Page 9 of Catch Me (Townsend Legacy #4)

A ndreas

“Hey, you’ve been killing it so far,” Ron Stokes, the second lead in Late Nights, says. We’re in the main makeup trailer getting prepped for the day.

Ron and I worked together on another film, and he guest starred a few times on my previous series. He’s older than me by five years, but we’ve become friends in the last decade of working in this industry.

“All in a day’s work,” I tell him.

He chuckles. “This role is big for you, man. Proud of the way you’re stepping up.” He taps my elbow. “You might even have something to teach me.”

I give him the middle finger, which makes him throw his head back in laughter.

“Hey,” he says after sobering up. “I’ve been reading over Michael’s notes and wanted to run some lines with you before we start filming today.”

He holds up his copy of the script from his lap.

“Let’s do it.”

We spend the next twenty minutes going over and reworking two scenes in particular in accordance with Michael’s notes from the previous few days.

“I think we’ve got it,” he says with a nod and one hand on the trailer’s door. “Thanks, man. See ya in a bit.”

Scott is needed for shooting before I am this morning, so though I step out of the trailer, I lag behind him and look around the studio space, noting all of the people coming and going, setting up for the day.

The production of a big budget movie is always a group project. That was one of the first lessons I learned as a teen stepping into this world.

The sound of laughter catches my attention, and like a magnet I turn, my eyes landing on Ivy. She’s talking to another woman on the design team. They’re often together.

I take the opportunity to watch Ivy while she doesn’t see me.

Her hairstyle is different today. It’s styled in long, dark waves that spill over her shoulders. She’s dressed in a pair of oversized black pants, cinched at the waist by a thick red belt, and a form-fitting, tan, short-sleeve top.

The leopard print heels catch my eye.

She’s stunning. And all I can think is that I want to see those heels over my shoulders.

It’s been five days since our phone call. Unfortunately, long days of shooting with shorter breaks than anticipated, coupled with a few prior engagements over the weekend, kept me from fulfilling my lunch invitation with Ivy.

Today’s a shorter filming day for me, since most of the scenes center around Ron’s character. I have every intention of making that lunch date a reality.

“Oh my goodness,” Lillian, whom Ivy’s speaking with, says as I approach. She presses a hand against her chest as she looks up at me. “You are even more handsome up close.”

Lillian has worked at InTuition for years, but this is my first time working with her on a set.

“Thank you. Any chance you’re available to play my love interest in my next romantic comedy?”

She tuts. “My romance needs to have a little drama in it. Make it a romantic drama and I’m in.”

“That can be arranged.” I wink, making her giggle.

My eyes move to my latest obsession. “Hello, Ivy.” My voice deepens, even though it wasn’t intentional. She just has that effect on me.

“Andreas,” she replies, doing shit to me I’m sure she’s not even aware of.

“I believe we have a lunch date on the schedule.”

“Whoa,” Lillian says at the same time Ivy’s eyebrows spike.

I decide that I like the surprised look on her. Truth be told, I like any expression on her face as long as it’s pointed in my direction.

“That’s my cue to leave. Bye.”

I don’t take my eyes off of Ivy as Lillian walks away. Ivy looks as if she wants to follow her, but I use my body to block her escape.

“It’s been a busy week,” I tell her by way of apology. “But today I’ll have time for that lunch date.”

“Date?” She shakes her head. “This can’t be a date. We’re both working and that’s it.”

I take her hand, which stops her ranting. “It’s a lighter day of filming for me. Lunch is being catered at twelve-thirty. Meet me in my trailer.”

I nod at the third row of trailers to make sure she knows which one is mine. “My name’s on the front. I’ll see you there.”

“Andreas,” someone calls from behind me.

I love my job but dammit if it didn’t piss me off right now for interrupting the only time alone I’ve gotten to have with Ivy aside from that all too brief phone call a few nights ago.

“I’ll see you in a few hours.” I squeeze her hand and then head off to film my portion of today’s scene.

Ivy

“What are you doing?” Lillian startles me just as I’m finishing up steaming the left pant leg of a pair of jeans.

“What does it look like?” I gesture toward the steamer.

She sucks her teeth. “The entire crew just went on lunch break. It’s twelve-thirty.”

I give her a blank stare.

“A certain star of the damn movie asked you to meet him for lunch.”

“Lillian, I?—”

She holds up a hand. “Listen, even though I’m about fifteen years older than you, and way too young to be your mother, you clearly need some direction from an older woman. Today that woman is me.

