Idolized (Hollywood Stardust Book 3) (18 page)

Chapter Eight

LIKE A DUEL about to begin, Cora’s car and the car carrying Ryder stalked down the alleyway from opposing sides. As the cars came to a stop, Cora snatched up her handbag like a weapon before getting out of the car and standing her ground.

Ryder exited his vehicle and stopped as well.

So the man wanted a battle, did he? Was he still pouting because he couldn’t drive the car? Well, this was war, her warriors backing her up, and she wasn’t budging.

“CC stay right there.” Ryder held his hand up, reached back into the car and with a brown paper bag in his hand sprinted toward her.

She crossed her arms and kept her focus affixed on her enemy as he approached. Her head pounded in time with each of his steps.

“Oh baby, you are tense. I see you still have that headache.” Ryder lifted his chin to Viktor as if to say hello, and put the bag on the hood of the car. He pulled a huge bottle of water out of the bag, opened the top and handed it to her. “Alkaline water. I have a case in the car as well. Start with this. Part of your headache has to be dehydration. I’m glad that I had time to stop for some rations after this insane day.”

Not wanting to think about what his rations were, she turned her head refusing to take his watered down peace offering. “I think part of my headache has to do with being interrupted multiple times today with inane questions.”

“Did Rodger keep calling you? Maybe we should talk to him about that.” Ryder put the bottle to her lips. “This water is healing, trust me.”

Only because her mouth was parched from the fight did she take a sip of the magic water that shock of all shocks, tasted like…water. “Before we do anything else, we have to set some things straight.”

“I think before we do anything else we have to fix your headache.” Once more he reached back in the bag, this time pulling out a little container of almonds. He opened that and popped one in her mouth. “Almonds have natural pain relievers.”

She chewed the nut while envisioning another nut, the one standing by her side. “Don’t think you can ply me with nuts.”

“That comes later.” He put his arm around her and kissed her neck. “Orgasms do wonders for headaches. I will make sure to deliver one right to you personally once we get home.”

“Speaking of which.” It was time to fire her weapons, and she spun toward him. Damn gorgeous man.

He grinned. “You already look like you have some color back.”

No way would his pretty face and perfect grin deflect her from her purpose. “Did you clean up all your messes?”

He raised his eyebrows. “I wasn’t as dirty as you thought, but I’m squeaky clean now.”

Though she found that hard to believe, rather than belabor the point, she chose to keep forging ahead. As his smile faded, hers appeared. “Good, you can follow instructions.” She reached into her handbag and found her own bit of magic, not in the form of nuts or liquid, but in an envelope.

“Haven’t you heard? I take direction perfectly.” He backed up as if he needed to get a better view, the lay of the land so to speak.

Well, before the man got laid, he needed to understand. “Excellent, then I don’t need to repeat myself to get the desired result.” She stepped forward, closing the distance between them and held the envelope up.

“I thought we didn’t need any paper.” The playful demeanor gone, he stared at her.

“Who needs paper when you can have plastic?” She opened the envelope and pulled out three cards. “I have here, a credit card, a key to the Sierra Towers, and your health insurance card. We’ll program the lock with your fingerprints later.”

“You’re nothing, if not productive.” He inched closer and reached out for his prizes.

She snapped her hand back. “I would have been more productive, if I wasn’t getting foolish phone calls from a spoiled star. Remember, I have a business to run and a position to win.”

“Isn’t that why I’m here?” In a rapid fire move, he snatched the cards away from her.

She crossed her arms. “Just as long as we’re on the same page.”

“I thought we didn’t need paper.” Taking his time, he removed his wallet from his pocket and put the cards away.

“Or a series of rapid fire phone calls over nothing.” She needed to make sure she made her point and therefore would win.

“Sometimes calls over nothing are the best ones.” His voice lowered.

Rather than continue, she glanced over at Rodger.

“I’ll deliver Ryder’s items to the apartment and see you in the morning.” Rodger called to her.

She gave Rodger one nod, and even from the distance her gesture was enough for her secretary to salute, get in the company car and drive away.

