Once Upon a Bad Boy--A Sometimes in Love Novel

by Melonie Johnson

  Thoughts swirled through his head, question after question spinning their wheels, kicking up dust while doing three-sixties in his mental parking lot. Ever since Bo had learned she was going to be Ryan’s costar, he’d been preparing himself to deal with it. To deal with her. It wasn’t like he could back out of this commitment. The opportunity had been too good to pass up. What he’d told Sadie was only half true. Yes, he was the owner of Windy City Stunts, but it was a partnership. The primary owner was Vic, a crusty old fall guy who’d started an early version of the company when Bo was still tooling around on bikes with training wheels.

  When Vic asked Bo to come on board and help officially form WCS, Bo had focused most of his time coordinating projects for the local TV shows that filmed perennially in the city while Vic took on the film productions that came through. Bo had organized stunts for a few movies, but to date, nothing big had been under his solo command. The plan had always been for Bo to eventually take complete ownership of WCS, but when it came down to it, Vic was finding it hard to let go.

  Bo got it; he did. Vic loved his job and letting go of the company wasn’t a decision the tough old bird would make lightly. Nor should he. But Bo never would have agreed to a partnership if he’d thought WCS wouldn’t one day be his. Lately, he wondered if he’d made a mistake. If, like his father, he’d end up stuck running someone else’s business, putting all his time, sweat, and energy into something that belonged to somebody else.

  For the past two years, every time WCS took on a film, even when Bo was head coordinator, Vic couldn’t resist jumping in at the last minute and taking control. Bo didn’t mind, exactly. He appreciated Vic’s expertise and understood why it was hard for the guy to back off. But it was time Bo had a chance—not only to show Vic what he could do, but to prove to himself he had what it took to run the company on his own.

  When Ryan put in a good word for Bo with the executive producer of a big-budget action film based on a best-selling novel set in Chicago, it was the perfect opportunity. Due to WCS’s reputation, Bo was sure hiring their company had been a given, but thanks to Ryan, Bo’s name had been requested specifically, forcing Vic to step aside and let Bo take the reins.

  All Bo had to do now was manage to hold on to them. There was a lot of publicity surrounding this movie. If things went as well as Bo hoped, the success of this gig should be enough to finally convince Vic to let go permanently.

  Scribbling notes in the corner of the script, Bo did his best to ignore the woman next to him, ignore how she sat there looking casual, sexy, faded jeans hugging her legs. Ignore the honey-smooth caress of her voice whenever it was her turn to read. Ignore the warm, sweet scent of her. For Chrissakes, she smelled like freshly baked sin.

  It should be easy to ignore Sadie. Especially since, apparently, the opposite was true. She found it easy to ignore him. The fact she hadn’t known he was working on this project—hadn’t known anything about what he’d been doing with his life at all—stung. Eleven years. Had she never bothered to check in on him, never typed his name into the search bar or looked him up on social media? Not even once?

  Nope. Apparently, she’d just gone on with her life as if he’d never existed.

  Why was he surprised? That’s exactly what he’d told her to do.

  He just hadn’t realized it would be so easy for her. It hadn’t been for him.

  The director finally wrapped up the meeting with a reminder that her assistant would be sending out call sheets for the first week of shooting later that day. Once everyone had been dismissed and began filing out of the room, Bo hurried after Sadie, questions still churning.

  Before he could catch up to her, Ryan intercepted him with a dude-bro punch to the shoulder.

  “Man, I can’t wait to get started. This shoot is going to be sweet. I can do the jump off the silo, right? We don’t need a double for that.”

  “I need to think about it,” Bo hedged. “Consider the logistics first.”

  “Why don’t I take you out for a drink and we can look at the logistics together?” Ryan suggested.

  “Sure,” Bo agreed, tracking Sadie as she moved closer to the door of the conference room.

  “Wait.” Ryan’s face fell. “I can’t have beer. Too many carbs.”

  For a second Bo thought the guy was going to burst into tears, but then Ryan beamed with fresh enthusiasm. “What if I buy the beers and watch you drink them?”

