Page 18 of Catch Me (Townsend Legacy #4)
I vy
“Ivy, the dresses for the extras came in more wrinkled than expected,” Lillian says, stopping me in the hallway of the main filming set. “Do you think you can help the intern with the steaming so they’re ready for tomorrow?”
“Of course. I’m headed that way now.”
She smiles and pats my arm before hurrying off to fix the hem on one of the many pieces of clothing in her arms. I watch her for a beat, appreciating the hectic yet thrilling aspect of working on movie sets.
I start for the room where the clothes are kept to help the intern, but before I take a few steps, an arm extends from the door I thought was closed, yanking me inside.
“What the—” The finger against my mouth stops me. My eyes meet a pair of green ones and the tension in my body eases.
“Andreas,” I whisper. “What are you doing?”
“It’s been hours since I got on set, but this is the first chance I had to be alone with you. I needed to take it.” He says it like it’s the most logical explanation in the world.
I lose the battle when I try to hide my smile.
“How’s your friend?”
It takes me a moment to remember what he’s talking about. “Oh, Ari. She’s good. Great actually.” Ari was up early this morning, cooking pancakes for both Mya and me before we left for work.
“She’s heading back home today but says she’ll be back soon. I think she’s seriously considering moving out to L.A.”
“Is that a good thing?” he asks, sounding interested.
I immediately nod. “I’d love to have my two best friends back in the same city. Plus, I think it would be a good move for her,” I tell him. “I think she’s outgrown the city where she grew up, and was only staying there for her boyfriend.”
I frown, thinking about what Ari told us about her ex.
“How was your night?” I ask to change the subject.
A shadow passes through his eyes before he answers, “Lonely.”
This piques my interest.
“After my book club meeting last night, I wanted to talk to you, but I didn’t want to intrude on your time with your friend. Especially since I did that once already this weekend.”
I dip my head at his thoughtfulness, then clear my throat.
“Don’t you have to get back to working?” I whisper, suddenly remembering where we are.
He pushes out a deep sigh. “I should, shouldn’t I?” His voice holds regret while his gaze never leaves my face.
“You definitely should,” I tell him. Both because he’s literally one of the most important people on this set as the star of the film and for my sanity.
I don’t know how much faster my heartbeat should tick before I start getting worried. Being in his presence has that effect on me.
Andreas doesn’t move, though. Instead, he drags his knuckles down the side of my face. I tilt my head ever so slightly, leaning into his touch, but a noise outside of the door startles me back into reality.
I’m standing in a supply closet with Andreas Knight on the set of a major motion picture.
“We shouldn’t be doing this. Not here,” I tell him.
Andreas pulls back and stares down at me.
“It’s unprofessional,” I remind him.
This weekend was one thing, but being this close to him while on set …
I’ve already taken enough risks going to his trailer that first week. Doubt, once again rears up inside of me, and I take a step away to reach for the doorknob, but Andreas’ hand covers mine.
A shiver runs through me.
“Do you feel that?”
It’s obvious what he’s referring to. Apparently, he felt it as well.
“Yes,” I answer.
“Look at me, Ivy.”
I hesitate for a moment, knowing that I should know better and just walk away, but there’s a magnetic pull that is too powerful to fight. I don’t want to fight it.
“Turn around.”
I do, and find myself trapped in the intensity of his gaze.
“I’ve thought about you all weekend. Ever since I dropped you off at your apartment, I’ve wanted nothing more than to see you.”
“Why?” I ask without thinking.
“Because the sound of your voice lights a fire inside of me. The sight of your face brings me a joy I haven’t experienced before. And the look in your eyes makes me want to …” He trails off.
“Want to what?”
“Kiss you,” he says a beat before his lips crash down over mine.
In an instant, I’m swept up into the kiss. The world around us collapses down to just this moment, the two of us, hiding in a damn closet, kissing like teenagers.
Except this is nothing like my very first kiss shared with Matthew Zulinski, in ninth grade, in the corner of our high school’s breakroom.
No, this kiss with Andreas is the start of something powerful and earth-shifting.
“That.” Andreas pulls back from the kiss, his breaths coming out rapidly. “The look in your eyes always makes me want to do that.”
My nipples harden against my cotton bra, and I don’t even want to think about the sensations happening between my legs.
“Have dinner with me tonight.”
“Has anyone seen Ivy?” Lillian asks on the other side of the door.
Shit. “I have to go.”
“Dinner. My place. Tonight,” Andreas says, and his voice holds no room for an argument.
The ‘yes’ is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t. Thinking quickly, I tell him, “I can’t. I have to get home to feed Ms. Shelby.”
Ms. Shelby will be all alone for the next few hours.
“I have to go,” I tell Andreas with a quick glance over my shoulder before making my exit out of the closet.
Luckily, no one’s around to see me coming out.
This decision was absolutely for the best , I tell myself as I head back to work.