“He didn’t say goodbye, and after we had such a lovely day together.” Ryder returned his wallet to his pocket. “Tell me, what are we doing in an alley behind some warehouses? When you said meet you at six, I envisioned a restaurant or something.”

“I’m still working, come on.” Head held high, she headed toward the warehouse.

“All work and no play.” Ryder kept up as they approached the warehouse.

“Keeps my pretty boy in the lifestyle to which he’s become accustomed.” Again, she reached into her purse and pulled out another envelope.

Viktor ran ahead and gave one knock on the large metal door.

“What is this place?” Playing the role of dutiful significant other, Ryder caught her hand and laced his fingers in hers.

She peeked up at Ryder with his square jaw line and that perfect nose. Some would say she bought herself the ultimate prize. Hopefully, by producing everything he needed she would prove what she could do. “There is one more card you need.” She opened the envelope.

In a scene fit for a movie, the door rolled up in a slow movement, revealing a pitch-black room.

Viktor looked back at her, and she lifted her chin giving him the go-ahead. Her protector snapped his fingers and in a flash, the space illuminated unveiling five of the most prestigious sports cars the world had to offer, all in gleaming black and each top of the line with every option. “Car insurance card, but you will leave the company car behind.” Not on any planet would she have Rodger made miserable.

“Holy Mother of God.” Rather than stomping forth like he owned the place, Ryder squeezed her hand and pulled her closer. “You are amazing.”

“What would my pet like to drive to his first day on set?” She swiped her hand in front of them. “You can only pick one treat, so choose wisely.”

He leaned down to her ear. “I am really turned on right now.”

“I have no doubt.” Men were so easily appeased. “Which engine do you want rumbling your loins?”

“I know what I want rumbling my loins later.” A chuckle escaped his throat. “If I lick it, is it mine?”

“So to speak.” It wasn’t the time to remind him who held the pink slip and everything else. She held the power, but he seemed to fall into line.

“Excellent.” He wrapped his arm around her, licked her earlobe and turned toward the vehicles once again. “I got the first thing claimed.”

Oh, the man was quite an actor, she needed to watch herself. Their banter, his looks, and his loins were way too easy to get lost in. No wonder he had a string of women at his beck and call. “Go choose some wheels, a star of your caliber needs something spectacular.”

Not in need of any more prodding, he let go of her and went to the first car, the traditional Ferrari, the car that everyone recognized as the sports car of success.

At least he took his time, walking around the car, sitting inside and putting his hands on the steering wheel.

Viktor came to her side. “With all due respect, are you sure you know what you are doing?”

“Small investment to get what I need.” She watched Ryder go to the next vehicle, a Lamborghini, and repeat the same ritual. He did the same with the Porsche and the McLaren. “Good job setting this all up,” she murmured to Viktor.

Finally, Ryder made his way to her personal favorite, the Aston Martin. Sporty, classic lines, more unassuming, yet just as grand.

“CC.” He walked around the cars once more then held out his hand to her. “Come here.”

“What else do you need? I basically brought the dealership to you.” Though she made sure her tone laced with discontent, she still put her hand in his.

“First, to say thank you. Second, to say I narrowed it down. I just need to see something.” He took her over to the Ferrari and opened the passenger side door. “Please get in.”

The new car scent took over each one of her pores as she slipped inside, and she decided that caused her light-headedness, not the fact Ryder said thank you or anything.

He closed the door and went to the front of the car, raising his hands as if framing a shot. After a moment, he nodded and retrieved her from the car, helping her out and leading her to the Aston Martin. “One more time, gorgeous.”

Once more, she allowed him to go through his ritual. However, this time rather than getting her out of the car, he got in the driver’s side, put his hands the wheel and faced her. “Instead of licking leather and metal, may I just lick you in a more interesting place?”

A minor jolt ran through her. “So is this the one?”

He answered by slowly licking his lips and raising his eyebrows.

“Why?” Before getting on to licking, she needed to know what went on in that pretty little head of his.

“Easy, you look the best in it.”

“That’s the reason?” She crossed her arms.

