Torrid Love: Friends to Lovers Romance (Bad Boy Studs Book 1)

by Scarlett Avery

I don’t need a road map to figure that one out.

  “You’re spending the evening with him?”

  “I am. We planned this while I was in Europe.”

  Well, I’ll be damned.

  “You guys are friends now?”

  I know I sound like a five-year-old.

  “Rod, grow up.”

  Okay, I deserved that.

  I will my boiling anger to settle down.

  “What about after you’re done with him? Maybe we can connect?”

  “It might be late.”

  “Are you kidding me right now?”

  “No, I’m not,” she says firmly.

  “You’re interested in him?”

  The question churns my stomach.

  “Do you see me asking who you’re going to spend the evening with?”

  I take a step closer so my voice doesn’t carry. “For God’s sake, I’m trying to spend the evening with you, Dom.”

  “Call one of the girls in your little black book. I’m tied up.”

  She’s steadfast in her resolve.

  Fuck, I hate it when she’s like this.

  I try a different approach. “Maybe we can talk when you get back home. It doesn’t matter how late, you can call me.” I’m a goddamn liar. The last thing I need is a timestamp reminding me of how many hours she spent with the British asshole, doing God knows what with him.

  The thought annoys the hell out of me, but there’s something else. A pull at my heart, I’ve never felt before, catches me off guard.

  “Let’s leave it for another day,” she says.

  “I don’t want what transpired between us yesterday to hang over our heads like a dark cloud. Let’s just talk about it.”

  “Rod, lately, when we talk about it, it ends up in a disaster. Why bother?” She punctuates her stinging remark with a one-shoulder shrug.

  “Why bother?” I repeat. “Because it fucking matters, Dom.”

  “You’re fishing for something I can’t give you. Talking won’t change a thing. You, me, nobody can change the past.” Her lips pull up into a tight smile. “Not to mention the way you humiliated me today doesn’t really make me want to spend any time with you or talk to you. Now if you’ll excuse me.” With that, she walks right past me and out the door. She doesn’t even look back.

  I screwed up in a big way.

  CHAPTER 18

  Dominika

  My heart bleeds at how I left things off with Rod. Fuck. But, how do I open up to him without tripping all over the ugly past? This is the kind of truth that would bring his world crashing. His axis would flip upside down and God knows how he’d react if he ever found out. It’s not like he trusts easily to start off with.

  After leaving the set, I made my way back to my studio––which is adjacent to Rod’s––dropped my equipment and left as quickly as I could. I drove back to my place to shower and change before meeting Joel. As I was slipping behind the wheel of my car, Joel texted me. He’s no longer in the mood for Mexican. Instead of meeting at Cantina Zaragoza, he wants to have dinner at Matcha Flip. Fine Japanese dining, he says. It doesn’t make me hate sushi any less. Tempura it is!

  I pull my white Porsche Cayenne into a vacant parking spot right in front of the restaurant. Yay! I get out of my car, engage the alarm, and give my wheels one last appreciative glance before heading to the door. My ride is five years old and used to belong to the wife of a successful casting director Rod’s friend Collin Dennison knows. She needed an upgrade since she had recently upgraded her Range Rover. I got a great friend-of-a-friend deal and it’s perfect for all my video equipment.

  I had to negotiate with Joel before we came to an agreement. First, he wanted us to meet in his hotel room. That was a hard no. Second, he wanted to send a car to pick me up. Not happening. I want to have the freedom to leave when I want. He thought I was being so North American about it. I’m just being practical. There was no way I was going to tell Rod any of this, he’d have a heart attack. Pushing thoughts of my best friend from my mind, I step into the restaurant.

  After giving my name to the hostess, I follow a waitress through the packed restaurant to the table where Joel is already waiting. He gets up when he sees me and welcomes me with a warm smile. He’s changed into a gray suit and a crisp white shirt—no tie. We exchange a euro kiss before locking eyes again.

  “I know I said it earlier, but the transformation is truly remarkable. You look even more spectacular now than you did earlier. I’m not even sure how that’s possible.”

