Hollywood Enigma: Hollywood Name Game Book 5

by Alexa Aston

  Rhett placed a hand on Wynn’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’ve come into our lives, Wynn. I think you and Scarlett will make a dynamite team.”

  ◆◆◆

  Scarlett saved the file and closed her laptop. She said to Knox, “Everything’s done on my end. I’ll messenger over copies of all the docs for you and London to sign.”

  “This is really happening.”

  “It is and it’ll be successful, Knox. You’ll have a lot to celebrate.”

  “We’ll make a difference in the lives of so many kids. I think about how different my life might’ve been if only someone had intervened. Recognized the signs.” He laughed. “Not that that was going to happen while I was being schooled on the set for a few hours a day by an uninterested tutor.”

  She remembered watching Knox on TV when she was a young girl. He was a popular child and teenage actor, one of the few who’d transitioned into adult roles. Even though he was a few years younger than she was, he’d looked incredibly mature in the poster she’d hung on her childhood bedroom wall. It was amazing they’d come to know one another as adults. Scarlett had the utmost respect for Knox, for what he’d done with his life and career.

  It made her think about her own, something she found herself reflecting on continually ever since Rhett was shot.

  “Thanks again for everything, Scarlett. You’ve made this process so easy for us to understand.”

  “Wait until you get the bill, my friend,” she teased. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. I’ll even bring bagels. Bye.”

  She slipped her phone into her pocket. She would stop at her favorite bagel place and hope something would entice her. The last few mornings she hadn’t been hungry. Even now, nothing sounded good to her. She weighed herself last night and found she’d lost three pounds. Eating regular meals had never been high on her agenda, especially with the long hours she worked at Lymon McGraw. Erica took care of her by usually ordering her a salad or sandwich so she’d have something to eat while she was in the office. Sometimes, she’d stop for takeout on the way home or have Chinese or pizza delivered. She was getting old now. Mid-thirties. It might be time to start eating like a responsible grownup.

  Especially if she wanted to eat for two.

  Ever since she’d held Madison a few weeks ago, having a baby tugged more and more on her heart. She’d been ready to act on it right as Wynn came into her life. Now, her thoughts turned to him and what a great dad he would be. Being around children had really brought out a fun, playful side that made her even more crazy for him. Their relationship was so new, though. It wasn’t as if she could haul off and say at thirty-four her biological clock was going wild and might he want to have a baby with her. They’d only known each other a short time. Even if it came down to I love yous, Wynn wouldn’t want to jump into making a baby.

  Would he?

  She remembered she needed to get the final legal papers to Knox and London. Opening her laptop again, she emailed the files to Erica and then texted her assistant to print them out and have copies hand-delivered to the Monroes.

  That completed, her thoughts returned to Wynn. They’d only slept together once, that first night they’d met, before she’d ground things to a halt because she planned to represent him and didn’t think it smart to mix business with pleasure. Though she’d changed her mind and fully planned to have her way with him after she managed to sweet talk Rylon into changing Wynn’s deal, her plans had been put on hold when they’d gotten the call about Rhett and raced to the hospital.

  Ever since then, she’d spent plenty of time with Wynn—but he went home to Malibu each night while she stayed at Rhett’s. Though she would have loved for Wynn to spend the night with her, it would have proved awkward in case Kyle or Cadence came bursting in on her early some morning and found a naked Carbon Man in bed with their auntie. That would be a challenge to explain. In a way, though, not having sex had done two things. First, it allowed them time to build a solid friendship. Having spent so much time together the past month, she’d discovered she truly enjoyed Wynn’s company. She liked him as a person. He was interesting and observant and sometimes said the most unexpected things, which she appreciated.

  The second? It had cranked the sexual tension between them to Defcon 5.

  Scarlett wanted Wynn. In every way imaginable. She lay awake in bed at night and thought of all of things she’d like to do to him—and with him. Sure, he’d kissed her several times over the last few weeks when they could steal a few moments alone. Sometimes hard, swift kisses and a few times slow and lengthy ones that made her insides coil and sizzle.

