Hollywood & Vine

by Olivia Evans

  “Look.” Josie sighed and pulled in a deep breath, taking a moment to figure out a way to explain how she felt. “He drives me crazy. He called my boss and demanded I be at his beck and call because he doesn’t like being told no. He’s rude, pushy, and an all-around womanizing asshole. But I can’t deny that part of me gets off on the fact that he’s trying so hard. Turning him down has completely floored him. If I have to endure his shit every day, don’t I deserve to have a little fun in return?”

  “I’m not saying you aren’t justified. What I’m saying is this is his style, not yours. You don’t do things like this. You don’t play games. I’m worried you’re diving into a shark tank and you’re not going to make it out without being bitten.”

  Josie shook her head and smiled. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

  Inside the design room, Josie texted a couple of interns and instructed them to meet her at Anders’ trailer in a half hour. Once at her cubicle, she grabbed a pad and pen and locked her purse in the drawer before heading back outside. Since he was expecting her, she tapped on the door once before stepping inside.

  “You decent?” she joked. Nothing about him was decent.

  “What the fuck are you wearing?” he spat the moment he saw her. The black leather pants fit like a second skin and her top, if it could be called that, followed the curve of her breasts and dipped between them. The snug fit caused the swell of skin to plump at the top as wide straps wrapped over her shoulders and left her neck and collarbone exposed.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. Why are you dressed like that?”

  “I have plans later. I don’t have time to go home and change.”

  Anger. It was the only word Anders could come up with to describe the white-hot feeling burning through him. Anger toward her for dressing that way and anger for whomever she’d dressed that way for. So, like always, he lashed out. His face clean of emotion, he gave her a condescending smile. “Oh, another wrap party? You got your eye on someone else already? Well, dressed like that I’m sure you’ll have no trouble getting what you want.”

  Her mouth dropped open in shock before her own anger crested. She stormed across the room until they stood chest to chest. “Fuck you,” she spat. Her hand flew toward his face, but Anders was faster, catching her wrist seconds before she made contact.

  “I didn’t realize you like it rough,” he taunted, wrapping his free hand around her waist and pulling her flush against him. “Is that what you want, Ivy? Because I can give it to you rough if that’s what you want.”

  “Go to hell.” She ripped her arm free and stepped back. He moved to follow when there was a knock at the door. Josie breathed a sigh of relief and smoothed her hair. Her eyes never left Anders’ as she yelled, “Come in!”

  Two interns entered the room, their demeanor timid as they took in the stance of their boss and the actor both girls had a crush on. “Are we interrupting?” Amelia asked.

  “Of course not.” Josie smiled and walked over to the girls, all traces of anger wiped clean. “Mr. Ellis, these are my interns, Amelia and Kate. They’re shadowing me today.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Anders muttered. He pushed his hands through his hair in frustration before dropping them to his sides in defeat. “They better not get in my way.”

  “We wouldn’t dream of inconveniencing you, Mr. Ellis.” The sarcasm in her voice was clear. For the next half hour Josie acted like Anders wasn’t in the room. Even when she spoke directly to him, when she touched him, it was as though he were a ghost.

  Each time she bent over, each time she ignored him or dragged her tongue over her lips, she added fuel to the fire. She didn’t care. She’d never been mad enough to want to hit another human being, but she was today. He pushed her buttons in ways she didn’t understand, and anything she could do to return the favor she would. Tenfold if possible.

  Anders’ agitation grew with each passing second. He knew what she was doing, and he was going to put a stop to it. The moment they finished his measurements, he straightened his back and cleared his throat. Turning his attention to the interns, he smiled—it was over-the-top and insincere.

  “I hope you two gained some valuable experience today working with Ms. Bane, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you both to get the fuck out.”

  Josie gasped. Amelia and Kate jumped in surprise, gaping at him as they stood frozen. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his voice full of authority. “Now.”

