Typecast (21 page)

At last, they joined Isaac.

“So you and Logan are tearing it up online.” Isaac dug into his food.

“Maybe just a little ripping.” Ivy picked the grape tomatoes off her salad and, without a word or permission, snuck them onto his plate.

He swallowed, the whole action riling him up a bit, and he couldn’t stop from staring at her profile.

Isaac coughed to cover a laugh. “What’s the most interesting thing you’ve done so far?”

“I loved taking a ride in Logan’s car and going to see the movie with him.” She quickly glanced at him and then back to her plate, eyeing her next victim, the grilled green onion he put near her chicken. “Are you a fan of the film?”

Logan noted she didn’t mention meeting Erin, but then again she thought the woman was a bitch, and he wondered what she would think of Ryder later this week. Either way, he had to wonder what she would think if she knew she was having lunch with the elusive Drew Fulton.

He tore his gaze away from Ivy long enough to glance at Isaac. They rarely spoke about the film. It wasn’t the best time for his long lost costar.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it, but I’ll say it was interesting.” His friend lifted the onion on his plate. “Didn’t you study the film for your degree?”

He returned his attention to Ivy.

“I finished my master’s thesis on films that changed their generation.” She scooped the onion up on her fork.

He held his breath.

“You never wanted to go on and get your doctorate degree?” Isaac asked.

With her fork in midair, she answered. “I thought about going on, but I wanted to work in the industry.”

“Well, I predict that soon all entertainment will be on the Internet.” Isaac nodded.

“That’s the forecast.” In one smooth move, she smuggled the onion over to his plate.

“Look!” Logan yelled.

“Logan!” She dropped her fork. “What?”

“I’m sorry.” Not meaning to scare her, he caught her hand.

Isaac cracked up.

“What’s wrong?” With wide eyes, she looked at him.

“Ivy.” He took her other hand. “I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” She furrowed her brow. “Logan?”

He leaned in to her ear. “I like the way you put your garnishes on my plate.”

“Are you talking about sex?” she whispered.

Isaac stood from the table and bent over in a round of silent laughter.

“Not quite. I’m talking about your tomato and your onion.”

“Maybe we should save this conversation for later, then we can experiment.” Her voice lowered even further.

Well, at least she was up for experimentation. “I was talking about food and the way you put your tomato and your onion on my plate.”

“You like that?”

Isaac straightened up and returned to his seat.

“Yeah, only couples do that.”

“Oh.” A smile took over her face, outshining her already reddened cheeks, and she returned to her plate but scooted her seat a little closer to him. “Does that mean you would rather me not give my garnishes to anyone else?” Without skipping a beat, she took a bite of her meal.

The direct question. He had to give it to her for heeding his lessons and going for what she wanted. “I think we should only share our dishes between us. Does that sound all right?”

“Especially since your cooking is so delicious.” She tilted her head and peeked over at him.

“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.

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.