Page 20 of Howl for Me (Moonlight Magic Studios #1)

Chapter Eighteen

Cassidy

I’m just finishing brushing my teeth, half-asleep and still in my oversized sleep shirt, when there’s a knock at the door. I pause, frown, and glance at the clock. Too early to pretend I’m not home. I shuffle barefoot to the door, dragging a towel across my face, and swing it open.

Lori strides in like she owns the place, holding two mugs of coffee and zero shame.

“Where have you been, woman?” she demands.

I blink, caught off guard, and take the coffee on instinct. “How did you even know I was here?”

She flops down on my couch, already kicking off her shoes. “I saw you get dropped off last night by some mystery man,” she says, grinning wickedly. “And I need all the damn details.”

I close the door behind her and follow her into the living room, still trying to catch up. “I got a job,” I say finally, sipping the coffee.

Lori perks up immediately. “Really? Where?”

I hesitate. I’m not supposed to say too much about the studio, Hector’s orders, but technically, this isn’t giving everything away.

“At a studio,” I say. “Reggie helped me out, actually. So thanks for that.”

Her eyes go wide. “Wait. Shut up. You work for Moonlight? Me too!”

I blink. “You work there?”

She practically squeals. “Yes! I do a couple shoots here and there. Saving up until my art takes off. Oh my god, so who’ve you worked with so far?”

I raise both hands. “I’m not an actress.”

Lori’s brow furrows. “Then what do you do?”

“I’m an assistant. To one of the actors.”

Her nose wrinkles. “Who the hell needs a personal assistant on a porn set?”

I hesitate again. “Johnny Howler.”

She chokes, almost spits her coffee back into the cup. “WHAT?!”

“Yeah,” I reply, sipping mine like maybe the caffeine will help this moment feel less chaotic.

“You’re Johnny Howler’s assistant? Are you okay? Like… mentally?”

I want to laugh, but something inside me tightens instead. “He’s not that bad,” I say, quieter. “He’s just… different. Misunderstood.”

Lori stares at me, long and hard. “Oh, my god. You like him.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

I turn away, trying to hide the heat crawling up my neck. “It’s professional.”

Lori raises an eyebrow. I ignore it.

“I just… got to know him a little better, working so close. He’s not that bad. I mean, yeah, he’s rough around the edges and he doesn’t really do… people. But once you get past the snarling and the sarcasm, there’s a person under there. A real one.”

Lori tilts her head. “So, what, you’re with him all the time?”

I sigh. “Hector has me staying with him. Just for now. Until Johnny proves he can show up on time and stay out of trouble.”

Her jaw drops. “Wait. Staying with him? Like, in his house?”

I nod, and she gasps like I just told her I joined a cult.

“Oh my god, Cassidy. That’s huge. You’re like… embedded. Hector does not do that unless it’s someone important. But it makes sense. Johnny’s top talent. I mean, the guy is legendary. The bad kind and the good kind.”

She sips her coffee with a smirk. “I personally haven’t worked with him, but I know women who have. And from what I hear… the sex is definitely good enough to look past the whole moody werewolf thing.”

I stare at her over the rim of my cup.

“Lori.”

“What? I’m just saying. If he ever wants a scene partner with a high pain tolerance and low standards, I’m available.”

“You can’t work with him.” I spit out like some love-struck teenager and instantly regret it when she smiles big.

“I knew it! You do like him! Hey, as long as he doesn’t hurt you, then I won’t hurt him. Simple.” I can’t help but smile. I'm grateful for her friendship and that she would feel the need to protect me.

“I’ve got that event tomorrow,” I say, changing the subject. “I need something to wear. I was going to go shopping today anyway… want to come?”

Lori practically jumps off the couch. “Do I want to come? Cassidy, yes. Let’s find you something that’ll make even Johnny fuckin Howler crawl at your feet.”

An hour later, we’re tucked inside a boutique that smells faintly of incense and lemon oil. Everything is saturated in color, rust orange, deep plum, burnt gold. It’s beautiful… and overwhelming.

“I’m dying out here,” Lori calls from outside the fitting room. “Come out already!”

“I’m thinking,” I mutter, staring at myself in the mirror.

The dress is... short. Rust red with long sleeves and a wrap tie at the waist. The neckline dips a little lower than I’m used to, and the hem flirts with the top of my thighs.

I shift my weight. My legs have always been thick.

Thicker than the girls I grew up around.

Thicker than most of the women I see working at the studio.

There’s a part of me that has always been insecure about them. I open the curtain anyway.

Lori’s mouth falls open. “Oh, my god.”

My hands go to the sides of the dress instinctively, trying to smooth it down.

