Typecast (26 page)

“God, I’m in trouble.” He grazed his lips over hers in a light kiss.

“Logan?” She gasped. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know how I could want you more, and yet I do.” He pulled her into his embrace.

She closed her eyes and breathed in the clean scent of his freshly pressed shirt and of Logan.

“I’m sorry. I never thought I would be the one they were after. It was always Ryder.” He tightened his hold. “I got lazy. With you, I get to forget all those times and focus on the good. There’s so much more to the story than what happened for a few hours one night.”

She nodded. Every cell in her body told her there was more to the story, and somewhere in there, Logan wasn’t the villain. She just needed to figure out how to prove it.

“Craig, I have the Ryder Scott interview.” Ivy held up the video card containing the middle of the night breakfast they had shared with Ryder, though she didn’t hold out much hope of redirecting the conversation. She and Ryder had took turns recording while Logan cooked. At the end, they’d ended up with an amazing segment, complete with Ryder and Logan sharing a couple of fun stories about being on the set of
Hollywood Stardust
. Her favorites included Ryder revealing the time Logan nearly broke his neck running away from a cat on location in Arizona. Not to be outdone, Logan one-upped his friend by telling how Ryder delayed a shoot because he got sick after challenging someone in Texas to a steak-eating challenge. She also managed to get Ryder’s dissertation on health food, gluten-free eating, and becoming a vegan.

“Is that your secret to overcoming stage fright?” From the seat next to hers, Julia swung her leg and held her pen up high as if ready to take notes. “Sleeping with your cohost?”

“Practice and coaching.” She didn’t glance in Julia’s direction.

“I didn’t know that’s what they’re calling it now.” Julia let out a low chuckle.

“Maybe we need to save the Ryder interview for later in the week, and today Logan and I should address the tabloid head-on.” She and Logan had discussed some strategy on their drive over.

Craig rocked back in his chair. “I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in anything like this.”

“I sincerely doubt that.” From across the room, Logan interjected one of his Loganisms.

She shot Logan a look only a couple shared. The wide eyes should tell him to remain quiet. He’d promised to allow her to take the lead before they’d ever walked into Craig’s office.

Logan crossed his arms.

She bit her nail. At this point, her job held little hope. The sheer fact she was escorted to Craig’s office the moment she’d entered the building gave her all she needed to know. She and Logan should have brought a box with them. Along with Logan moving in, they could also move the contents of her office. Good thing Logan’s brother owned a restaurant, since waitressing was the usual career for those who didn’t make it in the entertainment field. “While we were not hiding our relationship, we never planned on it being revealed this way.”

“You never planned on this?” Craig stood and tossed the freshly minted tabloid in front of her. “I doubt anyone plans on this.”

“Watch it.” Logan stepped forward.

“It looks like you forgot a detail.” Julia reached across the desk and lifted the magazine.

“Why are you even here?” Logan made a noise of disgust. “You’re like a cockroach. If I turn on a light, will you run away?”

Julia shook her head.

“Logan.” Ivy went with a more sinister narrow-eyed look. Maybe the act of squinting would focus her energy to shut Logan’s mouth.

“You let a questionable publication scoop your story.” Craig shook his head. “Everything you wanted to do you failed at the second you got in bed with him. Cora Caine called this morning asking what was going on.”

At the mention of the Chargge CEO, her chest tightened. She needed to continue her quest to find out the truth, not for Chargge.com, not for her, but for Logan. The man with the sarcasm and sneers was not the man who invested in his friends’ businesses or who held her at night.

Rather than speak, Logan came up behind her.

“Craig, while I know that I am a public person now, this is my choice. I feel simply addressing the situation head-on will calm everyone.” At least she hoped.

“Sounds like more self-serving publicity for you,” Julia interjected.

“Your personal life ended up as a four-page spread in one of the nation’s top-rated trash cans,” Craig said. “How can we even continue with the story now?”

Though her mouth dried, she forced herself to continue. “As you know, I’m the one who has the exclusive access to the stars of the movie. The story is viable and needs to be told. The numbers are there and growing.”

“Maybe this was simply a little stunt to make sure your numbers continue to grow.” Julia put the magazine down. “Maybe it was planned after all.”

Logan put his hands on Ivy’s shoulders.

She swallowed. “Craig, I assure you nothing is further from the truth. I still have to call my mother back after this.”

“Another has-been Hollywood child.” Julia muttered under her breath.

“If you would’ve done your research, you’d know that my mother hates Hollywood and anything to do with it. She’s a woman who lost her father.” For the first time, she glanced at the witch.

“I wouldn’t need to do my research if certain people remembered their place,” Julia shot back.

“My place was never to be your gopher.” She faced Julia head-on and made sure to speak slow and clear.

“Who better than the girl who can’t speak unless her big, bad villain is there for moral support?” One side of Julia’s mouth curled up in a smile. “Is he going to play the role of permanent cohost so you can do your job?”

“If I have to.” Logan squeezed her shoulders. “I will do whatever Ivy needs, as she would with me.”

She found herself nodding.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing.” Her boss stared Logan down and then transferred his glare to her. “I’m a friend of your father’s, and I have to say this—what are you going to do when this is over and he’s not there?”