“When Andreas Knight invites you to have lunch with him, you don’t leave a man like that hanging.” She tries to pull the steamer from my hand, but I tug it back.

A couple of rounds of tug-of-war ensues before I give up, releasing the damn thing.

“Stubborn,” she mutters. “Go.”

“But there’s so much that needs to be done.”

“And it’ll be here after lunch. Get out. Now.” Her tone is so sharp that it makes me flinch.

“Fine,” I murmur like it’s a real chore to go share a meal with Andreas Knight. It’s not, but I can’t help it when Rebecca’s warnings flit through my mind. She’s not on set today or any other day since the first day of filming.

That doesn’t mean the rumor mill won’t get back to her. As an attorney working with entertainers, Mya often reminds me that in this industry there are lots of secrets, but gossip is currency.

“Keep your business to yourself ,” she’s told me more than once.

The last thing I need is to become part of the rumor mill. Besides, I know too well that secrets always have a way of making it into the light. My secrets, anyway. And typically, I’m the one who ends up on the losing end of the stick when they do.

Even these mental warnings don’t keep me from walking across the studio lot toward the trailers. I bypass Michael Keith’s trailer, the makeup trailer, and Ron Stoke’s trailer before I come to the one that reads Andreas Knight.

Luckily, there aren’t many people around.

However, I stop myself from knocking when I hear murmurs coming from the inside. Maybe he’s changed his mind and doesn’t want to have lunch with me, or he forgot and decided to invite someone else.

As the possibilities spin in my mind, the trailer door pops open. Andreas’ smile is instant as soon as he lays eyes on me.

My belly heats.

“Ivy. I was about to come looking for you.”

There’s a glint in his eyes, and I believe he’s serious.

“I heard voices. I can leave if you’re busy.” I point over my shoulder.

He takes a step down one of the stairs, extending his hand for me to take. “Never.”

The moment our fingers touch, the warmth that started in my belly spreads out over the rest of my body.

“Come in.”

He steps aside, making room for me. As soon as I enter, though, I come face-to-face with a man who appears to be in his fifties, or maybe sixties. In Hollywood you never know someone’s age.

“This is Stan Donovan,” Andreas introduces. “My manager.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Donovan.” I shake his extended hand. “I apologize for the interruption.”

“No problem at all,” Stan says. “I was just leaving.” He pauses before cocking his head sideways, observing me. “You look familiar.”

My stomach does a somersault. “Really?”

His eyebrows dip. “Yes. Have you done any acting?”

“No, not at all,” I murmur.

“Hm. Are you sure you haven’t been in front of the camera?”

I swallow as I feel Andreas move to stand beside me, his gaze on me. The back of my neck heats. “Positive,” I lie.

I hate to think of where he might’ve seen me on camera before. Only one instance I can think of and that thought makes me want to curl up into a ball and hide.

My disastrous college graduation where I had a full-on panic attack on stage. Unfortunately, videos of that embarrassing incident made their rounds online.

“I leave the acting to the professionals.” I gesture toward Andreas with a laugh.

Stan nods. “Anyway,” he turns to Andreas before finishing, “I have a meeting across town. Andreas,” he points at him, “don’t forget what we talked about. This could be big for your career and great promotion for the movie.”

Andreas hurries his manager out of the trailer, leaving the two of us.

“What was that about?” I ask. “Is there some sort of promotion for the movie already? You guys aren’t even halfway finished with the filming.”

Andreas grasps my elbow, leading me to the couch to sit before answering. He takes his seat in a chair on the opposite side of the round table from me. The condensed space of the trailer wraps around us, leaving me to realize that it’s really just the two of us in here.

“Stan wants me to agree to a relationship with a certain actress for publicity. She’s working on a film, too.”

It’s not surprising. You’d have to live under a rock these days to not know that a lot of the entertainment industry is smoke and mirrors. Fake relationships come and go all of the time. It shouldn’t cause a spark of jealousy inside of me.

Yet, that’s exactly what happens. I have to remind myself that Andreas Knight isn’t my possession.

“It’s okay to feel jealous.”

“What?” I ask, taken by surprise.

He casually hands me a plate with a turkey sandwich and chips on the side. He then nods to the bowls of fruit and vegetable salad on either side of where I’m sitting.

“Sandwiches are on the menu for today’s lunch. Is turkey okay?”

I nod.

He looks pleased at my answer.

“I said, it’s fine to feel jealousy over what I just said. I’d want to kick the ass of anyone who even thought about being your pretend boyfriend. And anyone who proposed it for that matter.”