  The interns scurried, barely avoiding a collision as they darted out the door. Josie snatched up her pad and moved to follow, but Anders was on her in three quick strides. He reached around her and slammed the door shut, his breath tickling the hair on her neck as he leaned into her and twisted the lock.

  “Oh, no.” He chuckled, his voice low and dark. “Not you, Ms. Bane. You and I, we have unfinished business to attend to.” He spun her around and pushed her against the door, his stance dominating as he caged her body with his.

  “I think we covered just about everything earlier when you called me a whore.” Josie’s voice was harsh, her anger rising again as she remembered how his words had made her feel, and worse, that he was justified to think that way.

  “You’re playing a very dangerous game, Ivy. One you won’t win. I hope you realize that.”

  “You’re so fucking full of yourself. You think everything is about you. That whatever I do is somehow connected to stroking that inflated ego of yours. Well, let me tell you something, Mr. Ellis. Your ego is the last thing I’m thinking about stroking tonight.”

  She was provoking him, pushing the limits of his tenuous temper to the brink. Still, she was unprepared when he wrapped one hand around her neck, the other around her waist, and kissed her. It wasn’t gentle. It was possessive and needy, frustrated and punishing.

  Josie grabbed the material of his shirt and pushed against his chest. She tried to fight the heat building and spreading through her limbs as he parted her lips and stroked her tongue with his. He twisted his hand in her hair and pulled her head back, arching her neck and exposing more of her skin. Suddenly she was no longer pushing but pulling. Her back bowed, bringing him closer. Only one word echoed in her mind: more.

  Anders broke away and moved to the column of her throat, dragging his mouth over her heated flesh. “Fuck yeah,” he moaned, rocking his hips forward. The moment he spoke, the spell broke. Josie stiffened then pushed against his chest but with more persistence this time.

  “Shit.” She pressed her fingers against her kiss-swollen lips. “This changes nothing.”

  “I think you and I know better than that.” The rough edge to his voice and the dark glint of desire in his eyes sent a shiver down Josie’s spine.

  “Kiss me again and I won’t give a fuck about the repercussions. I’ll make sure I’m never alone with you again. Understand what I’m saying?”

  Anders’ jaw ticked with anger. The implication was clear, but her eyes gave her away; she was bluffing. Now wasn’t the time to call her on her lie, though, not when he was still reeling from their kiss.

  “See you next time, Ms. Bane.” His voice was detached, his tone dismissive. Without a word she twisted the lock and stepped out of the trailer, letting the door slam behind her.

  Anders stared in disbelief. He needed to clear his head, get away from the studio. He needed a distraction. So he called the one person who got him, who would help him figure out what he needed to do to break Josie.

  “Maddox.”

  Anders grinned at the familiar greeting. “Owen, hey man. You back in town?”

  “Yes. Thank God. I’ve never been so happy to finish a movie in my life. I don’t think it could’ve been possible to pick a shittier place to film.”

  “That’s what you get for taking on a movie about the South. You end up in the damn woods.”

  Owen laughed. “Well, not all of us have Argent crawling back on their hands and knees begging for another c
hance.”

  “Well, that’s a damn shame.” Anders’ sigh was full of mock pity. A smile stretched across his face as he thought about everything he’d been able to get out of the studio. His mind flashed to Josie, who was decidedly not someone he was able to persuade to do as he wanted, which reminded him why he called Owen in the first place. “What are you doing tonight? You want to hang out?”

  “Hell, yes. I need to submerge myself back into LA nightlife, if you know what I mean.”

  Anders shook his head. “Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.”

  “Ten sound good to you?”

  “Same place?”

  “As always.”

  Anders hung up and headed toward the set. For the next several hours he focused on work, not once allowing himself to think about Josie. Even so, as soon as the director called it a day, she was the first thought to enter his mind. Frustrated, he climbed into his car and sped out of the lot. It was just after seven, which gave him plenty of time to get home and shower. He hoped Owen would be able to help him figure out what to do about Josie. He was ready to put this game of playing hard to get to an end.