  “Like some kind of alcoholic voyeurism?” Bo snorted, beginning to shake his head no, but paused and changed his mind. “You know what? Sure, I’m in.” He owed Ryan for the referral and besides, he’d say anything to get the guy out of his way. Sadie had stopped to talk to someone, now was his chance.

  “Great, man.” Ryan slapped him on the back. “Tonight, then. It’ll be fun.”

  Bo nodded, relieved he was finally free. But before he could head toward Sadie, Ryan beat him to it. Bo watched in mute frustration as the charming lead actor bent his head low to whisper in Sadie’s ear.

  Clutching her purse to her chest, she giggled. Bo’s heart clenched at the sound. A moment later, Ryan was leading Sadie out the door of the conference room, the two of them wearing matching looks of clandestine mischief.

  He watched them go, shocked at the sudden rush of jealousy heating his blood. This was dangerous. Bo needed to get his shit together and relax. Be rational. Professional. If Ryan and Sadie wanted to sneak off together for a bit of … whatever it was they were doing, it wasn’t his business. Why should he be surprised? It made sense. The two of them were going to be spending a lot of time together, and it was not unlikely something would develop between the costars. Bo saw it all the time on set.

  Holy hell, with the number of fights and stunts this script called for, he’d be spending a lot of time with them too. With her. But while performers dating each other was common and widely accepted—often even expected—a stunt man dating an actress, especially a lead actress, was not.

  Bo hoped Ryan planned to make good on his offer, because he suddenly found himself needing a drink.

  * * *

  That evening the actor did, indeed, follow through, which was how Bo found himself propped on a bar stool in the trendy brewery conveniently located around the corner from the studio. Bo was on his second beer and Ryan was on his second chick. He took a swill of his porter and eyed Ryan in the act of getting girl number two’s phone number.

  Thanks to its location, the brewpub was a hot spot for people in the biz to hook up. Or, even more common, for those looking to hook up with someone in the biz. The flirting had started the moment Ryan had walked in, making Bo wish he’d picked a place under the radar. After girl number two blew them both a kiss and bounced off, Bo decided to give the actor a piece of his mind. “What the fuck, dude?”

  “Huh?” Ryan gave him a blank stare.

  “If you’re messing around with Sadie, what are you doing chasing tail here?”

  Ryan chuckled.

  Embarrassment washed over him. Bo regretted bringing the subject up, but it was out there now, so he forged ahead. “Look, it’s not really any of my business, except for the fact that I have to work with both of you.” There’s also the fact that the thought of you hurting her makes me want to rip your head from your shoulders.

  “No, man, you got it all wrong.” Ryan shook his head, still laughing. “Sadie and I are just friends. I don’t like to taint the well, if you know what I mean.”

  Bo raised a brow.

  “I’m serious. I don’t date costars. Something always goes wrong and it ends in disaster.” Ryan cracked open a bottle of mineral water and took a swig. “It’s like that old saying, don’t shit where you eat.” He smirked. “Well, kind of. My rule is don’t fuck where you work.” Another chuckle. “It’s like my mantra.”

  “You should see about getting that put on a T-shirt,” Bo muttered.

  “That’s not a bad idea.” Ryan grinned at him across the table, eyes gleaming with impish curiosity. “What
gave you the idea I’m messing around with Sadie?”

  “The two of you seemed extra friendly when I first walked in today. And then, after the read, when you rushed off together…” Bo trailed off. “Whatever. Obviously, I must have been mistaken.”

  “Dude,” Ryan said, staring at Bo. “Duuuuuuuuude.”

  “What?” Bo snapped.

  “You like her.”

  “What is this? Fucking kindergarten?”

  “You do, you totally have feelings for her.” Ryan leaned across the table wiggling his eyebrows. “What’s up between you two, anyway?”

  “Nothing.” Bo stared into his beer. Once upon a time, she’d been his everything. “I told you, we knew each other as kids.”

  “Uh-huh, yeah. That nothing seemed like a whole lot of something to me.” Ryan shook his head. “The tension between you two was thick enough to choke an orca.”

  Shit. He hadn’t covered up his feelings as well as he’d thought. “You noticed that, huh?”