  I opted for a long-sleeved white lace dress, which I paired with nude patent-leather shoes with a buckle-fastening ankle strap. It has a slight heel and the color complements the lining of the dress. The ponytail still worked, so I didn’t bother with my hair. I toned down my makeup and added a few large gold hoops and I was set. The look is chic and professional.

  “Flattery will get you everywhere,” I joke.

  “Good because I know I have my work cut out for me. Please sit down,” he says, pulling out my chair.

  “Thank you,” I say taking a seat.

  I know Rod thinks this is a date, but it isn’t. While I was in Europe, Joel insisted he had the opportunity of a lifetime to present to me. When I hesitated, he buttered it up, claiming it would be a crying shame if I refused to at least listen. Rod likes to quote, ‘You miss every shot you don’t take’. Yeah, he’s a big basketball fan. So this is me, stepping into something potentially much bigger.

  “Shall we start with sake or wine?” Joel asks.

  “No, I’m fine. Thank you so much, but I’m driving.”

  “One glass won’t put you on the wrong side of the law.”

  “I’ll stick to Perrier if that’s okay with you.”

  “Absolutely. Whatever the lady desires,” he smiles. “I took the liberty of asking the waitress what she recommends since you’re not a fan of sushi. She suggested the pan fried Gyoza and the steamed edamame for appetizers.”

  “I can handle dumplings and soybeans,” I say.

  “Good. Wait until you hear about the mains.”

  “I’m all ears.”

  “The pièce de résistance is their eighteen different types of tempura dishes.”

  My eyes grow wide.

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes,” he says before leaning into the table. “I’m definitely having the sushi, but you’re more than welcome to sample all eighteen dishes,” he whispers as if we’re exchanging a big secret.

  “I might take you up on your offer.”

  “A woman with an appetite is a woman after my own heart.”

  “Let’s not get carried away, it’s only Japanese food,” I joke.

  We both laugh.

  * * *

  As usual, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. I gave it a valiant effort, but in the end, the tempura won. I’m so taking the rest home. Joel polished off his massive tray of sushi. The food was delicious—far better than I expected. Despite this being a business meeting, Joel couldn’t resist putting on the charm. He gave me the whole, ‘I can’t believe a stunning and smart woman like you goes to bed alone at night. What a crying shame’, spiel and the, ‘It so happens, I’m also single and I’ll be posted in the US more now. Maybe we can hang out’. I smiled and explained I was happy with my singleton status and waking up alone in a big king size bed has its advantages. All arguments I wholeheartedly believed until yesterday morning. Nothing compares to waking up pressed against Roderick Wolfe’s hard body.

  Damn him.

  “So, what’s this opportunity of a lifetime you wanted to talk about?” I ask as he refills his beer glass.

  “Straight to business?” his eyes shift up to mine as he drops the bottle back on the table.

  “I disagree. We’ve been chatting for the past hour. You know everything there is to know about me.”

  He shoots me an incredulous gaze. “Good try, but I don’t buy it. I doubt we’ve even scratched the surface. There’s so much more to know about you
, Dominika. So, now that you’re stuffed silly, you can’t wait to get the hell out of here?”

  He almost sounds offended.

  “I have a long day of complicated editing work tomorrow. I could’ve opted for drinks, but I agreed to dinner. Getting to know me, isn’t part of our agreement. I direct and produce your videos. You know the essentials. You have something to share? I’m listening.”

  The longer we drag this out, the easier he might misconstrue this for a date.

  “Fair enough,” he says. “I want you.”

  “Don’t they all. Take a number, mate,” I joke.

  “Your sense of humor is contagious. Can you blame me for liking you so much?”

  “Joel,” I warn.

  “All right, all right, you win,” he lifts his hands up in capitulation. “Let’s get down to business. As you know, in four months, the band and I are embarking on our first US tour.”

  “Yes.”

  “I want to capture every moment of it.”

