Decked Out with Ivy (Red Maple Falls #13)

Chapter 3

Cody headed into his trailer, wishing he had brought a coat onto the plane. He crossed his arms in a sad attempt to cover the big reindeer face on his sweater. He didn’t want people to think he actually liked this over consumer crazed holiday. The only reason he was even on a film set for a Christmas movie was because Ang Wu, an up-and-coming director, was the only person in Hollywood willing to give him another chance.

Apparently, he had a brother who fucked up a lot in college and said, if he’d never been given a second or a third chance, he wouldn’t be the tech mogul he was today.

If this movie shoot went well, Cody would have Ang to thank.

He ripped down a cardboard cutout of Santa taped to the cabinet above his sink and tossed it in the garbage before removing the garland that lined the ceiling and adding it to the trash.

It was bad enough the set was like a vomitfest of Christmas. He didn’t need to see that shit in his trailer.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he slipped it out. Ronnie’s name flashed on the screen, and he tapped into the text. She was letting him know she’d located his bag and he should have his own clothes by the end of the day. Thank God.

He sent a quick thank you, then plopped his butt on the sofa. He’d have to be at hair and makeup in twenty minutes, so he was hoping to close his eyes for at least fifteen of those twenty. He kicked his feet up when the sound of his door swinging open with gusto echoed through the space.

His body jolted to a sitting position as he stared at his costar. Her long brown hair was in rollers, and only half her makeup was done. She glared back at him, eyes narrowed, chin set in a hard line.

“Hi, Bex,” he said.

“Don’t you hi, Bex me. This is my town.” She pointed a disciplinary finger in his direction. “You might get away with your shit in LA, but here, it’s not going to fly.”

He’d been in town for not even twenty-four hours. That was barely enough time for him to start any trouble. “What shit are you talking about?”

“I heard about your little run-in with Ivy Parker.”

“Who?”

“The owner of Ivy’s Cozy Couture?”

“The blonde chick?”

“Yes, the blonde chick who has a name. Ivy. She is a sweetheart and doesn’t deserve to put up with your shit poor attitude.”

“She forced me to buy this sweater.”

“So?” Bex asked, hand on her slim hip, eyebrows arched toward her hairline.

“So… I made her a sale on her ridiculous sweaters. She should thank me.”

“Thank you? People like you are the reason I left Hollywood. You think you are God’s gift to the universe, and everyone should fawn at your feet.”

She didn’t actually leave Hollywood. She was still acting and climbing the ladder. She just sold her place in LA and made her permanent residence in this speck of a town. Why? He had no idea.

“I didn’t mean it that way,” he said, attempting to smooth things over. After all, he still had to work with the woman.

“Then what way did you mean it?” Her chin lifted in an impatient tilt.

“I didn’t think our encounter was that bad. I bought a sweater and mittens from her. Are you friends with her or something?”

“I’m friends with everyone in this town, but she also happens to be good friends with my sister-in-law.”

“Good to know.”

“Just assume I’m related to everyone in this town, and, for heaven’s sake, be nice.” Bex stormed out, slamming the thin metal door and shaking the entire trailer. Bells jingled, and he grabbed them from the doorknob and tossed them in the trash with the Santa cutout and the garland.

First day on set and already pissing people off. That might be a new record for him.

He glanced at his watch. Any time he had to close his eyes and decompress was gone. He needed to head to hair and makeup.

The wintry air cut into his skin, going right to his bones. He thought about the mittens he was forced to buy and considered wearing them before shoving his hands in his pockets. Most Christmas movies were filmed in the middle of summer, but not this one. Both Ang and Bex wanted it to be authentic with real snow.

All Cody could think about was if their lips would freeze together when they had to film the kiss. He smirked at the thought, but then his mind drifted to Ivy. Her pouty lips pressing against his, her body melting into his, as he swept his tongue into her mouth, ran his hands up her sexy as sin curves.

Where the hell did that come from?

“Morning,” Ang said, knocking Cody out of his fantasy. His black hair was combed out of his face and his dark eyes smiled just as much as his mouth. He was a good man and a damn talented director. He had made a name for himself in the film festivals, getting on many of the elites’ radar. Cody couldn’t wait to see what the future held for him.

“Morning.” Cody cleared his throat when the word got caught. A frosty breeze trickled down his neck, spreading goosebumps along his spine. He hunched his head into his shoulders, hoping to keep the cold out.

“Hear you’re already making waves with the townspeople.”

“I’m not,” he countered. Jesus, did someone alert the town telephone chain and let them know Cody Chance wasn’t on his best behavior when it came to their little Christmas Queen?

