Wicked Force (Wicked Horse Vegas #4.5)(35)

“I suspect part of the problem is that man,” she says disapprovingly.

“His name is Kynan and you’re well aware of that,” I drawl. But I don’t deny what she says. Part of the problem is that I don’t want to be kissing or simulating sex with anyone other than Kynan.

“Well, regardless of the problem, for the type of money you’ll make, you’re going to have to find a way to get past it,” she reminds me.

“If they offer me the part,” I retort, because she knows as well as I do that I did not do well in this audition.

That causes her mouth to snap shut because she knows I’m right. For the first time since she’s been managing me, I’ve not performed with stellar perfection.

The door opens up and Ian walks in. He looks neither upset nor happy, merely resigned. Motioning to the seats at the table, he makes a silent request for us to sit down. He takes a chair and clasps his hands on the table. “Okay... the good news. They love your voice. They feel it’s perfect for the movie and you bring passion to the songs that the other actresses auditioning can’t pull off.”

“And the bad news?” my mother clips out, eager to get to the heart of the matter.

“She didn’t carry the dialogue and that kiss was atrocious,” he replies bluntly.

Even though I knew all that to be true, I still flinch from the criticism. However, as much as that hurt to hear, I’m slightly relieved to be cut loose.

“More good news though,” Ian continues and my stomach pitches. “They think you can improve. Now that they see what the problems are, they want you to work with a different acting coach. They’ll give you a new audition in two weeks. You’ll have to move here immediately as some of the scenes they will want you to work are with Justin and he’s filming here now.”

“No,” I say without thought.

“We’ll do it,” my mother says right on the heels of my words.

We both turn to look at each other and I seize the opportunity to draw my line. “I’m not leaving my show. I have people that have advanced ticket purchases.”

“They can be refunded,” my mom says with a careless wave of her hand.

“No,” I reply again, and then turn to Ian. “I’ll do another audition and I’ll practice. But it has to be in Vegas so I can continue to work.”

“And see that man,” my mom mutters.

My head whips toward her and I glare. “For once, you’re wrong. I am only thinking about not letting people down who want to come see the show.”

“Those people are strangers to you, Joslyn,” my mother replies with a responding glare. “You cannot waste an opportunity like this on nameless, faceless people.”

“Ladies,” Ian says in a soothing tone. “I’m sure we can compromise.”

Our heads turn his way, but Ian only looks at my mother because he likes dealing with her. “Maddie... I’m sure we can get the acting coach down to Vegas, and we’ll just have to work around not having Justin to do scenes with her. In fact, perhaps her... boyfriend can help.”

“He can,” I blurt and it sounds way too excited and immature.

Ian shoots me a patronizing smile, then looks back to my mom. “It will be fine. I promise.”

He gets a tremulous attempt at a return smile but I can see my mother is feeling out of control.

Join the crowd, Mom.

Join the crowd.





Chapter 17



Kynan



“You can do this, Julie,” I drawl in overexaggerated enthusiasm as I read from the manuscript for Shining Star. “You’ve already sung your way into my heart and I know you can do it to theirs.”

Joslyn bites her bottom lip, trying not to snicker at me. I cock an eyebrow at her and she starts to laugh. She falls from her position, sitting naked and cross legged against the headboard of my bed, landing on her side. She’s adorable in that she makes sure to hold the sheet over her breasts, despite the fact I know every inch of her body.

Hell, I’ve licked every inch of it.

I just stare at her in amusement, but it’s no chore to do this. I could stare at her for every minute of every day.

I’m on the opposite end of the bed, in my boxer briefs and propped on my side on a pillow while she laughs. It’s a beautiful sound and makes me want to fuck her again.

And again.

And again.

Instead, I chide her. “You’re not taking this seriously. And you’re not projecting like you’re supposed to.”

She stops laughing, those blue eyes just pinned on me blankly.

I grin at her and mimic her acting coach, who sounds like he should be narrating Masterpiece Theater. “You must speak from the diaphragm and project.”

She starts laughing again so hard, she’s wiping tears out of her eyes. Not that she’d see it, but I roll my eyes before lunging across the bed for her. Within moments, I have my back against the hardboard and her body cradled in my lap, the round curves of her ass pressing down on my hard-on.

But I don’t act on it.

Tiling my head, I rest my temple against the top of her head. “I know you don’t like doing this stuff but it’s important. And you’re really getting good at it.”

“Really?” she asks as she draws lazy patterns on my chest with her fingertips. “Because every time I try these lines, I feel nothing but frustration over how hard it is for me to do it well.”