With another grunt of frustration, I lightly hit my forehead on my closet door a few more times before I heard Lindsey clear her throat. “Oh honey, that’s not how you say a prayer. You should try the floor; it clears your mind like no other.” Smartass!

I glared at my smirking friend. “How does one dress amongst Hollywood folks?” Lindsey barked out a shrieking laugh and I gave her a death stare.

“This weird upheaval is for tonight’s outfit?” She looked at me, her head askew. I threw a discarded shirt at her and she laughed even harder.

She was certainly not helping the situation.

“I was fine about it until Bass texted me that it was going to be held at Martin Lombardo’s home.” That statement made her laughing rampage halt. Her mouth hung ajar.

“No shit, and you don’t have an outfit?!” she said, purely horrified. Now it was her turn to freak the fuck out.

“Now’s not the time to give me a lecture, Linds. I have an hour before Bass gets here!” I gave her a quick retort, my eyes filled with pure dread.

Martin Lombardo was a producer and director. Most of his films were Oscar-worthy and he had won a crap load of them. He was an icon, a legend. I was impressed that Bass was going to make a film with him. However, that amazement turned into trepidation when Bass mentioned I was meeting the director himself tonight.

“Give me a second to run through my closet. Go get yourself something to drink. You look like you need it.” She was about to leave, but she stopped mid-stride. “You know what? I’ll bring you a bottle of tequila. You just wait and sit here!” Linds departed my scattered room as my phone beeped.

Bass Cole: Am leaving the house. Be seeing you very soon!

I smiled. Why did I grin like a silly idiot every time I saw his name? Oh gosh, he was starting to worm his way inside, way too quickly for my liking, much to my dismay.

Linds was back with what looked like ten outfits and a bottle of tequila which she threw to me. I caught the bottle before it landed on the bed.

“Okay, now strip!” she commanded like a lieutenant.

She was browsing through her chosen outfits while I stripped my clothes off, leaving my bra and underwear on. Thank God Linds and I were about the same size.

“How about this one?” She held out a flashy red skin-tight, silk dress. It was gorgeous, but the narrow top would make my breasts look squashed. Not the kind of attention or ‘wow factor’ I was looking for tonight.

I shook my head. “Too vulgar.”

“ All right… How about this one?” She held out a simple A-line dress.

“That’s too plain Jane, doll,” I said and she scampered to hold out a few more and I declined them all.

She was getting annoyed, I could tell. I didn’t want to be a pain in the ass, but none of them really appealed to me.

“That! I want to try that one on!” I ran to her and grabbed the dress from her hand.

“Finally! You’re such a pain, Princess Emma!” Lindsey rolled her eyes and helped me with the dress.

“I love you more, baby!” I kissed her cheek to which she replied, ‘yeah, yeah’ with a cute pout.

The dress was simple, elegant and it was sexy. It was a body-hugging, nude lace, short dress with short sleeves. It was perfect! I thought as I studied my reflection. I loved that it gave me a good amount of cleavage, but not too much.

“Okay, okay. Let’s get your make-up started. Do you want to go for a smoky sex-bomb, absolute goddess, or delicate ethereal look?” Lindsey asked as I sat and browsed through the make-up selection before me.

“Absolute goddess, definitely!”

After twenty minutes of priming and brushing, she was done. She used a lot of gold and bronze creamy hues. It made my eyes look divine and quite stunning. My cheeks were bronzed and highlighted to perfection. She teased my hair and put some mousse and other hair styling products in it, making it look playful and sexy.

I went back to my closet and took out my three and a half inch, rose-gold metallic pumps and slid them on. “How do I look?” I asked as I moved sideways to give her a good view.

“You look, like, scorching hot, doll! Bass will fall at your feet and worship you until he’s out of breath!” How she exaggerated, but I basked in it all the same!

“That’s pushing our luck, don’t you think?” My phone started ringing and I didn’t even need to check it to know who it was. Bass was calling me to let me know that he was right outside.

“Shit, I haven’t even gathered my purse and stuff!” I freaked, scouring my room for the needed items.

“Let me go downstairs and get him.” Linds was halfway out the door already and didn’t even wait for me to respond.

Thank God for my awesome friend!

