Chapter 7
Dante
I would’ve loved to see her at any other time, but not now. Not on this show.
Autumn absently rubbed the stud in her left ear as she meticulously labored over her script, repeating parts over and over with slightly different intonation. She was clearly nervous. I couldn’t help, but smirk at that. If she thought this audition was nerve-wracking she had no idea what was in store for her if she got the part.
Autumn paced anxiously in the open-air parking lot across the street from Fenway stadium, quietly reciting her lines, and oblivious to everything else—especially me.
I sat in a gray Mustang rental along the back wall and watched her. It’d been a few days since meeting with the Lionhouse execs. Most of the unbridled rage had passed, but the harsh truths still loomed over me like a storm cloud.
A hard rain was going to fall and another naïve actress was going to be swallowed up by it. There was a real chance it would be Autumn. The best thing she could do was go home and forget all about this, but I could tell by her focus that wasn’t going to happen.
The auditions had just started. I should’ve already been inside, but I couldn’t help myself. At this distance I allowed myself to be enthralled by Autumn’s subtle beauty. The tumble of soft brown curls licked at Autumn’s sun-kissed-yet-still-milky collarbones. Her mahogany hair framed her face like an artist might frame a painting of rolling, wind-swept sand dunes in a summer’s early afternoon.
She was just as pretty as I remembered her.
I’d never had much of a voyeuristic streak, but watching her and remembering our evening together on the boat was changing that. Sweat-dripped memories swirled in the recesses of my mind. The way her tight pussy strangled my cock when she came, her nails down my spine and the vulnerability in her voice when she whispered my name, all of it echoed in my heart.
Was this longing?
Whatever it was, it I wasn’t familiar with the sensation, and hoped that it would pass soon. What could’ve happened between us was over the second Jane blackmailed me into being here. It didn’t matter if she was selected or not, all my time was spoken for. I had one job now.
Make an actress film ready. Even if it kills her.
And I really hoped that actress wouldn’t be Autumn.
Autumn didn’t hear my car door open or close, nor did she notice the dull echo of my approaching footfalls. Furiously reciting her lines, she was in another world.
At almost six feet, I wasn’t extraordinarily tall and Autumn was easily half a foot shorter than I was. She was petite and athletic which was an unabashed weakness of mine, but also had a geeky, sexiness to her that a cold shower couldn’t wash from my mind. Dark surging impulses quickened my pace toward her as my eyes strolled up the tight jeans that were pasted over her inner thighs.
I can take you if I want to.
From behind I reached out and grabbed the hand she had pressed to her ear. Autumn gasped and swung around, her arm tensed, ready to pull away and run if she needed to.
At least she has quick reflexes. I can work with that.
“Dante?” Her eyes flared, then calmed in relief when she saw it was me. There was a faint spark of worry in her chestnut eyes that almost made me smile. Yes, it was only me. Nothing to be afraid of.
If only you really knew me, you’d be terrified.
In the flat, even light of a late summer day I could see red flecks in her startled eyes. I savored her innocence in one last lingering moment, knowing that once she got inside for her audition the hair, makeup, and wardrobe departments were going to change her into someone else entirely.
Such a shame.
Even in something as simple as a pair of jeans and a flowing blouse she looked perfect. Autumn didn’t need changing. She was already my favorite season.
“That’s a bad habit.” I ran a thumb gently over the silky skin on the back of her hand. “Grabbing your ear like that is a tell. People will know you’re nervous.”
Autumn’s eyes were flickering match head flames as they danced from me to her still captured hand. She was wondering why I hadn’t let go yet. She opened her mouth, mustering her courage, she said, “I am nervous.”
“You don’t have that luxury any more.” I caught her gaze on one of the eyes rebounds and refused to give it back. I haven’t let go because I’m not done with you yet. “This line of work is all about confidence even when you’re terrified; especially when you’re terrified.”
“So basically, I need to lie about how I feel.”
“That’s all acting is. Pretty little lies,” I took a step toward her, before I was stopped by a burst of wind carrying a wave of her perfume. Bright notes of raspberry and jasmine over a cedar base conjured a garden-lined cabin in my mind. It was pleasant, and a nice place to spend a fantasy, but it hid what I was really hoping for. I suddenly yearned for the beach salt, and savory warmth of her natural scent.
