Chapter 16

Ethan

I slept like shit the night before, reading over the simple text about the press conference and reading into it more than I should have. She was shutting me down before we ever got started, but what did I expect? I was a dick to her the day before, rude and condescending. The problem was that I wasn't sure how to be anything but that.

After shaving and fixing myself up to look presentable in public, I left to head to my brother's place. He was at the house fixing up the backyard, and I figured if nothing else, I could point out where he missed a spot in cutting his grass. I was still his little brother no matter that our combined wealth was enough to buy anything that our hearts might desire.

I rolled the windows down in my Mercedes convertible and pulled my sunglasses from the console beside me.

"Ethan!" someone screamed as I pulled up to a light on Rodeo Drive.

I waved and smiled as a huge gaggle of women in pretty dresses walked quickly toward the car. "Hi girls."

"Sign this for me?" The woman handed me a pad of paper as she glanced around to her friends. "I told you to have something ready. It's our lucky day."

"And who am I signing it for?" I gave her a warm smile and took the pen and paper as she rattled off her name. The light turned green, and the cars behind us started to honk, but I took my time signing each of their various papers. The last one moved up with a sharpie and leaned down.

"Sign my tits?" She gave me a sexy smile.

"You bet." I leaned over and signed my name, adding, 'love your girls' to the note. "Thanks, ladies. New movie is coming out-"

"In ten months. We already got tickets." They blew kisses at me, and I pretended to catch them before driving off and rolling my eyes. There were parts of my job I loved... and then there were the parts I could never do again and be completely fulfilled. Faking my persona in front of women that wanted to paw at my crotch or snuggle up for a picture like we knew each other and I mattered would be the first thing to go.

I flipped on the radio and sped through the next light, hoping to not get caught like a sitting duck again. My thoughts moved back to Riley and I groaned. I couldn't stop reliving her sitting on top of me, her white bra covering her breasts beautifully, her panties tiny, but covering her. Where most men might want a girl to strip down and bend over, I wanted her to tease me. To make me crave what I couldn't see.

"Stop. Fuck, please." I turned down the road that led to my brother's mansion. Her smile flashed through my mind, and I smiled as my stomach tightened with need. I owed her a big fucking apology. I did have her back even though we barely knew each other.

She could become something special in my life. A companion... someone like Deza. Or she could be more.

"Right. Cause that works out well." I pulled into my brother's circle drive and cut off the engine, letting my head drop back. As dumb as it was, she hadn't freaked out about the size of my dick, and that meant far more than it should have. Most women acted like it was some incredible tool that was built for bringing them pleasure, and not attached to the guy they soon forgot about.

"You sap." I got out of the car and adjusted myself. Every time I even started to think about Riley, my body reacted violently. It was going to be a long year.

I knocked once and walked in, breathing in deeply and glancing around. "Liam? You here, buddy?"

"In the kitchen. I was making a sandwich, waiting on your lazy ass."

I walked in and stopped to laugh. He was in his underwear, his dark hair a mess as he juggled mayonnaise and mustard containers.

"Lazy? It's almost noon. I was sleeping, or trying to." I ran my hand through my hair and swatted at the mustard, causing it to fly across the room.

He grabbed the mayo and smirked at me. "Up all night because of some new girl? I heard about the open auditions. That sounds like a cesspool of fun."

"Yeah, like an enema?" I walked over and picked up the mustard.

"You want a sandwich? I'm only making food once today." He started to work on his lunch. I couldn't help but check out the spread in front of him.

"This all for you?" I glanced around. "There isn't a group of girls in the back waiting on you to wait on them, right?"

"I only serve women in one way, my man." He popped me in the chest before glancing my way. "You want food?"

"Yeah, fuck. Stop asking. I'll take a sandwich if it will shut you up." I walked to the fridge and got a Coke as he hummed something under his voice. He always seemed so happy, so content, and yet he wasn't married, nor did he ever plan to be.

"Tell me about the girl." He glanced over his shoulder and lifted his eyebrow at me.

"What girl?" I took another drink of my soda and grabbed a few grapes off the plate beside him.

"The one that's driving you nuts. You look like shit. More like shit than usual." He handed me a plate with a sandwich on it.

"Thank you for the sandwich, and fuck you for the compliment." I turned and walked to the table. "Some of us actually work for a living."

"Awww... don't be salty because I get to wear a business suit every day and play with people’s emotions." He walked toward me, almost bouncing on the balls of his feet as he continued to hum.

"Yeah, cause that’s why I hate you." I took a big bite of the sandwich. "Why are you in such a good mood?"

"I didn't hear a word you just said with your mouth full. It’s a good thing that I can understand the context clues rolling off you." He made a bunch of weird hand gestures, and I was once again thrown into the alternate reality where I was the older brother. Liam wasn't growing up. Not ever. Plain and simple.

"Why are you so happy?" I picked up my drink and wiped my mouth on the back of my hand.

"I dumped that chick from the other night." He shrugged and started to eat his sandwich.

"And that's a good thing?" I burped and popped a few more grapes in my mouth.

"Yeah. It's exciting. Everything feels new and fresh again. Women are clingy and get boring fast." He shrugged. "But enough about me. We'll get back to that fine subject later. Tell me what the fuck's up with you."

"It's a combination of a few things." I plucked a chip from his plate.