“This is the kind of car that doesn’t need to scream how amazing it is. Just by being in its presence, you know you came upon something special.” He leaned in, brushed her hair off her shoulder and pulled her in for a kiss.

Her insides warmed, and the moment his tongue touched hers, the heat pooled between her legs.

“Every time I kiss you I end up with this raging erection.” He took her hand and placed it on the growing bulge in his pants.

Yes, his erection was impressive, indeed. For only a moment, she let her hand linger before pulling back. “Am I to think this is an unusual occurrence?”

He took her chin in his hand and stared into her eyes. “I’m an actor for a living. Usually I have impeccable control in everything I do, and yet this is beyond my training.” Once more, he kissed her, this one deeper, his tongue exploring her mouth, her body having an equal reaction to his.

In a sudden move, he broke the kiss. “Do you want to take a ride?”

Silly her. She thought they were already on one. “Are you sure this is the one you want?”

“Absolutely. This one feels right.” His eyes never left hers.

She waved out the window, and Viktor jogged over. “Ryder has decided the Aston Martin is to his liking.”

Viktor reached into the car and opened the glove box. Inside was the contract and the specialty key that looked more like a cube of glass.

On cue, Viktor handed her a pen, and she signed the contract then gave him the papers. He continued to stand there.

“You would think that they would do away with these ancient writing implements already.” She held his pen up. Maybe she needed to invent self-signing electronic paper.

After swiping the pen away, Viktor cleared his throat.

“Oh fine.” With a huff, she opened her purse, rooted around in her wallet and handed him a fifty-dollar bill.

“I’ll take care of everything else. Enjoy your drive.” Viktor plucked the money out of her fingers and backed away.

“What was that for?” Ryder chuckled.

Rather than answer, she tossed him the key and shut the glove box.

“I want to know what bet you lost.” He inserted the thing that wasn’t a key in the traditional sense into a slot in the middle of the dash and pushed.

The engine revved, the car came alive, and Cora couldn’t stop a smile. Modern cars were more like computers with engines. Cars like this one were works of art melded with technology and mechanics at its finest. “Get going.”

He returned his hands to the wheel, his fingers running along the contours as if he were caressing a woman. “Tell me.”

“I bet you would choose the Ferrari.” She pushed her back into the fine leather.

“Well, I’m full of surprises.”

They glanced at each other.

“How long are you going to make me wait?” she asked. Though he was more than easy on the eyes, it was easier to look straight ahead than at him, and she focused out the windshield.

“Only until you’re ready to burst.” Without warning, he hit the accelerator and the car rolled out of the warehouse.

They drove through the back alley. Before turning onto the main road, Ryder stopped and turned to her.

“Don’t forget I have to work tonight,” she reminded him. The setting sun backlit him giving him an unreal glow.

“We are working.” He punctuated his sentence with his deadly one-sided grin, or as Cora now dubbed it, the grin of no good.

Not that she wanted to be good. “How do you figure?”

“We need to be seen, make everything official. I think making it into a few tabloids is in order. We need to keep trending.”

Only a few hours ago, she sent him traipsing through the greater Los Angeles area getting rid of his other errant females and now they were official.

“It’s not as unusual as it seems. All these things are calculated down to the minute. Nothing in this town is ever by chance.” As if reading her mind, he filled in the blanks.

“So now is the time?” In this one arena, he knew more than she did. Not that she really wanted to know.

“It’s perfect.” He ran his thumb along her lower lip. “Leave your lipstick a little smudged, it’s a sure sign we’ve been kissing.”

“Nothing like setting the stage.” For the first time in a long time, she let someone else take a small amount of control.

“That’s right, baby. Let’s go make some sizzle.” Once more he punched the accelerator and made his way into the city. “It’s our first night together. You showed me what you could do, now let me show you what I can do.”

She held on, but let Ryder stay in the driver’s seat. Something told her she hadn’t won the battle or the war.

Ryder rolled down the windows and weaved his way through the streets of Los Angeles. Neither of them spoke, but he kept hold of her hand as he shifted the gears.