Page 23 of The Playboy
Rory:We have a last minute change to Tait’s schedule. He’s been booked on The Late Late Show with James Corden. I have a prior engagement I can’t get out of, so you need to accompany him. You two will fly out tonight and will fly back tomorrow after filming. The show has already set up the rooms.
Me:What about the call sheet? He’s scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Rory:Already taken care of it. They pushed his scene back a day so he can do this.
Me:Does Tait already know?
Rory:Yes, I texted him right before you. Your flight is at 8 pm.
Looking around, nothing seems out of place, and I rush through the doors to get where I’m needed.What did I just do and what am I getting myself into?
* * *
Tait actslike nothing is out of the ordinary for the rest of the day, but I have a hard time meeting his eyes anytime he asks for anything. Shooting for the day has wrapped, and I’ve been playing our little tête-à-tête in my head since it happened. I squirm in my seat, trying to calm my aching body down.
He leans in close so his lips are against my ear. “Oh, the plans I have for you tonight, lass.”
As he speaks the words, I close my eyes and part my lips, imagining all the nasty, naughty things this sexy Irishman could do to me. I want nothing more at this moment than to make him happy and keep him that way. The car pulls to a stop, and he opens the door, helping me slide out. He walks silently through the lobby and, thankfully, we enter the elevator alone. He pulls my body toward his, and my hand instinctively lands on his semi-erect cock. I palm it, a reflex I learned from Ben—it’s not going to take care of itself, after all.
He tilts his head back and moans. “Get cleaned up, changed, and packed. I’ll come by in an hour.” He meets my eyes, his gaze intense. I nod.
The doors open, and he steps away from me, giving me space to exit. I shuffle down the hallway and hear some laughter from a conjoining room. I smile to myself as I mentally prepare for the lion’s den I’m about to walk into.Think of your future. He’s helping to make your dream a reality.Hell, I’ve already come all over his lap; how can what I do now be any worse?
I stop dead in my tracks. Ben is standing outside my room. He looks up from his phone and smiles at me, offering a small wave.
“What are you doing here? How did you get my room number?” I stand a few feet away from him and hug my arms around myself.
“I wanted to talk with you, and you’ve been ignoring me. I figured the only way I could do it was if I came out here to see you. I charmed the front desk girl into giving me your room number. So, here I am. Can we go inside your room and talk for a few minutes? Please?” I begin shaking my head, and he reaches his hands out for mine. “Please. Give me a few minutes, and if, when I’m done, you don’t want to see me, then we can call this quits for good.”
I might finally be able to get rid of him once and for all.I eye him suspiciously but relent. “Fine.” I open my door and direct him inside. “I’ll be right out.” I head into the bathroom to splash some water on my face and mentally prepare to speak with him. I step out and see him sitting on the bed, staring at something on his phone. “All right, go.” I stand next to the wall, arms crossed.
“You know the two of us work well together. I get you, and you get me. You know what I want out of a relationship, and I know you just needed some space. I’ll work on not being overbearing. I know, if you would just give us another try, we can make this work.”
I quirk my eyebrow at him. “Are you done?”
“I guess so,” he mumbles.
“No, Ben. We aren’t going to get back together. We’re toxic together. You had to control everything in my life, and it was too much. I don’t need that in my life. I’m trying to work on me and my dreams. The last thing I need right now is a distraction from you or anyone else. I’m sorry you flew all the way here, but I would appreciate it if you left and went back home. I’m sure you have some gigs you need to get back to audition for.” I’m not angry. I’m just done. I’m tired of having this same conversation over and over.
His face turns red, and I see the vein in his forehead twitch, but he remains silent. He takes a deep breath and, just when I expect him to yell, he surprises me.
“Sure. All right, well, I’ll see you around. If anything changes, promise I’ll be the first to know?”
I’m confused but offer a small smile anyway. “Sure, Ben.” I walk to the door, holding it open for him. “I’ll see you later.” He places his left hand on my upper arm, giving it a gentle squeeze, and kisses me on the cheek. I close the door behind him and clean up, eager for Tait to come get me.
Chapter 15
This interview is really throwinga wrench in my plans. I was going to wine and dine her throughout the evening and take her every which way I can think of. I throw a few items in my overnight bag and make sure I look presentable to see her. I’m in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt—casual yet comfortable for the short trip back to California. The studio has set us up with first class seats and even arranged for us to get on last so fewer people can gawk.
Standing outside her room, I knock. I hear some movement inside, and she swears quietly on the other side. She must have tripped over something, and I can’t stop the smile forming. When she opens the door, she looks a little frantic and pushes her dark hair away from her face.
“Sorry, I’ll just be another moment. Come in.” She pushes open the door and runs back in toward the bathroom. I hear her moving a few items around before she comes back into view holding a few toiletry items. Shoving them in her bag, she zips it up and looks at me as she sucks in a large breath. “Ready.”
I notice the contract sitting on the small dresser at the front of the room, and I want to ask her about it. She follows my line of sight, and I watch from the corner of my eye as her body language changes. She stiffens as she walks toward the papers.
“Best to not leave this lying around.” She places it in one of the dresser drawers under some clothes and shuts it.
“Are we going to talk about it?” I ask, picking her bag up from the bed and throwing it over my shoulder.