Typecast

by Kim Carmichael

  “I wanted you to pay attention to me.” Isaac stuck his face in with theirs and laughed.

  “I believe when I came down here I caught you paying enough attention to my girl for all of us. Your attention quota is full.” Logan pushed him back.

  “Ivy and I need to bond in our own special way.” Isaac gave her a wink.

  “Well, you’re done now, and Ivy and I will go bond in our own special way.” In a possessive move, Logan slid his arm around her waist.

  “Hey, we need to open the doors.” Wilson rushed out and snapped his fingers.

  Ivy tore her focus away from Logan to find the staff members waiting, and Giselle standing alongside Wilson. She waved to her best friend, and Giselle blew her a kiss.

  “Well, you’ve been talking about this forever. Open the door.” Logan backed them up toward the side of the bar.

  With a final inspection as he walked across the room, Wilson opened the doors.

  The light from the street illuminated the entry, and people began to stream in.

  Wilson went into proprietor mode, shaking hands, hugging, introducing Giselle, and making small talk. The servers and rest of the staff scurried around them as the place filled up with well-wishers.

  “I hate big crowds of people.” Logan tightened his hold on her and motioned to the bartender. “Champagne cocktail and a soda water with lemon.”

  He didn’t need to tell her twice since they hadn’t moved from their spot since the doors opened. While people gathered around Wilson, only a few came over to Logan with a quick hello, maybe a handshake, but mostly waves and smiles.

  “Here we are.” He handed her the drink and tapped his glass against hers. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” She waited to take a sip.

  “Being here, being with me.” He stared into her eyes. “For the first time I’ve been at one of these events, I feel normal.”

  For as many questions as she had about the man who stole her heart, at last she received some answers with his simple admission. “Well, I’m going to toast to Mr. Logan Christopher Alexander, who finally proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that reality can be so much better than fantasy.”

  “I love you.”

  The words left his mouth with such ease that she would have missed them if they weren’t three life-changing words. For the second time since he had joined her at the opening, her breath hitched. She opened her mouth, but what did she say? Did she return the sentiment? What if he didn’t even realize what just happened?

  “Shh. This is my turn.” He smiled and put his finger to her lips. “I believe we have a toast to finish.”

  Caught in a daze, she copied Logan and put her glass to her lips.

  “Come here.” He took her glass, placed it on the bar, and pulled her close.

  Never needing his kiss more, she lifted her face to his.

  “Hey, the place is really on fire!” Isaac came over.

  “I’m glad. That’s what my brother wanted. I guess we’re all getting what we want tonight.” Logan raised his eyebrows at her. “What do you say, Ivy?”

  Somewhere, she needed to find her voice. “Best party I’ve ever been to.”

  “All right, I don’t need a doctorate to take a hint that this is a party for two, but before I let you stare at each other until it is socially acceptable for you to sneak away, I need to show you something.” Isaac elbowed him.

  “Make it fast.” Logan took her hand, intertwining their fingers.

  In a useless attempt to focus, she blinked.

  Suddenly, the low constant hum of the people amplified as if someone had hit the ball out of the park, and as far as she knew, no one heard their conversation.

  “Unbelievable.” Logan tensed.

  At last she tore her gaze away from the man who only minutes before had said he loved her and turned to the crowd. No wonder the crowd went wild. “Ryder and Erin are here.” Along with them came Brian the agent.

  “What are they doing here?” A bit of excitement laced Logan’s voice.

  “You haven’t all been together in one room since—” She stopped herself from going too far.

  “Since that night.” His voice cut through her. “Let’s go say hello.”

  As he guided her away, she stopped. “Wait.” She turned back to wrangle Isaac. He must want to at least watch the spectacle, especially since he knew Logan through the filming.

  “What’s wrong?” He gave her a little tug.

  Isaac was nowhere to be found.

  She followed Logan. “Nothing.”

