Hollywood & Vine (59 page)

Anders’ eyes lingered on her chest. When he lifted his gaze to hers, he was met with the sight of her self-satisfied smirk. “You don’t fight fair.”

“I never claimed to. Now come on. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can come back and I can show you those other things.” Her suggestive tone made Anders’ muscles tighten.

“I like the sound of that.”

Holding out her hand, she wiggled her fingers at Anders. With a resigned sigh, he reached out and took her hand. Intertwining their fingers, he pushed off the couch and pulled her against him. He lifted his free hand and cupped her neck, coaxing her to tilt her face to his.

“Kiss me, Ivy.”

Josie’s eyes slid shut when their lips touched. She’d never had someone light her body on fire the way he did. He was everything to her, and she knew he felt the same way. Breathless, she wrapped her hands in his hair. “Let’s go. We can finish that later.”

Exhaling, Anders dropped his forehead to hers. “Damn right we will.”

“You wanna drive?” Josie asked, locking her front door.

Anders looked up and down the street before turning his attention back to Josie. “It’s not far, right? Can we walk?”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Anders ground his teeth together and tightened his grip on her hand. “It’s already almost dark. We’ll see anyone coming.”

She eyed him then nodded. “Okay.”

They walked down her driveway hand in hand. Josie could feel a shift in the air; it felt weighted, charged. When Anders spoke, she knew she’d been right.

“Jesus, Ivy. Are you that worried about someone seeing us together?”

Josie slowed to a stop and turned to face Anders. “I’m not doing this with you in the middle of the street minutes before we get to my brother’s house. I know you’re frustrated. In case you’ve forgotten, I know firsthand what you’re feeling.”

“Is that why you’re doing this?” He wanted to take back the words as soon as he said them. Josie pressed her lips into a thin line. She held his gaze for a moment before shaking her head and walking down the street. If she stayed, she was going to hit him.

Anders swore under his breath and jogged to catch up. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he lifted her off the ground and pressed his lips against her neck. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m just ready to start my life with you. I’ve wasted so much time already. I want to hold your hand and not give a fuck if anyone sees.”

Josie tapped his arms and wiggled in his grasp. Reluctantly, he set her down, his eyes widening in surprise when she immediately spun around and grabbed his hands. “Then stop giving a fuck, Anders. Hold my hand. Touch me. Be with me. Stop worrying about how much you want everyone to see us. We don’t have anything to prove. Let’s just focus on each other and let the rest of the world deal with their own problems, okay?”

Anders nodded and started walking again, not trusting himself to not say something stupid. He cut his eyes to the side when Josie laughed. Hesitantly, one side of Anders’ mouth lifted when he saw a smile stretched across her face, her cheeks pulled high.

“What’s funny?”

“You are.”

“Me? Why? What did I do?”

Josie giggled and tried to pull her hand free. Anders shook his head, his smile growing as he gripped her hand tighter.

“You’re such a baby when you don’t get your way. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Lowering her voice, she tried to mimic his tone. “‘I want what I want when I want it, damn it.’”

“Oh”
―
Anders chuckled, his eyes narrowing
―
“you’re gonna pay for that.”

Josie squealed and pulled her hand free. She made it a few steps before she was airborne. She felt weightless as she found herself flung over his shoulder. “Put me down!”

“Nope.”

“Put me down or I’m going to give you a wedgie.” To prove her point, Josie reached down and tugged on the top of his boxers.

“I’d do as she says or you’re going to be walking funny the rest of the night.”

Anders’ head snapped up at the sound of Madison’s voice. “Seriously?” he asked, his eyes wide.

Madison shrugged. “It’s what I’d do to Holden.”

Josie flew through the air again as Anders flipped her back over his shoulder and set her on her feet. “What the hell?” she gasped, laughing as she tried to right herself.

“As much as you two are alike, I’ll be damned if I’m taking that chance.”

Josie laughed and popped up on her toes, kissing his lips. “Wise decision.”

“You’re such a shit,” Anders teased. Wrapping his arm around her neck, he pulled her into his side and walked them up the stairs to meet a grinning Madison.

“I hope you guys are hungry. Holden grilled steaks. We can eat out back. I even set up the projector so we can watch the movie outside too.”

“That sounds awesome. We’re starving.”

“Of course we’re starving.” Anders pinned Josie’s arms to her sides and looked at Madison over the top of Josie’s head. “After the last time she tried to cook, I decided starvation would be less painful.”

“Hey!” Josie tried to break free, but he held her tight.

Madison rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Oh man, you have so much to learn. Josie help me grab some stuff from the kitchen. I’ll help you plot something good to get him back later.”

Holden walked out of the kitchen and handed Anders one of the two beers in his hands. “You’d be safer out back with me.” Without another word, he moved to the back of the house and out the door with Anders following close behind.

While their conversation wasn’t as strained as before, it was far from comfortable. They made small talk while Josie and Madison set the table. After a few drinks, the tension eased and by the time they finished dinner, the atmosphere was relaxed.

“Are you guys ready to watch the movie?” Madison asked with a mischievous grin as she grabbed a bottle of wine and moved to one of the oversized chairs on the lawn.

“What are you up to?” Josie asked with narrowed eyes. Without answering, Madison pressed play and the movie started.

It only took a few seconds for Anders to throw his head back and groan. “No fucking way. You can’t be serious.”

Josie’s eyes widened when she looked at the screen, then she doubled over with laughter. “Oh my God. Where did you find this?”

“Not telling,” Madison sang. She scooted over, making room for Holden to slide into the chair with her. He tried to hide his own laughter but failed.

