Page 20

chapter

nineteen

Olivier

S till mulling over an idea of how to get Stella to join us, I dropped my keys back into my pocket even as I entered the code to turn off the alarm. Once upon a time, we didn’t bother with the alarm when we were all home. But a few brave fans jumping the gate and one extremely randy chick who decided to go skinny-dipping in our pool, and that was that.

I admired the spunk it took, but if we were going to have nude women in our pool or our house, I’d just as soon be the one who picked them. Like Stella…she could definitely go skinny-dipping. I fully supported that.

Hell, I’d get naked and jump right in with her.

“Hey,” Seven said as he came down the stairs. He was in shorts and a tank top. It looked like he’d come straight from the gym, except his hair was wet and he didn’t look remotely sweaty. So maybe a shower after the gym. “You’re back early.”

I shrugged. “Party was a dud.”

“Did you lose Gem?” Seven raked a hand over his damp hair.

“Nah, he’s saying goodbye to his girl.” She wasn’t his girl totally. Not yet. Sure, she gave him her number, but only after I gave him her name. Talk about a double-edged sword. I loved Gem like a brother, and he was definitely into her.

But damn if Snow didn’t get me too. It had been a while since I wanted to hang out with a woman even when I wasn’t getting something out of it.

“His girl?” Seven’s expression went through some comical contortions. “Oh, do not tell me it’s that bottom-feeding scum pap chick.”

“Dude…”

But he didn’t wait to listen to me—nope, he charged out the front door to where Gem and Stella were full-on making out. Thanks to the top being down on the convertible, it was impossible to miss. Sweet car and lucky bastard were the two thoughts competing as Seven descended the steps and headed straight for the car.

“Gem,” he said, snapping out his twin’s name like it was some incantation. “What the hell are you doing?”

Instead of springing apart, Gem just lifted his head and said, “Fuck off, Sev. I’m kissing Slick right now.”

“No shit, I’m not blind.” Oh, Seven was pissed. Leaning back against the doorjamb, I folded my arms. “Speaking of which, I thought we were done with you and you weren’t coming back here again.”

“Hmm,” Stella said, a smile flirting around the corners of her mouth. “Do you hear some annoying buzzing? I swear I’ve heard that sound before. It usually involves gritted teeth and nails on a chalkboard.”

A snort of laughter escaped me. Unimpressed, Seven shot me a dirty look before he focused on the car. “Gem, you can do a lot better than this, particularly since she already sold us out once.”

“She didn’t sell us out, Sev. Seriously, take the stick out of your ass.” Gem leaned back and turned to look at his brother. “I mean it.”

“So do I. Since she’s for sale to the highest bidder and I paid for her to fuck off, I’d appreciate getting my money’s worth.”

I almost wished I had popcorn for this.

Gem glared at his brother and Sev glared right back. This was going nowhere good.

Then Stella leaned back and focused on me and that had me straightening right up. Those dark eyes, sooty eyelashes, and pouty lips were everything I wanted to enjoy with or without clothes. Though, if anyone asked, my preference was definitely without.

“Ollie, is that offer of a glass of wine still on the table?”

Oh, hell yes. “Absolutely. Do you want red or white? Bubbles? I can go open it up for you right now.”

“White,” she answered with another smile. “Oaked chardonnay, if you have it.”

Gem glanced back at her. “You’ll stay?”

“Sure,” she drawled. “It’ll be fun. Let’s just put the top up.”

The temptation to laugh at Sev’s utterly baffled and furious expression was right there. Thankfully, I had enough skill to keep it in check. He backed up as the top rose to close on the sexy baby blue ’57 Chevy Bel Air. I really wanted to know where she found one in such pristine condition.

“Thanks, bro,” I told Sev as I clapped him on the shoulder.

“For what?” he demanded, staring at me askance.

“For convincing her to stay.” I grinned. “She was turning us down before.” Leaving him to chew on that sour apple, I headed inside to get the wine open and let it breathe.

We’d just had food, so we didn’t need snacks, but we could turn on some music. Maybe we could even move everything out to the pool.

It didn’t take long for Stella and Gem to come inside or for Seven to stalk off, muttering. Then, because I was his best friend, I called after him, “You sure you don’t want to have some wine with us?”

He paused midstep but didn’t turn or say a word.

“Yeah, Sev, don’t be a dick,” Gem said, joining in. “Come have a glass of wine with Stella and us.” Gem sounded a lot more gleeful about it than I was, but Sev’s shoulders just stiffened and then he stalked off toward the gym.

Probably better he go and burn off some of that temper.

“Is he always like that?” Stella asked, staring after Seven with a curl to her lip that said everything about how very little she cared for him. With how he treated her, I couldn’t say I was shocked.

“Yes,” Gem said, right at the same time as I said no.

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed wineglasses out from behind the bar in the side of our living room. “Gem, don’t be an ass. Sev is just…a little upset about the whole Clara Belle situation.”

Stella wrinkled her nose. “Why? She’s awful.”

Gem snickered, rubbing his cheek. “You can say that again. He’s not actually upset. He’s just pissed off because Clara knew perfectly fucking well that was me in the photos and broke up with him anyway, because it painted her as a victim and that, in turn, gave her a boost in popularity.”

“Sounds like he should be thanking me, then,” she muttered, wandering closer to where I was pouring our wine. “I’m only staying for one glass, okay? I still need to drive home.”