  Still, kissing wasn’t sex. Scarlett needed sex. Hot, passionate sex. With Wynn. Desperately.

  “You busy?”

  She felt heat rise in her cheeks as the object of her desires popped his head into Rhett’s office.

  “No. In fact, I just finished up on the papers for incorporating Knox and London’s new business and tying it to their charity. I’ll pick up the signed papers in the morning and file them at the courthouse.”

  “How about we go out for lunch?” Wynn suggested. “Much as I love playing Uncle Wynn and Errand Boy, it would be great to have adult only conversation with a beautiful woman.”

  Scarlett stood and went to him, entwining her arms around his neck and giving him a soft kiss. “I can think of other things besides conversation. Other adult things, that is.”

  “You think?” His eyes gleamed. “Like this?”

  Wynn walked her backward a few steps and closed the door with his foot before spinning her around and pushing her against it. His body pressed against hers as his lips hovered above her mouth.

  “Let’s play The Game of Life. Grown-up style.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Wynn had waited long enough. Almost six weeks’ worth. His one encounter with Scarlett Corrigan had been electric. He knew it. She knew it. They’d played this game long enough.

  He wanted her. Now.

  His hands went to her breasts and he laid flat palms against them. Slowly, he moved them in circles, feeling her nipples tighten and pebble through her silk blouse. He kept the motion up, his pace antlike, as his lips went to her throat. His tongue found her pulse, beating rapidly, and circled it. Then he captured each nipple between his thumb and index finger and rolled them. Immediately, Scarlett whimpered and pressed against him. Her fingers pushed into his hair. Her breasts began to swell.

  Wynn nipped at her neck and then tweaked each nipple. A gasp escaped and he moved his mouth to cover hers. Before his tongue could plunge inside she opened and forced hers into his mouth, at war with him. He kept toying with her nipples, knowing it was driving her wild from the noises she made and how her fingers tightened on his hair.

  He lifted his hands and she broke the kiss.

  “Don’t stop,” she groaned.

  Smiling, he moved his fingers to the top button on her shirt and opened it and then slid another open. He slipped a hand inside and let a finger trace the upper curve of her breast. Scarlett moaned again, her head rolling. Quickly, Wynn finished the job and pushed the shirt over her shoulders to her elbows, pinning her arms in place. The clasp of her bra was in front and he opened it, fanning it back, staring at the perfect globes.

  “You are so beautiful.”

  With that, he grasped her waist and bent until his mouth rested against a nipple. His tongue shot out and flicked across it. She bucked against him. He continued tasting and teasing her as she murmured his name, over and over, her head whipping back and forth. Wynn lavished attention on the breast and then moved to the other, repeating each move, hearing her suck in her breath.

  He looked up. “Are you wet for me, Scarlett?”

  “Yes,” she hissed, her eyes closed.

  Wynn’s hands slid down the curve of her hips and found the edge of her skirt. He slipped a hand under it, his fingers skimming her thighs. Moving higher, he toyed with the seam of her sex, finding her panties damp. His other hand slid under her skir
t and he pulled them down to her ankles in one, quick movement. Lifting her foot, he had her step out of them and tossed them aside.

  He rose and as he did, he pushed her skirt to her waist, baring her. His eyes pinned hers as he inserted a finger into her. She kept silent, biting her bottom lip to stop its trembling.

  “Do you know how much I want you, Scarlett?”

  She swallowed. “Yes. Because I want you even more.”

  Wynn slid another finger inside and began stroking her. His eyes held hers and he watched the gray grow darker as desire became stronger within her.

  “I never wanted a woman as much as I do you. Here. Now. In this moment.”

  It was true. He had no reason to hide it from her. By the look on her flushed face, she felt the same.

  He found the sweet nub that would make her sing and began rubbing it. She bit her lip again, her breath coming more rapidly now. Their gazes remained locked. He wanted to see her climax. Feel it. Taste her.

  She began to whimper again, her breathing quickening even more, coming in short gasps. Wynn picked up the pace, circling the nub, feeling her thighs tremble, seeing her eyes widen.

