“No, thank you.”
Smiling, he returned to their previous topic of conversation. “What if I decide I want to give you your big break? A contract too good to say no to, an exclusive one?” he asked.
She shook her head once more. “A handcuffs deal?”
“Oh, honey, I’d happily cuff you.”
She ignored the final comment, aside from a smile, and returned her thoughts to his big break offer as he got to his feet and taking her hand led her back to the sofa with their glasses. He sat next to her, closer than earlier.
“I would only accept if I earned it, with my ability to act.”
He nodded. “I’ve already said that I admire your integrity, and I do. So, I won’t give you your big break. And I’m going to assume your rejection is confirmation that your reason for being here is me, just me.”
She grinned at him, realising that the carrot he had been dangling had been some kind of rouse, maybe to see just what she was willing to give up in return for a break in Hollywood.
“Your assumption would be correct,” she confirmed with a coyer smile. “I kind of have an offer of a movie anyway, with Jonathan Peters, but there are some funding issues.” She felt her triumphant expression reaffirmed that no matter how much she might need a Hollywood pay day, she wouldn’t take it at any cost.
“I know. It was Jon that first mentioned your name to me and when the funding issues are resolved it will be made for my studio,” he said, trumping her triumphant expression.
She laughed a little at her own naivety in thinking he wouldn’t know what work she had in the pipeline or who for.
“How well do you know him?”
“We roomed together in college and we were best buddies, still are. He’s one of the good guys. Your boyfriends, they were sexual partners, yes?”
She nodded and wasn’t that shocked by the swift change in his questioning again as that seemed to be his way of doing things.
“Shame. I would have liked to have been your first. To have broken you in.”
Tasha, despite the fact that only a few seconds ago might have thought him being her first would have been beyond memorable was more than offended and certainly buoyed by the wine. “I was never a horse that needed breaking in. You really are blunt to the point of rudeness and the fact that you want to sleep with me doesn’t give you the right to say those things, James.”
He stared at her intently. “Jim, please.” His tone was flat, polite and courteous as if the issue in this conversation was her calling him James rather than Jim, then he waited until she conceded in a single word response.
“Jim.”
With a small curl of his lips and a nod he spoke again. “Sleep with you? Is that what you think I want to do?”
He was egging her on, maybe even daring her. She couldn’t deny she was aroused by him and she didn’t know why, beyond the obvious physical attraction, of course. He was clever, articulate and funny, but he was also a tormentor and seemed to be slightly sexist, possibly even misogynistic, yet she knew she would not be leaving this room until she had slept with him. That much was obvious, even to her. She thought of her time with Jake and then Gerry, her beloved Gerry, who she still really missed. Then she remembered that he wasn’t hers to miss, not anymore. He was Kara’s. They had missed their chance and she had to move on. She was ready to move on. Even for just the weekend and possibly at the expense of some professional integrity because right now she had no thoughts beyond her desire and libido.
“No. I don’t believe you want to sleep with me. I believe you want to ‘screw’ me.” She emphasised the word screw through almost gritted teeth.
“Oh dear. I did warn you, Natasha. Put your shoes on.”
He escorted her to her shoes where on wobbly feet she obliged then he took her elbow and in the same way he’d escorted her in, he led her towards the door.
Shit! She’d read this all wrong. He was throwing her out for saying screw, or because she’d disobeyed him or was it because she’d declined his offer to make her a star. She didn’t want to leave. She wanted him. Wanted him more than she’d ever wanted anyone. How was that possible? She’d only known him for a few hours and wasn’t entirely sure she actually liked the man he was.
Chapter 2
As they reached the door he stopped. “I did warn you about your mouth, didn’t I?”
She nodded. He stared down at her and Tasha actually thought he genuinely disapproved, but was it enough to eject her from his room?
“But you decided that you and your smart mouth knew best, didn’t you?”
She nodded again and although she felt like she was being told off like a naughty schoolgirl, she was finding it all very hot with his holier than though attitude and objectionable expression while she yielded to his power and authority. Her green eyes flitted down, playing theguilty as chargedyoung and innocent lady to perfection. Not that any of her thoughts were in any way innocent. He wasn’t going to throw her out, she could see that there was far more going on here than simple disapproval of her choice of language and she intended to enjoy every second of it.
“I think I need to do something about that smart mouth of yours.” He still stared down at her.
