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“I can’t go in there,” I whisper, stopping dead in my tracks.
She rolls her eyes. “Come on, Ivy. This is going to be your job. You have to meet Ford officially before filming starts anyway. Why not do it now?”
I bite down on my lip, remembering our awkward encounter in the elevator. I desperately try to suppress the moan threatening to escape my lips as I remember all the dirty things I imagined him doing to me.
“What the hell is wrong with you? We’re just going to introduce ourselves and maybe have a drink or two before we go hang out with my dad.” She reaches for my hand again, but I pull it out of her grasp.
“Andi…I’ve had sex dreams about Ford,” I admit quietly. “How the hell am I supposed to look him in the eyes?”
“Who hasn’t? If he was my type, I’d hit on him, but I’m not into him.” Her eyes flick back toward the restaurant. “Now, let’s go.”
Without waiting for my response, she drags me into the restaurant, catching the attention of both men. Nolan says something to Ford before he stands up and storms toward us.
A mischievous smile crosses Andi’s face.
“See how much longer you can resist me now,” she whispers low enough for no one else to hear.
What the hell does that mean?
As Nolan gets closer, I notice he seems much younger than I know him to be. He has a thick, dark brown beard and fills out his button-down shirt nicely. He fits perfectly in the mountain lodge setting, but something tells me he is far from a rugged mountain man.
“Hello, ladies,” Nolan growls through clenched teeth.
“Nolan,” Andi says brightly. “This is my friend Ivy. I thought I’d bring her by and introduce you.”
He nods at me, but it’s Andi who has his complete attention.
“We need to talk,” he whispers loud enough for me to hear. “Come with me.”
And then they disappear, leaving me standing there like an idiot at the front of the restaurant.
I look around the restaurant for an empty seat and lock eyes with Ford. His piercing blue eyes are fixed on mine, as if I’m dinner and he’s a starving man.
What should I do?
Run. Otherwise, there’s a ninety-nine percent chance I’ll make a fool out of myself.
I speed-walk through the lobby, hand buried in my purse as I search for my cell phone. I hope Andi is having better luck with Nolan than I did during my first encounter with Ford. I have no idea how I’m going to stare into his eyes every day and not turn into a puddle of goo. As I continue to search for my phone, I run right into a hard wall of chest.
“Oh, my God!” I gasp, stumbling back.
My hand lifts to rub my nose. Talk about a hard body.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” a male voice purrs.
I know that voice. There is no way this could happen to me twice in one day. I look up and gasp in surprise, almost falling onto my ass.
Jacob Taylor is smiling at me like the big bad wolf.
It’s official, the universe has completely lost its mind. First, I share an elevator with Ford Harmon and now I’m face-to-face with Jacob Taylor, Hollywood’s newly-crowned bad boy.
My mouth drops open, because I’m literally speechless.
“Are you okay?” he asks, reaching up and lightly touching my nose. “You didn’t break anything, did you?”
“No,” I squeak.
“Perfect. Then maybe you should come and have a drink with me. It’s the least you can do.”
I can barely form words to respond. Instead, I let him lead me back to the lodge’s restaurant. We bypass the hostess stand, the dining room, and head straight for the bar.
Most women would be thrilled to be having drinks with Jacob, let alone having conversation. But not me. I’d rather swallow glass. There is just something about him that rubs me the wrong way. Not to mention, he’s a little immature for my taste. I’d rather have a grown man, with a good head on his shoulders.
I’ve always imagined myself with someone older. A man, not a boy. Someone who can take care of me, treat me like a princess, and give me everything I ever wanted in my life. It seems insane, but I’ve been taking care of myself all my life. It would be nice to have someone take care of me for once.
As he helps me settle on a plush leather bar stool, my gaze scans the restaurant, hoping for another glimpse of Ford. But he’s gone, which surprisingly disappoints me.
