Needing Arella (Rockers' Legacy Book 6)

“Actually…” I grabbed Jordan’s jacket and tugged him closer so I could take my phone back. “Are you single?” I asked casually as I brought up Palmer’s contact information.

“The fuck does that matter?” Jordan snarled, crushing the paper bag Taylor had just handed over. “You’re not single, so her being single isn’t an issue.”

I bit my lip to keep the grin off my face. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so ecstatically happy that he was showing signs of being just as jealous as I was, but I loved it.

“I’m single,” Taylor informed me with a ghost of a smirk teasing her lips.

“Perfect.” I hit connect and lifted the phone to my ear, waiting for my best friend to pick up.

“I told you I have a meeting with my mother,” Palmer bitched. I knew just from that sentence alone that her mom had already said something to hurt her feelings. “I’ll call you back.”

“I’m looking at your soul mate right this second,” I told her, and as expected, she shut up. “She has the same tattoo on her wrist that is on your hip.”

“She does?” Taylor was beside me in the next instant, causing Jordan to snap at her. But when I shot him a glare, he closed his mouth and pulled my food from the bag he’d crushed. The muffin was a sad pile of crumbs, but the breakfast sandwich was thankfully intact.

“You have my attention,” Palmer said after a brief pause.

“She’s hot as fuck, Palms. I mean, damn.” Taylor beamed at me while Jordan growled something about finding a new assistant ASAP. “That’s okay, babe,” I told him with a mock glare. “You fire her, and I’ll hire her as my own.”

His jaw turned to granite. “I take it back. She’s the perfect assistant for me.”

“No, no. I think she would fit me perfectly,” I argued. “She’s easy on the eyes and orders the best coffee. I’ve been meaning to get an assistant. Perhaps then I’ll have more time for personal things. Like having a boyfriend.”

“Are you actually playing tug-of-war over me right now?” Taylor asked with amusement thick in her voice.

I laughed. “Maybe. So, how about it? Want to work for the crazy actress? I come with a sexy BFF.”

Jordan growled menacingly and stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Taylor. “I’ll double your salary.”

“Done,” she accepted without hesitation. “Sorry, Miss Stevenson.”

“It’s fine. At least I got you a raise.” Palmer made an annoyed sound in my ear, reminding me that she was still waiting. “So, lunch?”

Thirteen

Jordan

Watching Arella work was one of my favorite things. I’d done it before in the past. Right after she started on this drama, I would stop by the studio to take her to dinner. I always came a little early so I could watch her filming a scene or two. The way she brought her character alive always gave me goose bumps.

The director knew my father, so he didn’t give me any issues when Taylor and I stood off to the side watching. But when I spotted the man walking in, I realized time had gotten away from me. I was supposed to meet Garon across the lot in the executive offices over an hour ago, but watching my girl had made everything else escape my mind.

Garon Steel was one of several executives that owned Strive Studios. They were the third-largest production company in the business, and they mostly did television shows. But for almost a year now, Garon had been approaching me with an offer to come on board and for the two of us to take Strive in a new direction. He wanted to do a series of female villain action movies.

The idea had grown on me, and when he’d sent me a rough draft of the script for the first movie, I’d finally decided to take a meeting with him. If I did, however, I knew exactly who should play the sexy little villainess. No one could pull off that feisty, sassy-mouthed vixen better than Arella.

The only issue was, she would be working with Garon.

Although he was her uncle, there had been no connection between her family and the man for her entire life, from what I understood. Cole Steel had turned his back on his son and ex-wife for whatever reason, and when he’d passed, he’d left everything to Lana and her children. I hadn’t even seen Garon or his mother at Cole’s funeral.

Arella worked for Strive with this drama, but she’d never had any dealings with her estranged uncle. Would she agree to take the role I knew would be perfect for her if it meant having to be around the man her family seemed to detest?

If she didn’t, I would turn his offer down flat. But if she did agree, then I would put all the money the project needed into it.

Garon strutted toward me, and I was reminded of what a cocky bastard he could be. He had the same honey-brown eyes as his father and half-sister. The suit he wore was tailored to his lean frame. His hair was on the sh

aggy side, but stylish. I figured he dyed it, because he was at least five years older than Lana, and there wasn’t a single gray hair on his head. I was several inches taller than the man, but he walked like the world had to look up to him.

As he neared, he stuck out his hand, and I shook it. Other than that greeting, we remained quiet as we turned our focus to the scene currently being filmed a few yards away.