“Just remember, I’m taking a big risk with you. You’re talented, and I believe in second chances, but don’t think I’m going to let you ruin this movie for me or Bex.”

Ang had been the only one willing to give him a chance. For months he’d been waiting on a script to come his way, but all his agent had been getting was crickets. “It was all a misunderstanding. I had no idea the woman was friends with Bex’s sister-in-law.”

Ang smacked him on the back. “This is small town living. Everyone knows everyone.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to realize that.”

“Get over to make up, and I’ll see you on set at the top of the hour.”

He walked past Bex’s trailer and toward the hair and makeup trailer. Today they’d be shooting a sled scene, so they were in the middle of nowhere. Tomorrow they’d be right on Main Street, and he was told to expect the whole town to come down and watch. Did the whole town include Ivy?

He shook the thought from his head and climbed up the stairs of the hair and makeup trailer. He plopped in his designated seat just as his phone buzzed. He slid it from his pocket and saw Ronnie’s name flash on his screen. Bex just found out about his Grinchiness. Was it possible Ronnie heard and was calling to rip into him?

Briefly, he thought about ignoring the call, but finally answered.

“Hey, Ronnie.”

“Want to tell me about that blonde?”

“How the f—?”

“Tell me you haven’t looked at the internet today.” She sighed, always disappointed in his inability to stay current on social media.

He avoided the internet as much as possible. Especially after his latest scandal—a complete and total misunderstanding that had been construed to make him look like some sort of asshole. He very well could be an asshole. But this time, he hadn’t been.

“No, I haven’t.”

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I’m sending you a link. Look at it.”

He took the phone from his ear, and when the link popped up, he tapped it. The screen went from the call to a tabloid site he hated with a fiery passion. The same site that created the headline that almost got him blacklisted from Hollywood.

There, staring back at him, was an image of Ivy holding the ridiculous sweater he was currently wearing up to his chest, a big smile on her beautiful face. He was even smiling. A genuine smile. When was the last time that happened without having to be on camera?

The picture was blurry enough to show it was taken from outside with a zoom lens, but to anyone who hadn’t been in that store with them, it almost looked like they were flirting.

His eye caught the headline, and he grumbled.

Hollywood Heartthrob Cody Chance Spotted Cozying Up with Mystery Christmas Blonde!

“What the…?” He brought the phone back to his ear. “Ronnie, she just is someone who worked at the store. Have my PR team release a statement saying as such.”

“No!” Ronnie blurted out in a very uncharacteristic manner.

“No?”

“Did you read the comments?”

When would he have read the comments? He had just seen the picture.

“People are absolutely loving this. You need all the good PR you can get, and nothing says good and wholesome like a small-town love story while you are filming a small-town love story. Add in Christmas, and this is a PR Godsend.”

“Ronnie.” It was his turn to say no. “Nip this in the bud before it spirals.”

“Cody, stop and think about this. Why did you take the film?”

He closed his eyes, inhaling until he physically couldn’t anymore. Slowly he let out his breath. “Because no one else would send me a damn script.”

“You have been declared difficult, problematic, and every other word that gets you blacklisted in this industry. People need to see you as the kind, loving man I know you are, and what better opportunity to do that than having a love affair with a small-town girl?”

“Except for the little fact that I’m pretty sure that small-town girl hates me. She told Bex’s sister-in-law I was a jerk.”

“Were you?”

“I didn’t think so.”

“You never do. But that’s fine. Put a smile on your face, turn that Cody Chance charm on, and get that girl to go out with you.”

“I’m not going to lie to her and pretend like I want to date her.” He didn’t want to date anyone. One of the reasons—there were several—-he was in the predicament he was, all revolved around his last relationship. It’s when he swore off actresses, then took it a step farther and swore off women altogether. He didn’t think he’d be able to stay celibate for long, but for now, it had been working. Or maybe it hadn’t. It would explain why Ivy kept popping into his damn head.

“Then don’t lie to her. Tell her the truth. Make a deal. I don’t give a shit as long as you two keep making the tabloids so the people can continue to fall in love with you again.”

“Ronnie—”

“I don’t want to hear it. Make this happen, Cody. I’ve put my neck on the line for you. It’s the least you can do.”

Before he could even manage another word, the line went dead.

Fuck .

His hand fell from his ear, and he glanced at his phone. The picture of him and Ivy stared back at him. Ivy might hate him, but Ronnie was right. She had put her neck on the line for him, and he owed her big time.

After this shoot, he would find Ivy and not take no for an answer.