  “Yes,” she said. “Yes. There. Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes.”

  A squeal followed by something garbled came from her as her climax erupted. He watched every emotion flicker across her face and reveled in it. As she quieted, he removed his fingers and faster than lightning, unbuckled his pants and pushed them and his boxers down. Grabbing her elbows and securing Scarlett against the door, Wynn plunged into her, pumping slowly and then increasing his pace. He’d never been harder in his life.

  His mouth sought hers and they kissed savagely until he came. She cried out against his lips and he knew from her spasms she’d orgasmed again. He stilled, pressing soft kisses against her mouth, as his wild heartbeat began to return to normal.

  She gave him a lazy smile. “Know any other games to play?”

  Without hesitation, Wynn said, “Monopoly. I want to be exclusive with you, Scarlett Corrigan. I don’t want you seeing anyone else. I don’t want you kissing anyone else. I don’t want you to even think about anyone else. Except me. And all of the things I want to do with you.”

  Wynn almost said he loved her but was afraid that might be pushing too hard and fast and scare her off. Instead, he kissed her soundly, letting his actions speak what he held in his heart.

  ◆◆◆

  Scarlett’s eyes opened as Wynn finally broke the kiss. If he hadn’t been holding her against the door, she would have collapsed long ago, her legs as limp as spaghetti.

  If she thought the first time they’d had sex was the best of her life, that encounter had moved to second on her list. The last few minutes had been the most sensual and moving of her life. Wynn Gallagher knew exactly how to touch her. How to linger. How to push and pull and turn her into putty that he molded in the way he saw fit. Every part of her tingled with a charged warmth that continued to vibrate within her. If she’d thought he would agree, she would have suggested they go at it again.

  The back of his fingers brushed against her breasts as he refastened the clasp to her bra and pulled her blouse back together, his tanned fingers dark against the white silk. He reached the last button and slid it through.

  Scarlett had wanted to tell him she loved him. Even though she knew it was too soon to have feelings so deep, much less declare them aloud. Instead, she’d jokingly asked if he knew another game to play. As far as she was concerned, the time for games had ended. She needed Wynn in her life. She yearned to make a baby with him. She could see him holding their baby, cradling it tenderly in his arms.

  The fact that Wynn was such a loner made her pause, though. It kept her from uttering words of love. At least he seemed willing to make a commitment to a relationship with her. Asking for them to be exclusive was a first step in what she hoped would be their lifetime journey together.

  Those green eyes bored into hers. “You haven’t answered me.”

  She sighed. “When you’ve swept a girl off her feet and rattled her cage as well as you have, Wynn, it’s hard to think. Much less form an articulate answer.”

  His reply was a long, drugging kiss that lit another fire within her. Scarlett banked it, knowing the embers would easily be flamed during their next time together.

  “Yes,” she murmured against his lips. “Yes, I want to be with you. Only you, Wynn.”

  Both hands cradled her face, his thumbs massaging her cheeks. “Good,” he declared. Taking a step back, he smoothed down her skirt. “I’m starved.”

  Her heart quickened a moment and she realized he meant for lunch.

  “Let me go freshen up,” she told him.

  She spied her panties and went to pick them up but he snatched them before her fingers closed around the lacey material.

  “I’ll keep these.” He pocketed them. “You can put on another pair.” His eyes twinkled with mischief. “Or not.”

  “Hmm. I guess I’ll keep you guessing.”

  Scarlett left the room and went upstairs. She peeled off the shirt and skirt, not wanting to go out in public in such a wrinkled outfit. She pulled on a pastel pink sundress.

  And went commando. Just in case.

  Going into the bathroom, she saw in the mirror the heightened color in her cheeks. She ran a brush through her hair and patted on new lip gloss before returning downstairs.

  “I’m ready.”

  They left the house and she said, “Let me drive.”

  Pulling out her keys, she went to the Spitfire that he’d insisted she keep. The top was already down. She slipped behind the wheel as Wynn closed her door and came around to the passenger side.

