Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
A while later, I had breakfast while talking to my dad and telling him how well things were going. He informed me how much he loved the ranch.
“Your sister is involved with this Luke fellow,” he muttered. “Great guy, but I’m not sure there is a future.”
“She’s a grown woman, Dad.”
“Still.” He sighed. “Mom likes him and says I’m being overprotective.”
“You?” I gasped in an overdramatic fashion. “I am shocked.”
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, Pumpkin.”
I laughed. “I wonder where I got that from? Three guesses, and the first two aren’t Mom.”
“Liv,” he called to the background. “When did our girls get so lippy?”
“Never noticed,” she called back. “They’re always sweet.”
“All of you,” he chuckled. “All of you like to give me a hard time.”
“Would you have it any other way?” I asked.
“No.”
I was still smiling as I hung up. Andi looked at me across the table.
“You’re in a good mood.”
“Not really. But Dad makes me smile.”
“How did last night go?”
I wasn’t sure what I should share with her. Nick hadn’t told me not to tell her, but he had mentioned he shouldn’t be telling me. I made a decision, and I told her everything after getting her promise to stay silent.
Her expression ranged from sorrow to anger as she listened.
“He needs new representation.”
“I know.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“But he’ll know I told you.”
“He’s pretty smart, and I think he’ll figure that out anyway. I want to see his contract with that bitch. He’s on loan from the studio in charge of that franchise. They allowed him to make this movie, but he has three more he is scheduled to make for them. I know this from our negotiations. He needs a break from them as well. They need to get their heads out of their asses and into this century. Mental illness is not a stigma.”
“I know.”
She studied me. “It didn’t change how you feel about him.”
“Not at all.”
“It is a tough condition to live with.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We’re pretty new. I have no idea where this is going.”
She drained her coffee and got to her feet. “I know you. I know that look. You’re already in, both feet to the fire, and you don’t care about getting burned.” She sighed. “Sammy and a rancher, you and an actor. Who knew? Your dad is going to have a meltdown.” Then she shrugged. “I need to talk to the boy. Get your stuff, and we’ll head to the set.”
The thought of seeing Nick again this morning gave me butterflies. He had brought me to orgasm twice last night using his talented fingers. He refused to let me reciprocate. I was anxious to see him, longed to touch him, and wanted to be alone with him again. I hoped I could accomplish all three in a short span of time.
“Okay.”
It was fascinating to watch a film be made. I saw what Nick meant about “hurry up and wait.” There was a lot of downtime. I sat in the director’s chair I’d discovered with my name on it, gazing around in awe. So many people scurried around. There were sounds and voices calling, sets being shifted, cast members conversing. The scent of food and coffee lingered in the air. The lights were hot, and wires and cables were running all over the place. I tried to stay out of the way. My gaze followed Nick everywhere. The instant they marked a scene, he became Duncan. Broody, sexy, and tormented. Fighting the love he had for Roxie.
I waited until there was a break and went over to the table and got him a coffee. I headed his way, and he glanced up, a smile breaking out on his face when he saw me.
“Shortcake,” he said, taking the cup from my hand with an appreciative sip. “Finally.”
“You were amazing.” I indicated the set. “A perfect Duncan.”
He smiled again, the gesture fading as he looked over my shoulder. “Fuck,” he muttered.
MJ appeared, practically elbowing me out of the way and ignoring my presence. “Where the hell were you last night? You didn’t return my calls. I went to your room this morning, and you never came to the door.”
“I, ah, wasn’t there.”
She rolled her eyes. “Too busy screwing a new piece of ass, Nicky boy? Too important to call your agent back?”
“Stop it,” he hissed, glancing in my direction.
“Oh, I think your little smut writer is hardly shocked at your behavior. All your experience will come in handy for the sex scenes, tawdry as they are.”
I felt my eyebrows rise at her level of rudeness.
He glared at her. “Shut up, MJ. Just shut up.”
“And what is this BS I just heard? Arlene called and said you canceled your audition. I assured her that was a mistake and rebooked it.”
“It’s not a mistake. I don’t want that role.”