“Fucking hell.” Anders fell into the other chair and pulled Josie onto his lap. “You’re going to owe me so fucking much for sitting through this,” he whispered in her ear. “And I’m cashing in as soon as we leave here.” He dug his fingers into her hips and pulled her against him. His expectations were clear. Lucky for him, Josie was more than willing to comply.

For the next seventy minutes Anders tried not to gouge his eyes out as he watched a much younger version of himself on the screen. It was one of his first movies. It was also his worst. If he had the resources, he’d acquire every copy in circulation just to burn them.

Excusing himself from the group once the movie ended, Anders made his way to the bathroom. He splashed his face with water and dried his hands before pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket. Turning it over in his hands, he blew out a heavy breath and unlocked the door. There was a reason he’d been so complacent all evening; he needed a favor.

When he stepped into the hall, he came face to face with the person he wanted to talk to. Madison lifted her brows when Anders didn’t move from the doorway.

“I need a favor.”

Madison clapped her hands together. “Oh, goodie.”

Anders rolled his eyes at her sarcastic tone. “Can you just”
―
he thrust the scrap of paper he held into her hand
―
“can you take my number?”

Madison waved the paper in the air. “And what am I supposed to do with this?”

“You’re going to call me if anything happens to Josie.”

Madison dropped her arms to her sides and shook her head. “Does that work for you? Talking to people that way? Because I can tell you right now, you just hit a big wall of ‘no fucking way’ with me.”

Anders closed his eyes and dropped his head back. He reminded himself that he needed her help, even though it almost killed him to ask for it. “Look, I’m worried about her, okay? You of all people know she’s stubborn as hell. If something happens with the paps, she’s going to try to deal with things herself. I fucked up and left her on her own last time because I thought I was doing the right thing. I don’t want her thinking she has to do it alone ever again.”

Madison gave him a half-smile and nodded. “That was kinda sweet. Just don’t underestimate her.”

“I won’t. But I know the paps followed her more than she admitted. The pictures of her on days she said nothing are proof of that.”

“I won’t go behind her back just to give you updates, but if something happens, and it’s bad enough that I’m worried too, I will call you. That’s as much as I can give you. She comes first.”

“Fair enough.”

“Now go away. I wasn’t standing outside the bathroom to listen to you pee.” Madison waved him off with a flick of her wrist and pushed passed him into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

“They’re all fucking crazy,” Anders mumbled.

After awkward goodbyes, Anders and Josie walked out into the warm night, their arms wrapped around each other.

“Are you staying?” Josie asked, a hopeful smile lifting her cheeks as she pushed open her front door.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?”

Josie pretended to contemplate his question as she tapped her finger on her chin. Scrunching her face, she hummed. “Maybe not yet. There are a couple of things I want to show you.”

“What sorts of things?” Anders smirked and pulled her against him, shutting her front door with his free hand.

“Other things,” she whispered, her arms tightening around his waist.

“Will I like these other things?”

“You’ll love them.”

Anders’ grip tightened and his heart stuttered at her mention of the word love. His anxiety was evident.

Josie looked at his panic-stricken eyes. “Hey, are you okay?”

Anders let out a low laugh. It was forced and thick with annoyance. “Yeah. I’m great.”

“Okay,” Josie drawled, taking a step back. “I’m just going to stand back here so when lightning strikes you for telling a lie my hair doesn’t get singed.”

Even though Josie’s words were lighthearted, Anders didn’t miss the slight edge of annoyance in her voice. “One step forward, two hundred back.” Anders sighed and tensed his jaw. “I want to tell you…I know I haven’t said
―
”

Josie shook her head and stepped forward, cutting off Anders’ words when she pressed her finger to his lips. “Stop.”

“But
―
”

“No. Anders, stop. You don’t have to say anything to me, not until you’re ready.” Josie’s voice was soft, her expression open.

Anders’ face twisted, frustration and anguish gripping his body. Wrapping his arms around Josie, he pulled her close. His lips were firm and insistent as they pressed against her forehead. With his eyes clenched, he spoke through gritted teeth. “You know how I feel about you, right?”

“I know,” she whispered.

“I just
―
”

“Anders. You don’t have to say it. Not now.” She slid her fingers under the hem of his shirt and scratched her nails up his back. Lifting her eyes to his, she rose up on her toes and pressed their lips together. She pulled back a hairsbreadth, and when she spoke, her lips still brushed against his. “Show me.”

Anders’ lips pressed together, and his heart thundered in his chest. He wanted to tell her. He knew he loved her, but the words lodged in his throat like tar, strangling him until all he could utter was a strained, “Okay.”

Soft and gentle, he undressed her. He kissed every exposed part of her body and said to her with his body the words that refused to leave his lips. He worshiped her. He teased her. Then he did it again.

T
he following weeks passed in the blink of an eye. Anders had hoped as time passed, people would become less interested in his relationship status. However, the longer he stayed out of nightclubs and away from the party scene, the more people talked. His absence, combined with the buzz about his upcoming movie, made him a target more than ever, which translated into difficulties for him and Josie and the amount of time they were able to spend together.

Unsurprisingly, Anders continued to push the issue of going public. He tried to convince her if they got it over with, they’d be able to spend more time together before he left. Josie was steadfast, though. She didn’t want to go public knowing he would be leaving soon. She didn’t want to deal with the constant harassment alone. She wanted to wait until he was going to be in LA for longer than a few weeks. Her argument was valid, but that didn’t stop the trickle of doubt from seeping into his mind. When he left for Atlanta, it was with a soft kiss and an “I’ll see you soon” on her lips. Even though he had a million opportunities to tell her how he felt
―
that he loved her
―
he never did.