work.”

  “Since when?” She turned to him. “Only two days ago it was garnishes.”

  “I thought you were interviewing Ryder.” He sat back.

  “Are you taking too many vitamins today?” Fine, she hit below the belt.

  “Are you trying to imply something, Ms. Vermont?” Without even making eye contact, he countered. “If you are, speak up, and we’ll address it right on camera.”

  “Why don’t you speak, since you never gave me a chance to the other day?” She threw his papers to the floor. “Maybe we can use some of your techniques.”

  “There was no explanation needed. I think everything you meant was right out in the open. No subtitles necessary.” At last, he turned and stared right at her. “What could you have said anyway? Didn’t you say it all?”

  “I’m not sure all of your personalities heard me.” Her whole body shook. No way could she interview Ryder when all she wanted was to get away from Logan. “If you would have let me breathe, I would’ve told you that you were right. I am sorry about”—she stopped, not wanting to say anything that would end up on tape—“even hinting at that.”

  At last, he truly looked at her.

  “And about the garnishes, I was scared. Maybe I’m too scared of everything, but let me tell you, it’s terrifying when you get your dream. Where do you go from there? All I could think of was losing it.” Taking a breath, she forced herself to keep going. “But I did, and I’m not dead. Score one for me.”

  “Ivy.” He stood.

  “Do the interview yourself. I’m done with all of it.” Unable to turn and face the crew or Ryder, she walked straight toward the trees.

  “You have my rubber band,” he called after her.

  She rolled the accessory off her wrist, stopped, pulled it out, and shot the damn thing away. At one point, she would have kept it for a souvenir, but he had already left her with a broken heart.

  “You always were an ass when you weren’t the center of attention.” Ryder elbowed Logan. “Maybe you should go get your girlfriend.”

  “Maybe you should get her. Just follow the trail of bread crumbs and giggles.” Logan kept his focus on the trees but lost sight of . . . well, lost sight of his girlfriend.

  “Next time, rather than wrapping her up and giving her your overdue bills, just lift your leg on her to mark your territory.” Ryder exploded into a round of laughter.

  “It was never my bills that were overdue, lest we forget.” He crossed his arms. “Plus, no matter if I fenced off my territory, you still honed in.” Maybe his friend needed a little reminding of the past and the Erin fiasco.

  “She understood us. Sucks being us sometimes, doesn’t it?” Ryder shook his head. “All the questions, the speculation, the accusations. Erin didn’t have an issue ’cause she was one of us. Plus, she was a good teacher.”

  “Well, everything I know about fashion I know from Erin.” He tilted his neck from side to side, trying to stretch his tense muscles. Of anyone, his costar understood, but Ryder usually got the girl. However, neither of them got Erin. In his case, he was thankful.

  “She gave the best lessons, with every piece of clothing she took off, she would tell us the designer.” Ryder broke out into chuckles. “Every girl I’m with thinks I’m a god for knowing such things.” Ryder’s laughter died down to knowing chuckles.

  They glanced at each other.

  “So.” Ryder leaned back on his heels. “Can I get my crew back to filming my movie?”

  “Remember who helped finance your crew and your movie.” He ran his hand through his hair, wishing for his rubber band. “Get them working and stop wasting my money.”

  “Well, in a way, your financing is my money recycled. Plus, I had other help financing. It’s good to be me.” Ryder patted him on the back. “If you’re going to keep staring, I can get you a part as an extra.”

  “I need to do something.” Since the door closed at his restaurant, he wanted to call her, see her, be with her, but he didn’t want to explain himself and didn’t want her questions. Again, he allowed something that happened twenty years ago to affect his life. If he didn’t act, it could cost him Ivy for sure.

  “I gather she delved a little too deep into stuff that isn’t her business?”

  “It would be her business if we were still actually together.” Did he blow up because it gave him an excuse not to have to answer for what happened?

  “Yeah, well, it’s also my business, and Erin’s business, which affects your business even more.”

  “I hate you, always have, always will.” He rubbed his hand over his face. Everything he touched turned into a disaster. Maybe it was better if he let Ivy go and not get her in the middle of the mess. One day she could look back and maybe smile that she was with the guy from the movie she loved. As for him, he was done with women. He only wanted her anyway.

  “Yep, one day we can talk about it in therapy or in a reality show.” Ryder stepped in front of him. “But for now, go get your girl.”

  “No point.” Why see her if he couldn’t have her?

  “Do you want her?” Ryder looked him in the eye.

  Without pause, he nodded.

  “Then you are missing the obvious solution to your problem.”