  “Come on, man. I’m not a complete dumbass.” Ryan straightened up on his stool. “I’m actually a better actor than people give me credit for. It’s not just this hot bod, you know.” He winked, pressing a quick kiss to each of his biceps. “Though, that is why you saw me sneaking off with Sadie earlier.”

  “Because of your hot bod?” Bo’s grip tightened on his glass as he raised it to his mouth. Again, white-hot jealousy rushed through him, singeing his insides. Fuck.

  “Chill, bro. I told you, it’s not like that.” Ryan watched, face full of longing as Bo chugged his beer. “We’re both stuck on this evil diet as part of the movie prep. It’s killing me. For real. I thought I was dying today, and she saved me.”

  “Okay,” Bo drawled, not sure where this hyperbole was headed.

  “No, really. She had a donut stashed in her purse. And not just any donut, a Stan’s donut. It was like a freaking miracle.”

  Bo stared at him. Well, that explained the warm delicious smell.

  “I’m telling you, she saved my life.” Ryan leaned an elbow on the table. “Just ask my fans. I’ve been filming myself when I have to eat the crap on my meal plan. Making little videos so they can watch me suffer for my art, that kind of thing.”

  At that moment, a woman Bo predicted would become girl number three walked up to their table. “Hey,” she purred. “Aren’t you Ryan Gratt?”

  “Hey, yourself,” Ryan shot back. “Aren’t you my date tomorrow?”

  Bo hid a smile in his beer. The actor had dropped his voice to a deep gravelly rumble. To Bo, it sounded ridiculous, like a cartoon caped crusader, but the chicks seemed to lap it up. The woman leaned in closer and ran her hand along Ryan’s arm, fondling his muscles.

  After exchanging numbers and making plans to meet up later, the woman sauntered off. Ryan watched her go with an appreciative sigh. “Yeah, the diet sucks and the training blows, but it’s all worth it.”

  “Because it scored you a role in a big movie?”

  “No, man. Because it’s scoring me all the pussy I can eat.”

  Bo shook his head at the guy’s crass goofiness and finished up his drink. “Just don’t go overboard. I need you well rested for Monday.”

  “Don’t worry.” Ryan wiggled his eyebrows. “I plan to spend most of my time in bed this weekend.”

  Exhausted, Bo wanted nothing more than to head home and spend the weekend in bed himself. But somehow, with memories of a hot blonde who smelled like fresh-baked temptation taking up all the space in his head, he doubted he’d be getting much sleep.

  CHAPTER 4

  WAY TOO EARLY on Sunday morning, while normal people were still sleeping, Sadie was on a mostly empty L train, taking the purple line north out of the city to meet Ana for their bike ride. She’d had over twenty-four hours to process the fact she would be spending the next few months working with Bo Ibarra. And still, it seemed unreal. Seeing him had been unreal.

  Sadie may have never expected to see him again, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t imagined the moment over and over in the last decade. In the hundreds of thousands of times her mind had played out various ways their paths might cross one day, she’d never managed to come up with this scenario. It was almost enough to make her believe in fate.

  Almost.

  Exiting the train, Sadie headed east. From the first time she’d read the script, she knew she wanted the role of Jamie. More than anything she’d ever wanted, ever. Well, except for one other thing. And, strangely enough, thanks to this movie, that was suddenly, unbelievably, happening too. Because deep down, Sadie had always wanted to see Bo again.

  A buzz of energy zinged through her, the same way it had on Friday when she’d sat next to him. At first, she hadn’t recognized the charged hum of nerves fluttering around inside her, because it had been so long since she’d felt it. Hope. She wrapped her arms around herself, holding the feeling close.

  Sadie turned the corner and headed down the path toward the bike trail. A blast of wind hit her full in the face, and she ducked her head, pulling her hood up.

  “You’re late,” Ana called from across the trail’s parking lot, voice rising over the steady crash of the waves rolling in on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

  Sadie squinted through the wind and glare coming off the lake to see her friend leaning against a van with GLASS SLIPPER EVENTS, the name of Ana’s party planning company, emblazoned on the side. Two bikes rested on their kickstands nearby, frames glinting in the morning light, helmets hanging by their straps on the handlebars. “What time did you get here? Sunrise?”