  Hushed tones and whispers took over the place as Logan guided her through the sea of people toward his unexpected guests, and she found herself holding on to the man who loved her like a life preserver. All eyes were on them.

  “Isn’t this different?” Logan gave Erin a chaste kiss on the cheek and shook both Brian’s and Ryder’s hands. “What are you doing here?”

  She detected something behind Logan’s voice, a mixture of surprise and annoyance.

  “You came to my set. I thought it only fair I show up to your digs. Plus, Erin called saying we owed you one.” Ryder patted Logan’s shoulder and turned his attention to Ivy. “And there’s the real reason I came.”

  Ivy wondered if she would ever get used to talking to Ryder like a normal person.

  The once teen idol grabbed her hand and pulled her into a hug, causing her to let go of Logan. “I haven’t seen a better interview of myself in twenty years. I wanted to talk to you.” Ryder wrapped his arm around her shoulders and took a couple of steps away from the rest.

  She opened her mouth and glanced over her shoulder.

  Though talking to Brian, Logan kept his eyes on her.

  With her head held high, Erin held on to Brian’s hand and glanced around.

  Wait, Brian’s hand? Strange.

  “Seriously, I loved my interview, and after all this fanfare with Stardust is over, I want you to come and spend some time on location with me, covering the movie.” He moved them closer to the wall. “I think it would make a great follow-up to your story with Logan. Maybe we can even find you a small part.”

  Once more she glanced over at the others, who were pretty much in the same position. The fact Erin seemed to be standing closer to Logan was probably a figment of her imagination. Maybe Logan was right about the constant together thing. The few feet separating them seemed like a mile or two.

  “You told me you wanted to be an actress.” Ryder waved in front of her face. “I’d love to give you your big break.”

  She forced her focus on him. “I’ll have to check to see what mine and Logan’s schedule will be, but of course we’ll do something.” If she had a job and if Logan still went to work with her. Her stomach swirled with nausea.

  “If Logan’s busy with all his money laundering, you can always cover me solo.” Ryder winked at her.

  A cold chill ran through her, yet she broke into a sweat. The urge to run overtook her, exactly like any time a camera was aimed at her. Well, until Logan.

  Left without a comeback, she almost gave in and dashed to her rightful man, but was saved by the most unlikely source of them all.

  Erin.

  In a shimmering gold, figure-hugging cocktail dress, she joined them. “I didn’t get a chance to say hello before.”

  “Hi.” Ivy forced a smile on her face. “You and Ryder showing up was a huge surprise to Logan.”

  “It’s been too long since we were seen together.” Erin moved her hair away from her face. “But it feels as if change is in the air.”

  “Well, there’s a lot going on right now.” In search of Logan, she peeked around, finding him still talking to Brian.

  “You seem to understand.” Erin held out her hand.

  With no true choice in the matter, she took it.

  Erin pulled her closer. “The only thing that would have made this night perfect would have been Drew. I almost thought he’d be here.”

  “When was the last time y
ou saw him?” She dared ask the burning question.

  Ryder crossed his arms.

  She glanced between the two of them and swore they had a silent conversation. Erin even went as far as to shoo Ryder away with a slight lift of her chin.

  “I never get to talk to anyone.” Erin turned away from him. “I saw him right after, then I saw him a year later, and he looked so different. The last time I saw him, he wouldn’t talk to me, but I swore I thought he’d be here. I almost felt him here.”

  Ivy took a breath. The woman in her, not the wannabe actress or reporter, caused her to ask the next question. “Were the two of you together?”

  As if she were on fire, Erin let go of her.

  Ryder went to Erin’s side, bent down, and said something in her ear, and Erin nodded.

  Unsure of how to handle the situation, she scanned the room for Logan only to be blinded by a flash and another uproar of the crowd. She really wished Logan, the man who wouldn’t normally leave her side, would do one of his amazing appearing acts right now.

  She blinked away the stars in her eyes.