  “The last time you gave me a solution to a problem we ended up having to chase down three cameramen to get back one of your inconvenient private tapes.” He raised his eyebrows. “I’m still scarred from watching you in the footage, and you still owe me for that one.”

  “You were the one who said you had to see what you were paying for.” Ryder smiled the smile that made him famous, part innocent, part knowing.

  “I’m looking at him.”

  “In a way, isn’t it the
other way around?” Ryder gave him a knowing nod. “No matter, you got an amazing deal.”

  More like ripped off. He exhaled. Where the hell was Ivy? Shouldn’t she be coming out from the tree line about now saying she saw a bug or something?

  “Even though you’re an arrogant ass, I’ll impart this tidbit on to you.” Ryder returned to his side and put his arm around him. “Throw her a bone and then give her a boner.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he took in the guy he hated, but his friend nonetheless. “That’s your advice?”

  “It’s one of my better ones. Only good can come from here.” Ryder motioned toward the front of his own jeans. “It gets everything moving again, releases endorphins and all that, creates a bond.”

  He continued to stare into nothing.

  “Here’s the deal. The clock is ticking. Your girlfriend is walking in stilettos through a forest with no purse and no sense of direction.” Ryder reached into his pocket and held out some keys. “But this next tidbit is good for all kinds of bones. She’s walking toward my cabin. Keep going straight.”

  If he went to get her, he had to have her back. He swiped the keys and went in the direction he had watched Ivy leave.

  Once he got into the trees, he scanned the area. They really were in the middle of the wilderness, and he had allowed her to walk through here in heels without him. Some boyfriend he turned out to be. His chest tightened at the image of her traipsing about out here where there could be a bear or worse. “Ivy!”

  Nothing.

  Not knowing which way to take, he ran forward. “Ivy!” The blood coursing through his ears made it hard to hear. “Ivy! Where are you?” Maybe he needed to call a ranger. No, he had to be the one to find her.

  “Ivy, please let me talk to you.” He turned around once more. “At least let me get you out of the forest.”

  “I’ll take you up on getting me out of here.” Her voice echoed from the right, but something seemed off.

  “Ivy?” He sprinted toward her voice to find her sitting on the forest floor with one shoe missing, a rip in that form-hugging skirt, and some leaves in her hair. “What happened to you?”

  “I said I’m up for you getting me out of here, not for talking.” She put her hand over her eyes.

  “Ivy.” He knelt down by her and picked a leaf out of her hair. After everything, he only wanted to take her into his arms. Somehow he had to fix them.

  She flinched. “Don’t touch me.”

  “Are you hurt?” He forced himself not to walk away, and at least give her a chance, give them a chance.

  She shrugged.

  “Are you scared?” He used her words on purpose.

  After a pause, she lowered her hand. “I don’t know. For the first time since I met you, I’m able to breathe.”

  What was she trying to tell him? She was better without him?

  “I’d rather not breathe.” She looked up at him through her lashes.

  Unable to stop himself, he bent down and kissed her.

  “I’m sorry.” She wrapped her arms around him and whispered in his ear. “I should have come to you, but I didn’t want you to be upset. My mother always said she wished someone had talked to my grandfather, but everyone was scared.”

  Her grandfather—he should have remembered how her family’s situation was practically embedded into her DNA. “I shouldn’t have let you walk out the door. It’s only normal you’re going to have questions. But promise to come to me, and I’ll answer them. Don’t assume the worst.” He stared into her eyes trying to make sure she heard him and to send her a message. If they were as connected as he thought, she would absorb his words.

  “I promise.” She tickled her fingertips over his jawline.

  “We need to get out of here. Ryder gave me the keys to his cabin. We can regroup.” While part of him wanted to simply stay in their little woodsy retreat, he needed to make good on his promise of getting her out of there. He scooped her up, stood, and walked in the direction Ryder had told him to take. With a film crew nearby, they didn’t need any errant cameraman taking any liberties.

  She allowed him to carry her out of the forest. Her focus wasn’t on her surroundings, but on him. The woman could arouse him with only a look. Once he spied the cabin, he sped up.

  He leaned against the wall as he opened the door. “You know what’s strange?”

  “What?” Her gaze traveled over different parts of his face.

  “The last few days without you I couldn’t breathe, and now I can take a breath.” He barely finished his sentence before she pulled him down.

  They kissed, completely surpassing the slow, soft, playful tastes and heading straight toward an intense melding of their mouths. The couple of days apart melted away, and they landed back where they were before, but stronger, with more passion and a deeper bond. Still keeping hold of her, he got them inside, kicking the door closed.

