You Had Me at Hola(78)

“None of this would have been possible without the amazing Carmen Serrano.” He paused, then added in a soft voice, “My wife.”

And then he kissed her full on the lips, right in front of everyone.





Chapter 35


CARMEN IN CHARGE



EPISODE 8

Scene: Carmen and Victor get intimate in his tour bus.

INT: Victor’s tour bus—DAY

Carmen and Victor burst into his trailer, buoyed by exhilaration. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

“Victor, you were amazing,” she said. All the love she felt for him reverberated through her voice. “The crowd adored you. And now there’s the book deal, the tour, the new album—you’ve done it. I’m so proud of you.”

Victor took her in his arms and held her close. “It’s all because of you, Carmencita. You always believed in me. You saw the best in me, even when I didn’t see it in myself. Everything I’ve done, I owe to you.”

“You sure know the way to my heart,” she said, blinking back tears. “Complimenting my work will get you everywhere.”

“There’s only one place I want to be.” With a husky laugh, he leaned in and kissed her. It was the hottest, most sensual kiss they’d shared since his return, deeper and more intense than all the others. Their hands roamed each other’s bodies as he backed her into the vanity and helped her perch on the tiny counter.

When Victor broke the kiss, Carmen started unbuttoning his shirt, desperate to touch him, but Victor had other ideas. Dropping to his knees, he pushed her skirt up and parted her thighs. Carmen leaned back on the mirror, eyes closed, one hand clutching his hair as he pressed his face between her legs. She fought to catch her breath, repeating his name over and over until her voice broke on a low moan and she shuddered.

He rose and pressed his forehead to hers. They were both breathing hard.

She fought back tears. You’re breaking my heart, Ashton Suarez.

“Carmen,” Victor said softly. “I—”

Someone knocked on the door.

Carmen jumped to her feet, only a little unsteady. “Who could that be?” she whispered. “My father? I thought he already went home.”

Turning to the mirror, she quickly straightened her clothing and swiped at her smeared lipstick.

“I’ll check.” Victor fixed his hair and adjusted his pants before he went to the door. When he opened it, he froze, staring at the person on the other side for a long beat. Behind him, Carmen gasped and pressed a hand to her throat in shock. Then Victor’s brows creased, his expression turning as hard and impenetrable as granite.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

“Cut! And that is a wrap!”





Chapter 36


With that, the last episode of Carmen in Charge was complete.

Jasmine let out a long breath and pressed her hand to her solar plexus. Her legs shook, and she wanted to weep, but all around her, cast and crew members were cheering. A few feet away on the tour bus interior set, Ashton turned to her. It was hard to look him in the eyes, considering he’d just had his face between her legs and they were barely on speaking terms.

She’d been surprised that the writers had included Victor going down on Carmen, but hell, after putting up with so much of Victor’s nonsense, Carmen deserved some spontaneous cunnilingus on a tour bus. It had been a painful melding of worlds, since Jasmine knew from experience just how it would feel and how Carmen should react. But it was over now.

She couldn’t wait to get the fuck out of there.

When Ashton raised his hand for their post-take ritual, the corners of his eyes were tight with unexpressed emotion. Jasmine refused to look deeper. She was past caring how he felt.

No, that wasn’t true. She did care. She just couldn’t turn off her feelings as easily as a faucet, and she was trying to steel herself for what she planned to do later. That line in the sand was begging to be drawn.

He was still waiting, so she lifted her hand and smacked his palm in a half-hearted high five. The last one they’d ever share.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she grabbed his elbow and leaned in. “Meet me in my room,” she told him, fighting to keep her voice steady. “When you get back to the hotel tonight.”

His gaze searched hers for a long moment. Just when she thought he was going to flat-out refuse, he nodded.

Without another word, she pasted a smile on her face and leaped into the fray. Someone handed her a glass of champagne, which she accepted gratefully and downed in one go. She hugged everyone and pretended to be happy, but inside, she was a wreck.

The day had been hot and long, with New York City’s particularly disgusting brand of humidity. When Jasmine got back to the room that night, she took a shower and changed into a summery dress that accentuated all her best assets. She needed to wash the stress of the day off her, and while she knew it was petty, she wanted to look gorgeous when she confronted Ashton.

But the longer she waited, the more her stomach tied itself into knots. She hated confrontation, hated hurting people. But being in limbo with Ashton while filming episode eight had destroyed her. To go from being in love with him to only connecting through their characters had taken a toll, and the only thing she could think to do was enforce the strongest boundaries possible.