“That’s it!” Logan let go of her and rushed to the side of Craig’s desk.

Though Craig’s words stung worse than a slap in the face, her own instinct fired off and she jumped up. “Logan!” She managed to capture his arm. Under his shirt, his tense muscles trembled.

Craig raised his hands.

“Ivy, why don’t you step out and let Craig and I settle this like men?”

“Logan, please go take a breath and let me talk to Craig.” She swallowed back the sour taste creeping up from her throat.

“Ivy.” Logan said her name through clenched teeth.

“Logan, please, this is my job.” While she appreciated he didn’t want to leave her, if she went down, she had to be the one responsible. “I need to take care of it myself.”

“Fine.” He practically shook her off his arm, then turned on his heel and walked out.

Every part of her wanted to run after him, but she couldn’t simply quit. The stakes were too high. “Craig, may I talk to you alone?”

“I think I should stay. I need to know what’s going on when I take over this story.” Julia softened her voice as if she were innocent and only trying to help.

She wished she had the guts to slap Julia across the face.

“Julia, don’t you have a location shoot?” Craig returned to his seat.

“I always end up the human mop when she can’t hack it.” Julia motioned toward her.

He gave Julia a look, an all too familiar look, and Ivy’s stomach churned at the image entering her mind. She just shot Logan a similar look. Were they together?

“I’ll see you after my shoot.” With a huff, Julia left.

“If you tell me you planned this to create exposure and unearth some amazing detail that would answer so many of the unanswered questions, I may be able to breathe.” Craig wiped his brow.

“Maybe you should have some respect for me and trust the fact I won’t lie to you and tell you that fractured fairy tale.” She crossed her arms. “Or, maybe you should have some respect for me because I’m diligently doing my job.”

“Are you any closer to finding out anything of any merit?”

“I can feel it.”

“Are the two of you really together?” He furrowed his brow.

“We are.”

“So, if you had to make a choice, would you choose him or the story?”

“I’d like to think I wouldn’t have to make a choice.”

He glanced over at his computer screen. “What about your duty as a reporter?”

“If the story is what my gut is telling me, it’s going to be incredible.” She would clear him of the burden of his past across every media platform.

He glided his mouse around. “Your damn numbers are through the roof. They were before the story broke, and now they’re off the chart.”

“I know.” She sat up straighter. All media worked the same way.

He balled his hand into a fist and lightly pounded it on his desk. “We can’t have this getting out of hand. It’s Chargge.com’s story. Watch who you tell things to. Maybe use a different e-mail.”

“I will.”

“Go film something. Keep your momentum.” He turned to her.

Before she had the chance to celebrate her mild victory, the door to Craig’s office shot open.

“Ivy!” Logan rushed inside. “We have to go right now.”

“What’s wrong?” His stark white complexion set off every alarm bell throughout her body. She nearly fell trying to reach him.

“Wilson called. The bar’s been vandalized. Goddamned story. We have to get there now.” Without waiting for her, he stomped out of the room.

“I have to go. Filming will have to wait.” She headed for the door.

“Well, at least I know the answer to my question.” Craig called to her.

“You’ll still have a story.” She ran after Logan.

CUT TO:

EXT. GAS STATION – AMARILLO, TX – DAY

They are given the bill for the repairs. Steven’s parents’ credit card doesn’t work.

STEVEN steps away from the counter and joins the other three.

STEVEN

Hey, I need some help here.

STEVEN holds his hand out.

WILLIAM reaches into his pocket and hands STEVEN some crumpled-up bills.

WILLIAM

I’m almost all tapped out.

CHARLES takes a step back.

CHARLES

I’m only allowed to use the credit card in a grave emergency.

STEVEN

What do you call this?

ROXY holds her wallet out to STEVEN)

ROXY

Here.

STEVEN shakes his head.

STEVEN

What is wrong with you people? Do I always have to carry everyone?

Chapter Sixteen

Feeling like he was trapped in some alternate universe, Logan had to wonder if certain events in his life were on an endless loop doomed to repeat themselves over and over again. Twenty years ago, his car had been slashed multiple times, and he had lost count of the windows broken in the middle of the night.

Construction was causing an unusually heavy traffic jam in Hollywood, and the six-mile drive might as well have been one hundred miles. On the plus side, he had plenty of time to reflect.

He tightened his hold on the steering wheel in an attempt not to drive like a maniac with Ivy in the car.

“Logan,” Ivy whispered. The entire ride to the bar she fiddled with her phone, probably searching for a way out.

“I shouldn’t have brought you with me.” Maybe situations like these were why he never got the girl, because all he brought was danger and destruction. He played his role in life like an Oscar contender, taking responsibility for everything and everyone.

“Don’t say that.” Her tone businesslike and curt, she continued plunking away at her phone.

“I can say whatever I want as long as it is a fact.” In an attempt to find out what held her interest with such intensity, he leaned way over.

“Logan!” Her eyes wide, she pointed straight ahead.

He looked up with enough time to slam his brakes at the red light. The car skidded to a stop in the intersection and lurched both of them forward.

“Oh my.” She pressed her hand to her chest.

“Damn it!” Frozen, he simply stared at her.

From behind them, a car honked.