She shakes her head like I’ve offended her. “Cassidy. You look stunning. That body is doing everything right in that dress.”

I laugh under my breath. “You don’t think it’s too much?”

She gives me a look. “Too much for what? A funeral? Maybe. But for a studio party in L.A. Babe, you’re gonna make hearts stop.”

I glance at myself in the mirror again. The dress does fit nicely. The color makes my skin look warmer. It hugs my waist in a way that almost makes me forget the things I don’t like about myself. Almost.

“You really think it’s okay?” I ask, quieter.

Lori softens. “Cass. It’s more than okay. You look beautiful. And that man you’re definitely not falling for?” She smirks. “He’s gonna fall off the planet when he sees you in this.”

I exhale a laugh. “It’s not like that.”

“Sure it’s not,” she says, not believing me for a second. “Now hurry up and buy it so we can find you shoes before my legs give out. I’m starving!”

As we make our way to the counter, a tall man with soft curls and a pressed cream shirt tucked into high-waisted trousers looks up from a small stack of folded scarves. There’s a glint in his eye when he sees the dress draped over my arm.

He lets out a low whistle, setting the scarves aside. “Well, now. Someone’s about to cause trouble.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I’m sorry?”

“That red? On you? Girl, those men are going to be breaking their necks.” He says as he rings me up.

“Really, I wasn’t sure about the color.” I feel my cheeks warm.

“Well, be sure because your complexion and this color…stunning.. ya hear me?” He tilts his head, folding the dress gently as he bags it.

“Thanks.” His compliments catch me off guard, but his energy is so contagious I smile anyway.

“I heard you ladies talking about grabbing lunch. I tried that diner about a block up,“ he pauses, eyes wide, “So good. I hurt myself on their club sandwich the other day. Y’all should check it.”

Lori leans against the counter. “What’s it called? I’m starving.”

“Bellamy’s. Now it’s nothing fancy, just some worn booths and plastic menus, but the food is so good. They even have a little jukebox. You ladies enjoy.” He hands me the bag and walks back to the scarves.

Bellamy’s is exactly what he promised, booths that have seen better days and the low hum of music from the jukebox. We’re halfway into our club sandwiches and iced tea when I notice two men approaching our table.

Lori sees them first. She grins, standing. “There you are! Join us.”

They pull up chairs like it’s nothing, settling in like we are all friends.

Lori turns to me, excited. “Cass, this is Kent. He’s in production at Moonlight.”

I blink. I do recognize him. Not well, but enough. He’s been at the studio a few times when I’ve been there, usually behind a clipboard or barking orders.

“And this is Hugo,” she adds, nodding to the man beside him. “Set design, mostly.”

Hugo smiles at me, warm and easy. He’s got kind eyes and soft curls that flop over his forehead when he leans forward to shake my hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” I say, and mean it. He seems sweet. Lori leans in, nudging me slightly. “Kent’s my date to the party tomorrow.”

I lift a brow, surprised. “Didn’t realize it was a bring a date type of event.”

“Of course, it is,” she says with a wink.

I glance between them, then at Hugo. “For a studio that’s supposed to be underground, there sure seem to be a lot of people that work there.”

Kent nods, still chewing. “That’s the thing, Moonlight’s quiet on the outside, but there’s a lot going on behind the cameras.”

Lori swallows a sip of water. “The party tomorrow is how everyone gets to meet each other. It helps. You can’t shoot a scene if no one’s comfortable. It’s weird enough with cameras and lights and everything else.”

“That makes sense,” I murmur.

Hugo smiles at me again, this time a little more nervous, like he’s working up to something. “Well, if you’re not going with anyone tomorrow… we should go together.”

I freeze. Lori’s eyes shoot wide before she quickly lifts her glass and sips her water, like it might hide her reaction.

Kent’s already nodding, completely unfazed. “That’d be fun. All of us together again tomorrow night.”

I feel the edges of my thoughts start to blur.

Technically, Johnny hasn’t asked me to go with him.

There’s no rule that says I’m supposed to.

My job is to make sure he’s on time, not to be his plus one.

But what if he does have someone? What if I show up at his house tomorrow and some woman answers the door, already dressed, already claimed?

God. How stupid would I look, sitting in the backseat like the assistant I am while he sits up front with someone who’s everything I’m not?

No. I’ll call Johnny tomorrow. I’ll make sure he’s ready, on time, and then I’ll just meet him there. That’s still professional. That makes sense. Doesn’t it?

I look at Hugo and smile, small but sincere.

“Sure,” I say softly. “I’d like that.”

And I try not to think about the fact that my heart sinks just a little when I say it.