  “That’s a great idea. I’m sure you aren’t looking for my blessings or a step-by-step strategy on how to fill arenas. How do I fit in?”

  Joel glances across the table and meets my gaze. “I want you to come on tour with us.”

  “Joel, I’m not a musician,” I remind him.

  “That’s exactly why we’re sitting here today. I want to put your incredible talent to work.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t follow.”

  “I’m thinking of a behind the scenes music documentary. Something memorable. Something award-worthy. I want to prove there's more to us than sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll. America loves woe to whoa stories. It fazes no one anymore in the UK, but we’re four lads who rose from the pits of hell to where we are today. I want people to know about that.”

  “I didn’t know you had a hard childhood.”

  “Hard is putting it mildly.”

  “I can relate.” He cocks an eyebrow. “Yeah, let’s not get into it. That might require me to drink.”

  “It seems we have a lot more in common than we thought,” he nods.

  “It sounds like it.”

  “Let’s write a new story… for both of us. I want you to film behind the scenes of our Ripped Incognito tour. Once done, we’ll shoot for the stars—the Oscars.” What? “If we miss, we’ll shop the documentary around to content-on-demand channels like UTV.com for a chance at an Emmy. Who knows? If we go deep enough––which means opening up candidly about our fucked up childhood––we might have a chance at Sundance. The thought is slightly terrifying, but it might be worth it. In the end, your name would be on the credits, therefore, your name would be on the ballots.”

  “Me?” I’m completely dumbfounded.

  “Yes, you! Give me a sec,” he says reaching for his phone. He taps and swipes and hands me his phone. “See this?”

  The headline from indiewire.com jumps off the screen. ‘THE 25 BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES OF THE 21ST CENTURY.’

  Wow.

  “I do.”

  “I want our documentary to be on that list.”

  “That’s ambitious,” I counter.

  “It’s doable.” There’s no mistaking the confidence rolling off him. “In preparation for this tour, we’ve been interviewing talent in the UK and via Holt’s contacts, we’ve also been in touch with people here in LA. I’ll be honest, you put them to shame.”

  “I’m flattered—”

  “You’re the best right now, Dominika. Intuitive. Creative. Edgy. Brilliant. I’m impressed as hell by your keen eye.”

  I glance down at my folded hands, my face flushing red.

  “I don’t know what to say.” A million thoughts collide in my head… and my heart. “I’m already established here.”

  “You’re still an independent contractor, right?”

  “I am, but I owe Rod and Loki a lot. I can’t just drop them.”

  “It’s not like Pending Inference Productions owns you. If you give them advance notice, it’s fair game.”

  “It doesn’t sit right with me, Joel.”

  “You’re not an employee of theirs. You’re a free agent,” he stresses.

  “I can’t just throw loyalty out the door.”

  I cut my teeth at UTV.com. Thanks to Rod’s persuasion, Rory and Roark allowed me to shadow some of the best directors and producers in the industry. When it was time to fly on my own, Rod didn’t waste any time in hiring me as a contractor.

  “This isn’t forever. You can always go back to Rod and Loki once the tour is done.”

  There’s something about the way he said that.

  “And there’s my crew,” I argue.

  “Of course your crew is part of the offer.”

  “Wow. You’ve really thought about this.”

  “I have. It’s become an obsession. If you agree, I’ll have no problem selling it to Holt. He has big dreams for us on this side of the pond. I have even bigger ones. I don’t just want to be another rock star, I want to become a legend.”

  This is a whole new side to Joel. He comes across as fleeting. I never suspected a deeper, more complex person was hiding beneath the surface.

  “It’s a six-month tour,” he continues.

  “I—”

  “I’ll double whatever Pending Inference Productions pays you. We’ll foot the bill for all of your expenses. And I’ll even offer a percentage of box office sales and royalties from TV stations.”

  Whoa.

  “Are you serious?”

  “I’m bloody serious.”

  “That’s potentially a lot of money, Joel.”

  “I know,” he grins. “Like I said, you’re the best. Why would I settle for less?”