  “Where to?” she asked.

  “Surprise me.”

  Scarlett remembered a nearby mom and pop pasta place not ten minutes away that was a favorite of Rhett and Cassie’s and decided to head there. She found a parking spot nearby and they entered, being greeted by Luigi, the owner, who seated them in a corner booth.

  “How are Mr. Rhett and Mrs. Cassie?” he asked. “We’ve been very worried.”

  “Rhett is recovering nicely,” she replied. “He’s putting in many hours of physical therapy. It’s hard work, Luigi, but you know Rhett. He’s all in. And Cassie is back writing now that things have calmed down.” She indicated Wynn. “She’s hard at work on a screenplay for my boyfriend, Wynn Gallagher.”

  It gave her a thrill to call him that. She’d had countless boyfriends since kindergarten but this was the first time she took pride in introducing a man that way.

  Wynn offered his hand. “Nice to meet you, Luigi.”

  The owner shook it enthusiastically. “The same, Mr. Wynn. My kids adore you. They will be so excited you came in to eat.”

  “Let’s send them a picture,” he suggested.

  As Wynn and Luigi posed, Scarlett couldn’t help but think the reserved, untouchable Wynn Gallagher from before would never have proposed taking a selfie with a fan. She hoped she’d helped him open up some.

  “Let me take care of you, today, Miss Scarlett. I’ll bring you something special.”

  “We’re all yours, Luigi.”

  Minutes later, they had chilled salads and a long loaf of warm Italian bread. Before they finished their salads, plates of steaming penne all’arrabbiata arrived.

  After one bite, Wynn proclaimed, “Luigi is my new best friend.”

  She laughed. “Every recipe, especially the sauces, are from his great-grandmother. Rhett’s eaten here for years.”

  “I will savor every bite,” he promised. “I’ve got lots to share with you.”

  Scarlett listened as Wynn explained his desire to begin a production company and how he’d spoken at length with Dash and Sydney about how to form one and the ins and outs of daily activities beyond the big picture. She could hear his passion for giving new film school graduates and relative unknowns a chance to act, write, and direct, as well as provide a welcoming place for everyone from set
designers to best boys.

  “I’d like to stick with local locations first to help alleviate costs. I’m not saying every budget would be on a shoestring but my goal is to eliminate as many hidden costs as possible and get a quality product to the screen using what we have in the LA area.”

  She asked several questions and, from his answers, could see that Wynn had really thought things through. He mentioned sitting in on a few RCDS meetings with Dash and she knew Wynn had soaked up all the information he’d been given access to.

  Luigi returned with a server who swept away their finished plates and placed zabaglione with mixed berries in front of them.

  The Italian must have seen the puzzled look on Wynn’s face because he said, “This is a very airy dessert, Mr. Wynn. It’s a light custard made with eggs and sweet wine that goes well with berries. I’ve chosen raspberries and blackberries for you today.”

  Wynn dipped into the mix and swallowed a spoonful. “Outstanding!” he declared, bringing a broad smile to their host’s face.

  “Enjoy,” Luigi told them and slipped away.

  They savored the dessert and when Wynn reached for his wallet, Luigi appeared again.

  “On the house, Mr. Wynn.” He looked to Scarlett. “Please tell your brother how much we miss him.”

  “I will, Luigi. As soon as he’s strong enough, I’m sure this will be the first place he’ll want to come.”

  She kissed the owner on both cheeks and Wynn shook hands with him again. Scarlett noticed Wynn left a generous tip, one that would pay for the meal twice over.

  “Let’s stroll around for a while,” he suggested as they stepped outside. “I need to work off some of that pasta.” He took her hand. The simple gestured made Scarlett feel treasured.

  As they walked, Wynn discussed his second idea, creating a charitable foundation along the same lines as those started by Rhett and Knox. As a math major, he’d been exposed to acting through a required fine arts credit. That class had changed the trajectory of his life.

  “If I’d been exposed to the arts while in public school, I realize I would have been a better rounded student. That’s why I’d like to raise money to see arts programs flourish in public schools.”