Hate the Player: An Enemies-to-Lovers Romantic Comedy(45)

With the way she’s talking, you’d think I actually fucked her.

“I’m sure we’ll have a real blast during the scenes we’re shooting together.”

“I think you and I both know that’s not the kind of fun I’m talking about.” She eyes me suggestively and leans closer to whisper into my ear. “I’m talking about the kind of fun that involves just the two of us and your big cock.”

Like I said before, Tawny Rose is a fucking viper, but I can’t deny the big cock part is highly accurate. At least she’s spinning her flirtatious bullshit with facts.

But even if I were interested in letting her anywhere near my big cock—which I’m not—this woman’s motives have everything to do with increasing her celebrity. One night in bed with her and I’d wake up to every gossip column across the country talking about our brand-new romance and shit. Hell, she’d probably find a way to fucking film it and have her publicity team leak a sex tape. She might be a good actress, but she is that self-serving and crazy for fame.

“I see you’re just getting straight to the point, huh?” I question, and her face is still far too close to mine.

She winks. “I think you know I’m not the kind of woman who beats around the bush.”

“If I didn’t know that before, it’s pretty apparent now,” I mock and lean back in my seat, putting some distance between her and me, and also taking my time to move my gaze across the room.

It doesn’t take long before a familiar pair of brown eyes is staring back into mine. And then, between one shocked blink and the next, they’re gone, away from me and back on Johnny fucking Johnston.

Oh, hello there, Birdie…

Call me crazy, but it feels a lot like someone is watching me from across the room. A good amount of warmth and intrigue settle like a blanket over my chest.

“So, what do you say?” Tawny asks and reaches out to touch my bicep again.

“I say I’m going to finish my lunch and then head to my trailer to get ready for my next scene.”

“Does that mean you want company in your trailer?”

“Nope,” I answer without hesitation and take a big bite of my sandwich. “Thanks, but also, no thanks. I’m good, Tawny.”

Her face scrunches up like she just ate a lemon, and it doesn’t take long before she’s standing up from her seat on a sneer. But just before she walks away from my table, she leans forward and whispers into my ear, “My offer only stands for so long. So, don’t screw up the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Rare opportunities usually don’t get offered up so easily.

The irony of her words spurs a chuckle from my lips. “Whatever you say, Tawny.”

Thankfully, she doesn’t waste any time striding her crazy ass in the opposite direction from my table. And I sure as shit don’t waste any time pulling my cell phone out of my pocket and sending a text of interference. She won’t realize it now, but one day, Birdie will realize that—today, at least—I was bothering her for her own good.



Me: Enjoying your first official day on set?



I’m more than pleased with how quickly she responds.



Firecracker: Since I got my dreaded first scene out of the way, it’s been going much better.



I grin when I read her words.



Me: First-time jitters are always rough.



Firecracker: Jitters? No, that wasn’t it. I had to pretend to like kissing an asshole.



Pretend? Ha. That’s cute. She lost herself in that kiss—all six goddamn times we had to shoot it so Howie could get all the angles he wanted.

And she wasn’t the only one.



Me: Wow. Sounds like your morning went just about as well as mine did, then.



Firecracker: And what was so bad about your morning?



Me: A polite gentleman never kisses and tells, sweetheart.



Firecracker: I guess it’s a good thing you’re no gentleman then, huh?



I look up at her from across the room, but she’s too busy listening to whatever Johnny is rambling on about while picking out all the M&M’s from the trail mix on her plate to meet my eyes.

One by one, she eats the M&M’s and leaves the peanuts and raisins behind.

It’s kind of cute, but also, it’s trail mix treason. Everyone knows the peanuts and raisins are the best part.



Me: I see you’ve made a new friend.



Firecracker: I did. He’s very nice and welcoming. A true breath of fresh air.



Oh, I’m sure Johnny Johnston is just rolling out the red carpet for her—all in the name of getting into her panties.

Before I can respond with a little warning about Johnny’s fucking friendliness, my phone buzzes in my hands with another message from her.



Firecracker: And I saw you’re making new friends too. Or maybe, she’s already a “friend” of yours?



She typed friend. In quotations.

Well, this is too good to let go.



Me: Sweetheart, is this your roundabout way of asking if Tawny Rose and I are fuck buddies?



When I hit send on the message, I move my gaze over to her table and watch the shocked expression that consumes her face when she reads it. Her response comes in moments later.