  “There they are!” Several men holding up cameras charged inside.

  Both Ryder and Erin struck a pose.

  “Tell us, is this an unofficial reunion?” one of the photographers called out.

  “Are you all here?” shouted another.

  Neither answered, and it seemed as if the three of them were caught looking for the one man designated as the mouthpiece.

  After what seemed like years, Logan dashed across the room with Brian right behind him.

  “Ivy!” He headed toward her.

  “Logan, now that you’re here, can we get some answers?” the first photographer yelled.

  Before he reached her, Logan stopped, glancing between her and the other two. “I don’t remember hiring any photographers for the event.”

  The crowd rumbled with a low laugh.

  “He was always the natural.” Brian came up beside her. “Quite a few of his lines in the movie are ad-libbed.”

  “I know.” She wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Of all of them, he should have been the breakout star.

  “Can we get a picture of the three of you together?” The man gave Logan a thumbs-up.

  “Do you promise to send me copies?” He joined Erin and Ryder.

  Again, laughter.

  “Of course.” The photographer raised his camera. “I’ll even frame them.”

  The flashes went off as the three posed. Around the room the guests raised their cell phones to snap a shot.

  “Got my story snaked again.” She sighed and watched the flashes pop around them, little stars bursting with light, but the fan in her wanted to savor the moment, forget the backstory, and simply enjoy.

  “You got the interviews, and you got Logan.” Brian patted her shoulder.

  “If we ask nice, can we get you and Erin?” the second photographer asked.

  Even though Ivy knew he loved her, the request still made her chest constrict.

  Ryder stepped back.

  Erin slid closer to Logan, and Ivy swore the woman looked back at her with a slight smile.

  Were they in some competition she didn’t know about?

  “This is good for him.” Brian leaned back on his heels. “He always fit in the spotlight.”

  “Then why was he pulled out of it?” She balled her hands into fists. Anyone could see where he belonged.

  “He chose to leave,” Brian countered.

  “I think you and I both know that’s not true.” She refused to allow the man next to her, or anyone else, to tell her different.

  “How about we make tonight really special and recreate the scene everyone wants to see?” The photographer stood on one of the chairs.

  “The dance.” Fan or not, she couldn’t watch, but she refused to be one of the many that ruined Logan’s chances. She tiptoed into the background.

  “They want us to do the dance.” Still staying in a pose, Erin faced him.

  Logan held up his hand in an attempt to stop the scene before him. He scanned the area. Every person’s face blended together, but one would stand out. Where was Ivy?

  All eyes were on him. For the first time in twenty years, he wasn’t the man responsible for getting the sequel to a beloved movie canceled. He wasn’t the bad guy. His woman was responsible for the tide turning.

  “Did you ever wonder why one of the most memorable scenes was between me and the villain and not me and the hero?” Erin produced one of her smiles, a mixture of sexy and sweet. She tilted her head slightly, knowing exactly how to catch the light to show off every asset.

  “You do know you are not Roxy, and I’m not Steven.” The rhythmic clapping of the crowd beat in time with the reverberating through his body.

  “You know that’s not true. We should have been together. That’s why this is the scene everyone comes back to time and again.” She reached up to get in position.

  “Let’s see it,” a photographer yelled out. “The world is waiting to see the famous couple.”

  Only one person’s arms went around his neck. “Then let me get the right girl.” He backed away from Erin. “Get the music on.”

  A collective gasp went through all the guests, and Erin’s expression went from her model-perfect smile to wide-eyed and unrehearsed. Without caring if he remained the villain for the rest of his life, he rushed through the bar and headed straight for the kitchen.

  The chef and one of his assistants both pointed, showing him the way.

  With a slight nod to the staff, he snuck around the far side of the refrigerator to find Ivy holding a glass, complete with a lime wedge as a garnish. “I believe this is mine.” He approached and plucked the unwanted citrus off her drink.