  “Maybe.” Ana grinned, standing up and stretching. She grabbed one of the helmets and handed Sadie the other. “Ready to roll?”

  “Let’s get this over with,” Sadie grumbled, strapping the helmet on. “What kind of ride do you have planned for us today?” she asked, bending over to loosen up her hamstrings. “Long?” She stood, kicking a foot up behind her and grabbing her ankle, stretching her quads. She switched legs. “Or really long?”

  “Hey, riding season is almost over,” Ana protested, pulling two water bottles out of the van before locking it. She tossed one to Sadie, then shoved hers into a wire holder secured to the bike frame.

  “Which means you’re adding extra miles each ride to … what? Make up for all the rides you’re going to miss once winter hits?” Sadie shoved her water bottle into the holder on the other bike.

  “Something like that.” Ana chuckled. She grabbed her bike by the handlebars and headed across the lot.

  “Why don’t you just ride indoors during the winter?” Sadie wondered, following behind her friend.

  “I do ride a stationary bike in the winter. But it’s not the same.” Ana slipped her feet into the stirrups on her pedals and eased onto the trail. She rose from the saddle and started pumping hard, picking up speed.

  “Ana, wait!” Sadie called, hopping onto her borrowed bike and hurrying to catch up. It never ceased to amaze her how damn fast her friend was on two wheels.

  Forty-five freaking minutes later, Ana finally slowed down, and Sadie pulled up next to her, breathing hard. “Well, I got my workout for today,” she wheezed.

  “Says the one who’s supposed to be in shape,” Ana snorted.

  “You’ve always kicked my ass on a bike.”

  “True.” Ana grinned. She let go of one of the handlebars and patted her leg. “It’s thanks to these babies.” Bending to grab her water bottle, she sat back up and took a quick chug before adding, “Thick thighs save lives.”

  Sadie choked on her water, snorting with laughter. “Put that on a T-shirt.”

  “Already done, my friend.” Ana stashed her bottle and began to pick up the pace again.

  “Not yet!” Sadie groaned, falling behind as she wrestled to put her own bottle back. “Can’t we take it easy for a little bit?” She flung an arm out toward the lake. “It’s a gorgeous day, let’s enjoy it.”

  When Ana still didn’t slow down, Sadie called out, “I have something
important to tell you!”

  That got her friend’s attention. Ana squeezed her brakes, chin jerking over her shoulder as she watched Sadie catch up. “Well?”

  “Give me a sec,” Sadie huffed, sucking in air. She could run mile after mile. Deadlift twice her weight. But get her on a bike and she was toast. After a few minutes pedaling at a more leisurely clip, Sadie had her breath back … but not her words. She’d wanted to talk to Ana about Bo, but now that the moment was here, she couldn’t work up the nerve.

  “Does it have something to do with the movie?” Ana asked, impatient as she forced herself to maintain a slower pace.

  “Yes and no.” Sadie guided her bike around a curve, checking to make sure the way ahead was clear.

  “Something happen at the read? Is your costar a dick?”

  “No, nothing like that. Ryan is fine.” Sadie shook her head. “Fun, even.” She tugged at the zipper of her hoodie with one hand. Now that she’d worked up a sweat, the breeze felt good. “I shared my donut with him.”

  “That was fast,” Ana snickered.

  “Will you stop with the euphemisms!” Sadie reached over to shove her friend, but Ana pedaled out of reach. Drawing even with her again, Sadie continued, “My costar is not the problem. It was someone else at the meeting.”

  “The director? I thought you said you loved Sylvia.”

  “I do love Sylvia, she’s great. I’m thrilled to be working with her.”

  “Then who?”

  “I’m trying to tell you!” Sadie snapped, exasperated.

  “Well, you’re not doing a good job of it. Spit it out already. What happened that was so important? Who was at the reading?”

  “Bo,” Sadie said, before her courage left her again.

  “Bo?” Ana skidded to a halt. “Bo Bo?”

  Besties since their first day of posh, overpriced preschool, Ana had known Sadie a long time. She knew everything that had happened with Bo.