I forced myself to let her go. Swallowing, I reminded myself to be careful.
“In the email, they said this more of a laid-back audition.” Autumn tucked the wind-tussled curl behind her ear. “I’d be given enough time to go at my own pace and get comfortable with my lines.”
“And you believed them?” I tried to keep the blatant scoff from my lips. This girl was beautifully naïve. This industry is going to eat her alive. “They’re not going to invest two hundred million dollars into a movie with someone who can’t handle pressure.”
“I—” Autumn’s thin eyebrows furrowed, then pinched closer to each other. Something flickered across her face that I couldn’t place. It was a deeper worry than just the audition. “Are you trying to scare me?”
“I’m trying to help you. Everything you do in there, on set, and even right now—” I paused to let her know exactly where she stood with me. “—is an audition. You always need to be on your toes. Not everyone is looking out for your best interest.”
I liked Autumn—more than I should, but I refused to let that stop me from doing what needed to be done. I was brought in to do a job and I had no choice, but to do it. Even if that meant I had to be the one to rip off all of her Band-Aids.
“What about you?” The timidity in Autumn’s voice was subsiding. It was slowly being replaced with skeptical resolve.
Good, toughen up.
“Do you have my best interests at heart?” she asked.
“Absolutely not,” I replied without a moment’s hesitation. “But I’ll always be honest with you.”
I grabbed her hand, turning it over and brushing back her fingers to get a better look at her palm. Not a single callous. Her hands were too soft. That was a bad sign. Quick reflexes won’t amount to much if she’s not strong enough to save herself.
Autumn had potential, but that might not be enough.
“Can I trust you or not?” There was a lingering sense of hope behind her voice, like someone grasping at shadows. She obviously didn’t have any friends here and was feeling overwhelmed.
“You can only trust me with your life.” I released her hand, but couldn’t strip the carnivorous squint from my eyes. It was alarmingly easy to be the big bad wolf around her. I had to work on that. I’d have to do everything in my power to keep the amazing night we shared off my mind; because that wasn’t something I could ever allow to happen again. “Nothing else.” I studied her face- fair, naïve and woefully unprepared. “Why are you doing this?
Wide eyed, Autumn recoiled. “I was invited to audition.”
“That’s not what I’m asking you?”
“Because I want to—”
The frown on my face stopped her cold. I’d been around the block to see right through her bullshit.
“I—” Autumn started but couldn’t find the conviction under my hard stare. She gave up and walked a few steps away; her face suddenly welled with emotion. “My mom… She has cancer. We can’t—” Autumn breathed in rapidly, quickly becoming overwhelmed. She took a long moment and found a calming resolve deep within her that stopped her from all out crying. Clearing her throat she continued, “We need this.”
She needed the money.
She was putting herself through all this after what happened for her mother? Looking at Autumn’s eyes begin to swell water and pain made me an old ache grip my heart. I thought about my own mother and how close we were before she died. I’d have done anything for her too.
“I have to do this.” Autumn’s head dipped. Her expression was marred by so many swirling emotions. If she was going to be an actress she’d have to control that.
“Head up, eyes forward,” I demanded. If you’re really going through with this there’s no room for weakness. When her wet, brown eyes washed over me I finished my thought. “You’re auditioning against real talent so toughen up. You’re only allowed to be vulnerable in this cutthroat business when the script calls for it. Otherwise hide that pain in your dressing room. Or use it in your performance. Nothing else matters.”
I was hoping to fire her up, make her mad enough to seize the will she’d need to win. I was met with the opposite, there was a renewed sullenness to her that made me almost regret coming on so strong.
Almost.
“I’ll see you inside.” Checking my watch, I began walking toward the brick and green painted metal of the stadium. It was getting late and I’d done all I could. The rest was up to her.
“Wait, what?” Autumn finally shook off the startled haze of my abrupt presence. A mild panic infected her voice. “Why are you even here?”
“You think you’re auditioning just for them?” I slowed to a stop and glanced back at her. “You’re here to impress me too.”