  “It got a little warm out there. Please, do whatever you need to do. Maybe it was all those champagne cocktails.” Rather than turning, she remained facing the wall.

  After putting the lime in his mouth, he called her bluff. “So you decided to chase it with a vodka on the rocks?” At least whoever served her gave her the good stuff.

  “Logan, you need to go back out there. Didn’t you see how they want you?”

  “I don’t care who wants me as long as one person wants me.” He set her glass aside.

  “Logan, you know I want you.” She stared down at the floor.

  “Plus, they want the two of us anyway.” He put his hands on her waist and pulled her closer.

  At last, she lifted her head.

  “If they want me to recreate a scene from the movie, they’re going to have to do it with the woman I’m in love with, not some actress playing a role.” His admission earlier had come unexpected to both of them, yet he had meant every word. For a second, he paused, not realizing until that moment that even though he’d told her to wait, he had wanted her to repeat the sentiment. “Will you dance with me?” Rather than wait for an answer, he took her hand and led her back out to the main room.

  Among the applause from the patrons, the penultimate song from Hollywood Stardust began.

  Ivy’s trembling resonated through his hand, but he wouldn’t allow her to succumb to stage fright. He guided her right into the middle of the room, but rather than melding into him, her body was tense, wound tight. “Look up at me.”

  She did as he asked.

  “It’s just you and me.” He stared into her eyes. “Come on, you know you dreamed of this.”

  A hint of a smile twinkled on her face, and at last she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “Those are the right arms.” He pulled her flush with his body and started by swaying to the music.

  “That’s her, the one from the tabloid.” The photographer’s statement was followed by a series of flashes.

  The song boomed through the speakers, the music that followed him for two decades. Every time he heard the familiar tune, he took pause. It brought him back to a specific moment to being on set, being with his friends, and thinking he was on the ve
rge of something spectacular. He wished someone would have told him the something spectacular would happen decades later and not with some movie contract but with the woman in his arms.

  He treated his audience and his girl to a bit more sensual version of the dance he and Erin had shared on set and wondered if anyone would guess that for the first time tonight he had told someone other than his mother that he loved them. All he could do was pray she returned the feelings and hope his little display fulfilled one of her dreams.

  In Hollywood Stardust, the song served as a turning point. It cast a doubt on Roxy’s love for William and made her realize she could have feelings for the manipulative Steven.

  He glanced around the room at the guests gawking, the photographers taking advantage, and his big brother, who had the smarts and the ingenuity to find a video camera to capture the moment. Lastly, Ryder and Erin stood on the sidelines with twin scowls at not being the ones in the spotlight. As he and Ivy danced, a different turning point barreled down on him, but nevertheless one of change.

  When at last the music ended, Ivy hugged him tight.

  Applause vibrated the room, and she pulled him close. “I love you too, Mr. Alexander.”

  Along with never having told someone he loved them, no one sans his mother had ever said the words to him. Unable to resist, he turned his head and kissed her, a true kiss, not a camera kiss, complete with opening their mouths and tangling their tongues and leaning her back. Only the whistles and catcalls stopped them, and with reluctance, he pulled back. She hid her face in his chest.

  “What did she say to you?” the more boisterous of the two photographers asked.

  “She loves me.” He had to let it out. “But it’s all good, because I love her too.”

  Again, the guests applauded.

  Exhibition time was over, but contemplation and alone time with Ivy was upon him, and he lifted his hand toward the photographers. “Thank you.”

  One photographer saluted, while the other gave him a thumbs-up. “Good luck.”

  He leaned down to her. “How about we disappear?”

  She nodded and cupped her hand over his ear. “I want you to make love to me. I can’t wait.”

  His body jolted at her words. Though no one else could hear her, her admission in a public venue still aroused him. “We’re out of here.” He assessed the room, making an exit strategy and seeing nothing but unwanted commitments, connections, and favors he needed to repay laid out before him.