I smiled back at her. “Sure. One glass.” Then I proceeded to hold eye contact as I filled hers well above the waist of the glass, pouring until it almost touched the rim.

She pursed her lips like she was trying not to laugh as she shook her head. “Did no one ever teach you how to pour wine, Ollie? That’s a pour that’d get you fired in most bars.”

I shook my head. “Actually, no. We all missed out on a lot of those life skills.”

She winced, clearly thinking she’d hit a nerve, since the twins and I had all started our acting careers as literal toddlers. It was all we’d ever known, and it was no secret that we’d been well into millionaire status before we were even old enough to get a “first job” like most teens.

“I’m teasing, Snow,” I reassured her softly, offering her the overfull glass of wine. “I just want an excuse to keep you here.”

“Flirt,” she accused, then took a sip of the French chardonnay I’d chosen. “Ooh, this is good.”

Gem’s phone started to play a happy little tune, pulling both our attention as he fished it out to scowl at the screen. It was after midnight, so the only people calling him at this time would be a headache.

“No…” he groaned, reading the caller ID. “Goddamn it. Hello, Ricky, what’s happened?”

Well, that couldn’t be good. But on the other hand, at least it wasn’t Jerry calling with some wild scandal hitting the morning papers. “Ricky is the stunt coordinator on Keeper’s Pursuit ,” I explained to Stella as she watched Gem curiously. “They’re meant to be filming a scene tonight with Seven’s new stunt double.”

She blinked a couple of times, with those sexy, long lashes framing her green eyes beautifully. “Gem isn’t doubling for him anymore?”

Ah. I forgot that news hadn’t broken to the media just yet. “Not…really. But that’s in the vault, all right?” I shot her a wink and she smiled back as Gem wandered away to continue his conversation with Ricky. “Gem has been trying to separate himself from Seven’s career for a while, but Keeper’s Pursuit is the first time he’s refused the job entirely. Things are not going great with his replacement, though.”

“You’re joking!” Gem exclaimed to whatever Ricky’d just said. “Well, shit, what do you want me to—” Pause, then deep scowl and a regretful glance Snow’s way. “Come on, man, right now? I’m not even totally sober so?—”

Ricky must have started talking again, and I knew Gem would give in. Everyone working the Keeper’s franchise knew exactly how to push his buttons. As much as they butt heads, they were still identical twins and loved each other fiercely. Seven was the whole reason Gem hadn’t quit show business way back when they got emancipated from their parents at age fifteen.

“Are they asking him to go to the set?” Stella asked, checking her watch and gasping. “But it’s the middle of the night!”

I nodded. “Time means nothing on set. All that matters is that the lighting is right.”

She seemed genuinely worried as she glanced over at Gem, who was rubbing his eyes as he listened to whatever Ricky was saying. Then he blew out a long sigh. “Fine. I’ll be there in half an hour. You fucking owe me, Ricky.” He ended the call and returned to us with a huge pout on his lips. “Well. This sucks.”

“What happened?” I asked, sipping my own wine as I leaned on the bar top. “Someone break their back?”

Gem huffed a laugh. “I would rather that’s what happened. Jean-Claude, my replacement, is apparently allergic to latex. He’s broken out in a huge rash and can’t wear the makeup that actually makes him passable as Seven.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “What’s the stunt scene they need to film?”

Gem raked his fingers through his hair, messing it up in a way Seven would never be caught dead doing. It always confused me how people couldn’t tell them apart. Physically, yes, they were identical. But they were nothing alike.

“Car chase, flip, and wreck.”

“What?” Stella squeaked. “That sounds dangerous.”

Gem’s lips curled in a sly grin. “That’s the job, Slick. It should be a quick one. I reckon I can get it nailed in less than five takes and be back before you finish that glass of wine, which looks like it was poured by a fucking firehose.”

I snickered. “Five takes with Tai Sun Yamato as your director? Good luck, bro. You’ll be lucky to escape with less than fifteen.”

“Ollie, please make sure Slick gets home safe,” he ordered with a serious growl underscoring his words before turning his attention to the gorgeous woman in question. “I’ll text you,” he murmured, then wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and dragged her into what could only be described as an Oscar-worthy kiss.

Fucking hell, it was sometimes easy to forget he could turn up the heat just as well as Seven and I onscreen. He just preferred to wield his powers in private…lucky bastard.

When he broke away, dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose, he was oozing smug satisfaction. Fucker knew exactly what he’d done, and the dizzy little stumble Stella did as he released her neck said he’d done it well .

“So, Snow, just you and me,” I said as Gem exited the house once more. “I hear you’re not bad at pool. Want to play?”

She turned to face me with cheeks flushed and lips wet, and my brain short-circuited for a moment. Would it be sleazy of me to try and kiss her now? Yes. Okay, cut it out, Ollie.

“Not bad?” she repeated, wrinkling her nose as she grinned. “You’re kidding. That’s what Gem said? I’m not bad at pool? What a dick. Come on, then, Olivier Griffiths. One game, and there needs to be a bet. I work better under pressure.”

My dick instantly hardened at the implications of that statement. “Good to know,” I coughed, attempting to subtly fix my issue before moving out from behind the bar. Now to think of a worthy bet—Gem’s had ended up with the best night of his life.