Page 18 of Her Hollywood Master (Master Me #6)

“ D o you think Antonio would give us a copy of that take?”

Joel was driving her to pick up her car from the repair shop after their shoot. He smirked. “I’ll bet everyone there today asks him for a copy. You were incredible—quite the improvisor. Have you studied Stanislavski?”

She flushed under his praise. “A little. I was just following your lead.”

“Yeah, but you really went for it—without any hesitation.That’s what defines a good performer, baby.”

She squirmed, her face growing hotter, pleasure warming her entire body.

“Although, I have to say, the daddy in me was ready to kill every man who got to see your perfect breasts today.”

Her head swam, drunk on his appreciation. “You’d have to kill everyone who watches Canyon del Oro , too, then,” she said.

“Don’t think I won’t do it,” he joked, pulling a mock stern voice.

Her pussy clenched. She loved it when he turned dominant.

God, she loved it when he did anything. Her gaze swept over his muscled arms at the steering wheel.

An actor who wasn’t self-involved. A man’s man, who knew how to treat a woman.

Well, if one thought women ought to have their panties pulled down and their bare bottoms spanked until they squealed.

Which she never dreamed would turn her on half as much as it did.

Joel pulled in to the repair shop, and accompanied her in, like the gentleman he was. The men at the counter scurried up to help her. “Good evening, Ms. Sparks. We have your convertible all set to go. The total charge with the new part and labor comes to four hundred and fifty-eight dollars.”

She handed him a credit card. “Sure. Here you go.”

Joel touched the small of her back in that possessive way he had. She looked over her shoulder and smiled.

The man turned back, looking uncomfortable. “Uh...I’m so sorry, but this card was declined. Do you have another card?”

Her neck grew warm as she dug in her wallet for a different card. “Sorry about that, please try this one.”

A few moments later, he turned back with the same chagrined look.

“That one didn’t work either?” Her heart thudded in her chest. Fucking Bev. Or her mom. What the hell was wrong with them, anyway? Had they really maxed out every credit card she had?

Joel leaned past her and handed the man his credit card. “Here, put it on this.”

She ground her teeth. Great. Joel already thought she was a total fuck-up. This just went to prove it.

“I’ll pay you back,” she said, looking out the door instead of at him.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, easily. When she didn’t respond, he put a finger under her chin and turned it to face him.

She dragged her eyes to meet his. “Thanks,” she said, her chest heavy. Taking handouts from her co-stars was not exactly a dream come true.

He touched her nose, then turned to sign the credit card slip. “I’ll see you back at the house.”

She nodded, digging in her purse for her phone as they walked out.

He caught her wrist when she pulled it out. “I don’t want you talking while you drive,” he said, back in full daddy mode.

She rolled her eyes. “I’ll put it on speaker phone.”

He held the phone up out of her reach. “No. No talking and driving. Period. Understand, young lady?”

“Come on, don’t be an—” she stopped, about to say asshole . But that wasn’t the way they talked to each other and she knew exactly how he’d deal with her if she did. Besides, this wasn’t really worth a battle. “Fine,” she sighed. “I’ll wait ‘til I’m home. I mean, at your place.”

“Which is your home.”

She walked toward her car without acknowledging him, then realized she was being rude. “Joel?” she called out, stopping and turning to see him walking toward his car.

He stopped and looked back.

“Thank you.”

He smiled and turned back to his car.

God, just that smile made all her resistance melt.

She climbed in her car and palmed her phone again.

He wouldn’t know if she kept it on her lap and spoke on speaker.

She looked in her rear view mirror. He appeared to be waiting for her to pull out first. She tucked the phone back in her purse.

He was right. She was a terrible driver, especially in L.A.

traffic. She needed all the focus she could get.

She exited the parking lot and merged onto the busy street, hitting the accelerator.

Joel cared about her. Either that or he was just flexing his authority.

But no, that didn’t seem right. He was looking out for her.

That realization made her ache with longing. She could not get attached to this man. She could not lose her heart. Because in two or three more months, filming would end and it would all be over.

She pulled up to his house and entered the code to open the giant iron gate. His garage door stood open and his car was parked inside. She parked in the drive and pulled out her phone, hitting the number for Bev as she walked in through the garage door entrance.

