Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 103931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
She's protective of Teagan.
Good to know.
“What do you say, Michael? What's really going on? The only information we have is from the tabloids. Are the rumors true? Is the set a ticking time bomb?” I ask him.
He grimaces. Shit. “There have been a few accidents.”
Fantastic.
I level him with a stare. “How many?”
Michael lifts his hands in the air in defense. “I haven't been counting.”
“Wonderful. So you're telling us we're walking into mayhem?”
Worse than even the tabloids have said.
“I'd say mayhem is a tad understated.”
My eyes close, and my lips smash together. I don't lose my temper. I pride myself on also being patient and understanding.
“Brilliant.” It's all I say, because what more is there?
This is a nightmare.
What shit did you get me into, Brad?
“The environment isn't ideal. You'll soon see.” And just like that, his words become reality. The wooded terrain opens in front of us, giving a clear view of the huts.
And they are much worse than I imagined.
Based on Mallory's yelp, she's feeling the same way.
“Saddle up, princess. It's gonna be a long night.”
For both of us.
9
Mallory
@Stargossip: Breaking news . . . the stars of Twisted Lily are roughing it in huts! Can you imagine? HUTS!
@TeaganStewardFans: OMG! Nooooo!
@Losethetude: First world problems. *Rolls eyes*
@Deathtothesystem: How barbaric. Teeheehee
This has got to be a joke.
I blink my eyes, certain that when I open them, I'll be back in New York City, lying in my comfy bed, snuggling into my warm down comforter, dressed in my coziest pajama set, freshly bathed and slathered in lavender lotion.
Instead, I'm standing in front of what I don't even think qualifies as a hut, as Michael so poignantly called it.
It's a hovel, missing half of its roof.
My mouth is glued shut. I'm keeping all my thoughts to myself. There is no need to give Paxton any more reason to kick me down further. I'm at rock bottom.
For this nightmare to be over, we need to get along. We have to join forces to get things rolling and get this movie wrapped up.
That obviously does not mean that we need to be best friends. We only need to be cordial to each other.
“Not quite the Ritz. Is it, princess?”
I turn my head in his direction. Even though I don't want to admit it, he is most definitely the most beautiful man I have ever seen.
His brown hair looks almost blond in this light, and the wind has ruffled the soft locks, pushing it forward so it sweeps across his forehead.
As if he can hear my thoughts, he lifts a hand and runs his fingers through his hair.
He still has no shirt on, and his muscles flex at the movement. He shouldn't be this good-looking, making it hard for me to remember what he just asked me, but then, like a sledgehammer bashing against concrete, he speaks and ruins the moment.
“What? Not up to your standards?”
My face contorts before I force it back to neutral.
“I highly doubt this is up to your standards, either.”
“That's something we can both agree on.”
I turn toward him, brow raised. “No cutting remark? That's new.”
“What's the point? It's obviously not the luxuries you're accustomed to.”
A humorless laugh escapes me. “You'd be surprised what I'm accustomed to,” I fire back.
He doesn't know about the struggles I've had or what I've done to get to this place in my life. He assumes by looking at me and knowing my last name, that I just take money from my father.
The list of everything he's got all wrong is growing by the minute.
I bite my lower lip and stop myself from saying anything rude.
That's not who I am, and I won't allow him to make me something else.
Typically, I'm happy. This man just brings out the worst in me, and apparently, I bring out the worst in him.
I don't need to impress him, so I won't say more. I have one goal, and that's to get the hell off this island and away from him as soon as humanly possible.
Without anything more to say to him, I take a step up. The wood creaks beneath my weight. Never a good sign.
“Be careful where you step.”
As the words leave his mouth, I understand what he's saying.
I yelp as I lurch forward.
I'm vaguely aware of my surroundings, and my head swims as a set of firm arms wraps around me.
It takes me a few seconds to understand what just happened and who I'm pressed against.
My foot went through the rotted wood, and I was about to fall forward, flat on my face. Somehow, as if he were a superhero with lightning-fast speed, Paxton was able to drop the suitcases and grab me.
Which means, right now, the warmth surrounding me . . . Yep. That's all him.
My heart hammers in my chest, and if I'm being completely honest, my cheeks start to warm at his proximity.