  A little after ten, Anders pulled around to the back of Greystone Manor. He tossed his keys to the waiting attendant and walked to the side entrance. The bouncer unhooked the rope and stepped aside as Anders passed with a nod. As soon as he walked through the door, the club manager greeted him.

  “Good evening, Mr. Ellis. Mr. Maddox is waiting at your usual table. We’ve already set up your bar. If you’ll follow me.”

  He weaved through the crowd, loving the way girls’ eyes widened when they saw him. He wondered why Josie couldn’t react that way, why she had to be so goddamned difficult. Not for the first time, he questioned if it was worth the headache.

  His mind flashed to earlier that day when they had been alone in his trailer. He thought about the way her eyes had blazed with determination, the stubborn set of her mouth that made her lips pout, and the way her tits pressed against the front of her shirt as she drew in deep, angry breaths.

  Yeah, he thought, his grin widening, she was worth the trouble. Plus he only planned to deal with her bullheadedness until he got what he wanted. This was only temporary.

  “Hey, man,” Owen greeted. He rose halfway from his seat and clasped Anders’ hand.

  The pair had met on set a few years earlier and had become instant friends. Where Anders struggled to break into the business early on, Owen scored the grand slam of roles for his third movie, becoming an instant success. It wasn’t that Anders wasn’t successful as well—he was one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood—but he wasn’t a new face. When he hit it big, he was already well-known from his countless independent films.

  “Damn, what have you been doing down there, bench pressing rednecks?” Anders slid into the opposite side of the booth, laughing when Owen flexed his arms.

  “Only the hot ones.”

  Anders noticed a couple of girls working their way closer to the table and knew he wouldn’t have a lot of time to talk to Owen about Josie. He couldn’t believe there weren’t girls at the table already.

  When he and Owen had started going out together, people swarmed around them. Owen and Anders were two of the most attractive men in Hollywood. They had a similar build, both tall and toned with chiseled features, ensuring women were never in short supply. At the age of twenty-seven, they had the world at their feet, exactly where they wanted it.

  “So,” Anders began, downing the shot in front of him then pouring another.

  Owen lifted a brow and grinned at his friend. “So?”

  Anders huffed out a breath, a muffled curse falling from his lips before he resigned himself to the ribbing Owen was going to give him. “There’s this girl…”

  “Shut the fuck up!” Owen laughed, slamming his palm flat against the table.

  Anders narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. His words were low and almost unintelligible as he hissed through gritted teeth, “Would you let me finish before you lay into my ass?”

  Owen chuckled and leaned back, holding his hands in a placating manner. “I’m sorry. You caught me off guard. I’ll keep my mouth shut.” For now, he added silently.

  “There’s this girl…” Anders paused, waiting to see if Owen would have another outburst before continuing. “She’s a pain in the ass. She’s driving me crazy, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

  Owen furrowed his brows. “Well, send her packing.”

  “No,” Anders groaned. “I can’t send her packing. I could, but I don’t want to.”

  “Because...”

  “Because then I can’t fuck her.”

  “Wait a minute.” Owen leaned forward and grabbed his beer as he stared at Anders. “You’ve met a girl who won’t fuck you? Is she married? A lesbian? Some religious freak?”

  “Again.”

  “Again?”

  “I can’t get her to fuck me again,” Anders clarified. He dropped his eyes to the table and away from the incredulous look on Owen’s face.

  Owen downed his beer and poured two shots. “I need a little more information because I’m confused.”

  After knocking back their shots, Anders told Owen about Josie. “I’m serious. She’s the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met.”

  “Then why waste your time? If she’s such a pain in the ass, albeit a hot one, why bother? It’s not like a hundred other girls aren’t waiting in line.” To prove his point Owen jerked his chin toward the dance floor where several girls were eyeing them, just waiting for their opportunity. Anders shook his head, the stubborn set of his clenched jaw and furrowed brows were all the explanation Owen needed.

  “It’s because she won’t,” Owen surmised.