"Go through the list. Start with the girl."

"How do you know there is a girl?" I laughed and got up, walking back into the kitchen in search of the bag of chips. He'd let me steal a few from his plate, but after that, we'd be fighting like small boys again. It was infantile. It was us.

"You have that sad Eeyore look on your face. I've seen it a lot over the years. You let too many things affect you, Ethan. Too many people."

I walked back into the dining room with two bags of chips in my hands. "So you're saying I could be a dick like you and not let anyone or anything sway my moods."

"There is that, but again, you're diverting. Let's start with something easy. What's her name?" He softened his voice like he was speaking to a small child.

"Riley." I picked up my sandwich. "She's the actress we're offering the role to for Down Low."

"Ahhh... and what is it about her that drives you insane?"

"She's real." I turned and put the full weight of my stare on him. "And most days I'm not sure that I am."

"Oh no. Here we go again." He rolled his eyes and tapped the table. "You're not fifty, buddy. You're twenty-four. Live like you're a young man and you will be forever."

"I feel eighty." I took another bite of my sandwich, impressed with my brother's sandwich-making skills, but he wouldn't know it. His head was so big I was afraid we were going to have to start greasing the doorframes to get him in and out of places. I'd not be adding to his ego today.

"What is it about this girl?" He leaned in and grabbed my soda, diverting me with a caring look on his face.

"I just told you, dude. She's real. She's sharp and seems to be highly intelligent. I don't know much about her, but I want to. It's been so long since I’ve wanted to know anything about anyone, but she just makes me come alive. I think... I think she has the type of passion inside of her that would make me a better actor."

"You're already the best. How is that possible?"

"Hey fuck-nugget, you're not hearing me." I thumped his fingers. "You're a brilliant business guy and yet you can't listen worth shit. How is that?"

He sat back and let out a long sigh. "So we get the girl. That's not a problem for you. Seduce her. That dick will make any girl weep tears of gold."

"What?" I shook my head and couldn't help but laugh. "My dick is half the problem."

"You do realize that you're the only guy on the fucking planet that is upset that his dick is too big, right? You're obsessed with this conversation by the way." He picked up a chip and flicked it at me. "Stop blaming genetics and blame your shitty choices. Get a real woman and your size won't matter. They’re pushing babies out of that thing... they can handle a dick, Ethan."

I got up and picked up my plate, half losing my appetite. I was usually good with slamming women and talking about using them in various ways before kicking them to the curb, but I wasn't talking about Riley like that.

Why? You don't even know this bitch.

"Seduce her." He turned in his seat. "Get her drunk and fuck her."

"All right. Thanks for the advice." I pulled out my phone and leaned against the counter, staring at the text again. "She might be the only woman in America that doesn't want me to seduce her."

"All the more reason to do it." He got up and moved to stand in front of me. "Don't ease into it. Women like strong men who make decisions and move forward fast. That's who you are. Stop hiding in a cave and pretending like things are going to work out without you forcing them to. It doesn't work that way."

"Hiding in a cave?" I mumbled and shook my head before walking to the living room and dropping down onto the couch.

"I'm heading out back to start mowing. Text your woman and then bring your lazy ass out there and help me." He ruffled my hair.

"We're billionaires, Liam. Why are we doing your yard again?"

"It's the principle of the matter, besides, no one does it as good as I do." He chuckled and walked away, leaving me to my thoughts.

I turned and pulled my legs up on the couch, laying down and letting out a long yawn. Deza wanted me to meet with Riley and talk about work-related stuff sometime soon. She felt like it would help us win the girl over.

Why we were trying to win someone over to a career changing opportunity was beyond me, but it was a sneaky way to have some more time with her if nothing else.

"Who are you, Riley Phillips?" I dialed her number and let out a long sigh as I pulled the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" Just the sound of her soft, sensual voice caused my hormones to spike.

"Riley. It's Ethan." I didn't let her respond. "Deza said that you wanted to have a heart-to-heart about a few things related to the acting business and perhaps our movie in particular."

"That's right. I'd be grateful for a few minutes with you if you can spare the time."

For you, anytime.

"My night just freed up. I'll text you my address. Feel free to dress pretty for me. It might help me want to behave like the gentleman I know I'm capable of being." I smirked.

"You want me to bring anything?" Her voice stayed steady, but there was a twinge of sexiness that hadn't been there moments before, or had it?

"Just yourself. That garter outfit would be nice too, but if not, I understand." I pursed my lips, knowing that I was walking on thin ice.

"I'll bring a bottle of wine and a pan of brownies. You are allowed to eat sweets, right?" Now she was just being condescending.

"I eat lots of things, Riley. Anything I want, actually. Bring your treats, and be there at seven. I'll have dinner ready for us, and we can chat until you’re completely satisfied."

"That sounds good, but just dinner. I'm not staying the night or hanging out for the evening. A conversation and food," she mumbled, and I chuckled, unable to help myself.

"See you later." I dropped the call and laid the phone on my chest. I would text her the address about an hour before as if I'd forgotten all about it. No reason to let the sexy minx know just how much I was looking forward to seeing her.

Besides... it was just a business meeting. There was no way I was taking Liam's advice and seducing her. I needed her in the next film. She was the best choice by far, but then again, the others in line for the job were inadequate or scared the shit out of me.

What was it that Deza always told me to do? Right. Behave.