  As if needing to take him in, her hands traveled over him, skimming his shoulders, arms, and chest. Everywhere she touched left his skin electrified and aching for more. In turn, he slipped his hand up her skirt, rubbing over those sexy fishnet stockings, cupping her round bottom.

  Lost in her and their reunion, he stumbled into the bedroom and got them both on the bed. Their hands and minds working in unison, they rid each other of the inconvenience of their clothes while they continued to kiss.

  “Logan,” she gasped.

  He opened his eyes, the world around him hazy except for the woman writhing beneath him. “I need to make love to you.” He skimmed his hand along the bed and found his wallet, flipping it open and retrieving one of the requisite condoms he kept at all times.

  “No.” She pushed him over to his back and crawled on top of him. “I’m going to make love to you.”

  The sheer image of her on top enflamed him further. Unable to wait, he snuck the condom into her hand and grabbed her hips. “Now, baby.”

  She put her hands over his. “I said I’m making love to you.”

  No one ever took the lead with him. No one. Without moving his hands, he looked into her eyes. In the bedroom, he always played the role of director.

  She slid up his body and skimmed her lips over his. “I promised myself that if we ended up back together, I would make love to you.”

  Though it would take all his strength not to take over, especially in his state, he swallowed and forced his hands under his head. “Make love to me.”

  At first, he closed his eyes, took in the way she kissed down his neck and over his chest, and relished in how she skimmed her lips over his skin.

  She worked her way lower, and he let out a moan when she took him in her hands. His flesh seemed tuned to respond to every one of her caresses and soaked up every bit of attention she doled out.

  In a move he didn’t anticipate, she took him into her mouth. Her warm, wet mouth overtook him, and he dug his fingers into the pillow the moment her tongue swirled over him. “Oh, man!”

  All too soon, he found himself moving with her, the way she sucked, licked, and nibbled, a perfect combination. It would be easy to let go. Since their separation, he had been wound tight with emotion and pent-up arousal, but with her here with him, he had to have more. “Ivy.”

  She didn’t let up. Instead, she brought her hands back into to play to edge him closer.

  Any second he could easily go to the point of no return and he had to stop her. “Baby, please.”

  Still keeping hold of him, she straddled his hips and didn’t delay in sheathing him with the condom. At last, he opened his eyes in time to take in the most glorious sight of her up on her knees, followed by lowering her body down upon him.

  Nothing in the world compared to being inside her, except for maybe the way the sun came in through the window, giving him the perfect lighting to watch her do as she wanted and make love to him. “God, you’re beautiful, baby. Lean back a little.” He lifted his knees.

  She bit her lip, but did as he requested and gave him
the most exquisite view of her breasts bouncing every time she impaled herself on him.

  His gaze traveled from her face to her body to the area where they were joined, and he couldn’t take his focus off watching her engulf him, relishing in the way he disappeared deep inside her. “Faster.” The throb began, the distinctive pleasure-filled burn that resonated through him as his need climbed, his climax on the horizon.

  Again, she obeyed, but added gyrating her hips to his to stoke her own desire. “Um.” She took hold of his leg to use him as leverage, yet her rhythm wavered as she prepared for her own release.

  “That’s right.” His breath quickened and he swelled—any second he would have to let go. Not waiting for permission, he reached between them, rubbing his thumb over her and nudging her toward her end.

  “Oh, oh.” She bucked her hips and gasped.

  The instant she clenched around him, immersing him in primal pulses timed to spur him on, he couldn’t hold back. He had to come. “Come here, baby.” He pulled her down.

  “Logan! Harder.” She tightened her hold on him. “Logan.”

  “Yes!” Again and again, he drove into her until his final thrust sent him flying. Ecstasy flooded through him, and he remained buried inside her, drawing out every last drop of satisfaction.

  They both lay there, panting in unison, their bodies relaxing and melding into one another.

  “Logan.” Her voice vibrated on his chest.

  “One second.” He kissed her and gently moved her off to one side, wincing as their bodies separated. As fast as possible, he dealt with the condom and returned to her.

  “Come here.” He took her into his arms. With her, the sex was more than simply getting his rocks off. He wanted to be with her. They had made it through a rough patch and found each other again. “You can make love to me anytime you want.” Actually, he wished he’d lasted a bit longer, but his passion got away with him. Having her want to please him was its own turn-on. He was usually the one who always had to perform.

  “Does that mean that nothing changed about us sharing our garnishes with others?” She raked her nail lightly over his chest.