  “Exactly.”

  “You always did like a challenge. Maybe I should have a go at her once you’re done, see what all the fuss is about.”

  “Yeah, good luck with that.” Anders laughed. He tipped his beer at Owen with a nod and downed the rest, but it wasn’t in cheers. It was to hide the flash of anger that exploded in his chest at the thought of Owen touching Josie. Anders wasn’t sure if it was sexual frustration or a territorial instinct that caused him to burn with jealousy, but whatever the reason, he hated it.

  “So what can I do?”

  “I need you to tell me how to break her, how to wear her down, because nothing I’m doing is working.”

  Owen nodded. “Well, first you have to stop trying to fuck her.”

  “Why the hell would I do that?” He shouldn’t have come to Owen for advice.

  “Because that route isn’t working. You’re treating her like all the other women you fuck, and while that worked the first time, things are different now.” Owen paused, waiting to see if Anders was going to interrupt. When he didn’t, Owen continued. “Here’s the thing. You’ll never convince her that sex isn’t your ultimate goal. She’s in the business and you have a reputation. Plus you’ve already told her that’s what you want.”

  “So what do I do?”

  “Back off. Don’t let the first thing that comes out of your mouth be about sex. Ask personal questions, or comment on something she won’t take as you being a pervert. It’ll catch her so off guard she’ll answer before she can stop herself. It’ll give you an opening.”

  Anders cupped the back of his neck. He didn’t want to make small talk. He just wanted to fuck her. End of story.

  “It’s that or give up.” Owen shrugged and took a sip of his beer. “I still don’t understand why it matters so much.”

  “Neither do I,” Anders muttered. “So ask her questions? Talk to her about shit that doesn’t involve getting naked? Then what?”

  “Jesus man, has it really been that long since you’ve had to do anything to get a girl to sleep with you?” The blank stare on Anders’ face answered Owen’s question. “Are you sure you want to do this? Because it’s not going to happen overnight and you’re not the most patient person.”

  “
Yeah, I’m sure,” Anders nodded. “It won’t take long. She obviously finds me attractive. She’s the one who approached me. I just need to back off a little. I can do that.” Anders had a plan, an idea of what he needed to do. “How do you know all this shit anyway?”

  “Anders, here’s the thing.” Owen leaned back and took a long pull from his beer before continuing. “The difference between us is the reason we refuse to settle down. For instance, you fuck different girls because you don’t want to get attached. Which is understandable after the bullshit that happened to you. But me? I love women. All women. That’s why I won’t settle down. Not because I have issues with relationships, but because there are a lot of women in need of love I’m more than happy to give.” He swept his arm out toward the crowd of women on the dance floor, their long silky hair flowing down their backs, their short dresses putting miles of glistening, sweat-slickened skin on display. “Who am I to deprive the world of love?”

  Owen poured two more shots and slid one across to Anders. “You good?”

  Anders chuckled. “I’m good.”

  “I’m going to piss.”

  Anders nodded, the motion causing the room to spin. He looked at the scattered empty beer bottles and shot glasses in front of him and shook his head in disbelief.

  One of the girls who’d kept a close eye on them used Owen’s departure as her opportunity to approach their table. Undeterred by the spiteful glares from other girls not brave enough to approach, she crossed the room.

  “Hi.” Smiling, she trapped her lip between her teeth, causing Anders’ gaze to zero in on her mouth.

  Turning to face her, he flung his arm over the back of the booth. “Hey.”

  “I’m Clare.”

  “Uh-huh,” was his only response.

  “Want to buy me a drink?”

  “What do I get out of it?” His tone was playful, his expression roguish as he slipped back into his comfort zone, the place where he hid behind bright lights and a bad reputation, where emotions were non-existent and the endgame was always the same: predictable and safe.

  “Whatever you want.”

  Anders chuckled and motioned for the waitress keeping an eye on their table. He tilted his head toward Clare. “One of whatever the lady would like and a shot of tequila in a shooter tube.”