“Marissa,” Bev exclaimed, sounding like she was tipsy. “Just the girl I want to talk to. I need the car.”

“Well, that’s why I’m calling. I just picked it up from getting repaired and none of my credit cards were good when I went to pay for it.”

“Oh, yeah. I know. Mom’s checking into it,” she said, sounding unconcerned.

“What exactly is she checking into?” she asked through clenched teeth.

“I don’t know—getting an increased credit line?”

“Bev, we are out of money. I haven’t paid the mortgage in three months. The credit cards are maxed. And I just signed a contract saying my pay would be cut for Canyon del Oro. ”

“I heard about that. I can’t believe Julie went for it.”

She stomped up the stairs with impatience. Her sister was not getting it. They had a real problem, here.

“Marissa, I need the car, honey. You can ride with Joel to and from the set, can’t you? Mom and I have been totally stuck here for the past two days because you had the car. That’s ridiculous.”

She choked a little on her own spit. Ridiculous?

Having her own car was ridiculous? Well, of course it was.

But she couldn’t figure out how to justify saying no.

Her sister was right, she and Joel carpooled into the studio.

And in all honesty, she preferred him driving her everywhere.

Dance class wouldn’t have been half as fun if she’d driven herself.

“Fine,” she said. “You can have the car. But you have to come here to get it.”

“Great, I’ll have Ella drive me over. Oh, she wants to hang out with you, you know. She said she texted you but you didn’t reply.”

She blew out her breath in a huff. “I’m pretty busy right now,” she said.

“Okay, but you’re missing out. She’s totally cool.”

Right. Just like all of Bev’s beautiful party-girl friends. “Do you know how to get here?”

“No, can you text it to me? I don’t have a pen.”

She huffed again. “Fine.” She hung up without saying goodbye and opened the message box to text her sister directions.

“What was that about?” Joel asked.

“Bev’s coming to get the car,” she said, realizing too late that her voice had the snappish quality he didn’t like.

“No,” he said immediately.

She stared at him. “What do you mean, no ?”

“I mean, you’re not going to say yes and then bitch about it. Either give your sister your car and be content or say no. It’s your car, and your decision. You don’t have to get passive-aggressive.”

She went white hot, feeling like slapping him again. Or storming out. She turned away to leave the room.

He caught her around the waist and pulled her back up against his torso. “Don’t walk away when I’m speaking to you,” he said, but the firmness had gone out of his voice. It came like a rich rumble in her ear.

She went still and waited. What would he do next? Spank her again? Heat and excitement began to thrum, seeping through the anger and defensiveness.

“Turn around and look at me.”

She waited a full two seconds before she turned, folding her arms across her chest.

He reached for her arms, prying them out of their defensive position and pinning her wrists behind her back with one strong hand, as his other came to cup her chin. “Did you hear what I just said?”

She thrust her jaw forward. “I heard you.”

“So what is your decision? Are you calling Bev back to tell her no?”

She blew out her breath. “Well, that doesn’t really make sense. I mean, you can drive me to the shoot.”

“It doesn’t matter. The car is yours and you resent your sister for using it. Right?”

She sounded rather petty when he put it that way. “Well, sort of, yeah. Because she doesn’t ask, she just assumes.”

“Okay, so set some healthy limits.”

Her shoulders sagged. She couldn’t. Her sister and mom were stranded and she didn’t need the car. She spread her hands. “Well, they’re totally stranded without a car.”

Joel didn’t say a word.

“So you think I should just tell them to fuck off?”

He swatted her backside with a stinging blow. “Language, young lady. And no, I definitely don’t think you should tell them to fuck off.”

“So what do you think I should do?”

He shrugged. “It’s not my decision to make, it’s yours. I’m just demanding you make it with integrity.”

She felt like stomping on his toe. “What the hell does that mean?”

Another spank. “You make the choice that’s right for you, and then be happy with it. I’m not going to let you get pushed into something that upsets you.”

Tears blurred her vision and she blinked them back. Jesus Christ. When had anyone ever cared about her feelings on anything before?

He eased his grip on her wrists and rubbed her back. “Do you understand, baby girl? No one’s going to walk on you when I’m around. So what’s your decision? Do you want her to borrow your car or not?”