Once I got everything in my tiny clutch purse, I heard Bass and Lindsey enter the apartment. I gave myself another once over just to make sure my eyeliner wasn’t smudged or my mascara had flaked. Nope, I was all set!

I was a nervous wreck when I strode out of my bedroom and into the living room. Bass, looking totally delicious dressed in all black was talking to Lindsey when I entered the room and he did a double take when he saw me. His azure eyes glittered. My heart sped up at his slow, heated, admiring gaze.

“Hey, Bass! Ready to go?” I asked as the apartment door suddenly swung open. Brody strolled in and Carter was behind him, the dynamic duo. Fucking shit, what luck!

“What are you two doing here?” Lindsey asked in annoyance.

Brody saw me and his gaze landed on Bass. “We, uh, thought you guys would like to go and get something to eat.” Poor Brody looked perplexed and Carter looked like he was about to blow-up any minute now. I could seriously hear him grinding his teeth together.

Calm it down, caveman! I wanted to yell at him.

“Didn’t you guys have soccer practice?” Lindsey asked again, eyeing both men in question.

“It was cancelled, Linds,” Carter’s deadly voice noted.

No one bothered with introductions because the atmosphere in the apartment was so strained and tense. Bass wrapped an arm around my waist, a tad possessively. “Let’s go,” he said. Carter simply growled like a raging bear. His fists were clenching and unclenching at his sides. I could feel Carter’s hatred. I felt bad and wanted to comfort him, but I immediately scolded myself to snap out of it. As much as I loved him, it wasn’t enough. Being with him wasn’t enough anymore. I wanted what he couldn’t give me, I reminded myself.

“Let’s go,” Bass urged again and I nodded in agreement.

Turning towards Lindsey, I spoke, “Linds, thanks for the help and everything. I’ll call you later.” I gave her a quick hug before Bass and I exited the place.

Brody was silent and observant. Carter was brooding with contempt. As much as it bothered me that he was pissed off as hell, there was nothing I could do about it. To be honest, I was actually surprised that Carter held himself back. I expected him to go ape-shit about me going out with Bass.

I tried to push the thoughts away as Bass led me towards his parked car.

Seated and buckled, Bass turned to me before he started the engine. “That was your ex, wasn’t it?” Always forward, wasn’t he?

“Sorry, I didn’t know they were coming over. I feel really bad…” What happened at our place was something I hadn’t anticipated. I was not prepared for it.

Bass just shrugged. “No worries. I would’ve acted the same way if I saw my ex—who I’m still hung up on—looking so sinfully beautiful.” He cocked his head and gave me a breathtaking smile. A smile that made me forget about Carter—even if it was for only a moment.

He thinks I’m sinfully beautiful? Gah, melt me even further, why don’t you?

Bass gave my left thigh a quick, tight squeeze then started the engine and joined the traffic. Even though he took his hand away from my thigh, I could still feel it on me. Butterflies fluttered about in my stomach.

During the ride, his cell phone rang like it was possessed. It was nonstop! His agent, his publicist, his friends, the list went on and on. Everyone seemed to want a piece of him and he complied with patience.

When my phone vibrated, I fished it out of my purse, a little relieved for something to do.

Carter Mason: You just broke me apart, Em. It took all my strength not to yank you away from him and keep you for myself. But what good would that do? You don’t want me. I guess I have to accept that, huh? I get it. The message is loud and clear. I’m not going to wait for you anymore. I guess good things always slip away. You were special to me, Emma.

I was special to him? What? Since when? Was he just trying to say something so that I would comeback as his exclusive bootie call? So. Not. Cool.

I was lost in my own thoughts when Bass spoke again. “There. I turned the damn thing off. My phone’s not going to kill our enjoyment tonight,” he declared.

“You don’t have to do that for my benefit. What if you miss an important call?” I looked at him.

He grabbed my hand and held it. The gesture was sweet and I indulged in his warmth. “What could be more important than my time with you?” He cocked his head back in question, decided and sure of himself.

A whole lot of shit, I wanted to add, but I didn’t want to ruin the mood. “If you’re sure…” I trailed off.

“Never been so sure of anything in my life,” Bass exclaimed, letting his words hang in the air.

We both knew he wasn’t talking about his phone.

I remained silent not knowing what to say. For I did not know how to respond to a man who was so handsome and rather determined to have a piece of me. A piece that had already been taken by another man.