  “Oh.”

  Now I’m really at a loss for words.

  “Think about it. This elevates you from just a director-slash-producer to potentially an award-winning director-slash-producer. A subtle nuance that will get you noticed.” More like a big fucking huge nuance that kicks doors wide open. “It’s only a few months in your life. The outcome could be very interesting.” You mean epic. “You’re young. This would put your career in overdrive.” He pauses. Several beats tick away as we just stare at each other. “What do you have to lose?”

  Being away from Rod.

  CHAPTER 19

  Roderick

  I can’t believe she’s on a date with Joel.

  It’s like a slap in the face she replaced me so quickly. I guess what we shared meant nothing to her.

  After I took care of her Saturday night, we lingered lazily, wrapped into each other in her deep bathtub before going back to her bedroom and crashing. No way was I going home. I swear that was the best sleep of my life. Waking up with my mouth on her pussy first thing Sunday morning was fucking hot. What happened after that is still a puzzle to me. And now, I’m the last one to find out about fucking Joel.

  Why the hell didn’t she tell me she was interested in him?

  Had I known, I would’ve gone home and jerked off in the shower instead of losing myself between her legs on Saturday night.

  Fuck.

  I’m staring at the screen of my iMac, but everything is a blur. I’m totally engrossed in all sorts of bad scenarios involving my best friend and a certain pushy British rocker. The troubling thought makes me want to plant my fist into a window. It took Herculean strength not to ask her where she was meeting the bastard. It’s not like I intended on dropping by. I just wanted to know. There’s a big difference between being her best friend and a stalker. I’ve never crossed the line so far. Joel Banner makes me want to change my mind. Especially since I now know how good it feels to have Dom’s sexy body wrapped around mine while she swallows my cock. It changes everything.

  “It’s been a long day,” Loki says walking into my office. His entrance catches me off guard and I jolt. “Am I interrupting your evil plan to kill Joel and dispose of his body in the Pacific Ocean?”

  I look up at him and frown. “What are you talking about?”r />
  “Word has it Dom is out on a date with Joel—”

  “Good for her.”

  “You’re full of shit, Wolfe.”

  “Jesus Christ, Loki,” I snap indignantly. “She can do whatever she wants. With whomever she wants.”

  Good one. Too bad you don’t believe any of it.

  “Right,” he sneers, a half smile hanging from the corner of his lips. Damn, I hate when he does that. “In any case, I have a corner booth reserved for us at the back of Vego’s Lounge. Let’s head over there for drinks and dinner.”

  “Thanks, I’ll pass. I’m not in the mood. I’m going home.” Where I can wallow in my self-pity alone.

  “I don’t care what fucking mood you’re in, Rod. You’re coming.” His tone is harsh.

  “What the hell is your problem?”

  “No, the question is, what’s up your ass?”

  I jump to my feet, circle my desk and stand in his face.

  I’m six one and Loki towers over me by three inches, but right now he’s giving off a don’t-fuck-with-me vibe that makes him appear ten feet tall.

  I tilt my head to the side and challenge him. “What did you just say to me?”

  “Let me answer the question for you,” he says. “Your head is up your ass, Rod. You can come to Vego’s Lounge willingly or I’ll haul your ass over my shoulder and carry you there kicking and screaming if I have to. Roark is already waiting for us.”

  “What?”

  “I need backup. The only reason Rory isn’t also there is because he’s in Miami.”

  “You organized an intervention?” Betrayal burns a hole in my gut. “I’ve been off drugs for a while now so you’re wasting your fucking time, Loki.”

  “Rod, your retarded caveman attitude towards your best friend is affecting your judgment and team morale. The shit you pulled today is unacceptable. Not only were you unprofessional, but you were rude. Your mother might have been a poor excuse for a parent, but I know your brothers and Nana instilled better manners in you. I didn’t recognize the guy who was running his mouth. He looked like you, but he didn’t sound like you. And what was it with all that back and forth to the set? Dom is a grown woman. You don’t own her.”