Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
She laughed. “You are such a horndog.”
“Whatever. Sexiest woman alive is all over me, and I can’t do anything about it.”
She snorted. “Whatever.”
I looked over my shoulder. “You are, you know.”
“I am what?” she asked, stepping back and putting the lid on the jar. “All done.”
I stood and faced her. “The sexiest woman alive to me.”
She blushed. “Stop it.”
I cupped her face and kissed her softly. “You are,” I insisted against her mouth. “You’re the whole package. Beautiful inside and out. You amaze me.”
She blinked. “You really see me that way? All the women in—”
I cut her off. “There are lots of beautiful women everywhere. But none of them are you.” I brushed my lips over hers once again. “And they never will be.”
I mulled over the last couple of days in my head as I headed to my trailer. Kassie had dropped me off then went to have breakfast with Quinn. I loved spending time with her. Every moment felt like a revelation. Every shared memory erased one of the bad ones. Yet I felt the days begin to dwindle, and I knew my time here was ending soon.
I hated the way the thought of it being over made me feel.
My phone rang as I stepped into my trailer, and I glanced at the screen, seeing it was Annie.
Jesus, it was barely eight here, so it was five in LA. She was going at it early.
“Annie,” I greeted her cautiously.
She cut right to it. “Oliver. I heard there was a mishap. Are you all right?”
“Bruised and sore but fine.”
“I want you checked out. So does the insurance company.”
“Not necessary. Nothing is broken. My head is fine. I’m a little stiff but nothing major.”
“There could be complications down the line. I insist.”
I sighed. “Really, Annie? I’m fine.”
Her tone softened. “Davis said it was lucky you fell the way you did.”
I sat down gingerly. The sofa here wasn’t as plush as the one at Kassie’s. “He’s right, but I did, and aside from a sore ass and my pride, I’m fine.”
She became terse again. “I hear you’re having some costar trouble.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
She paused, and I knew the vape was going. I waited patiently. “Davis says you’re taking the high road.”
“I told you I would behave.”
“See to it you continue. And you have an appointment at four in Toronto. Davis knows. I’ll send you the details.”
And she hung up.
I shook my head in amusement. That was Annie. Brisk, no-nonsense, to the point.
I glanced at the call sheet, grateful for the unexpected overcast skies. It gave me another day before I had to climb up on the horse again.
Thank God for small mercies.
I suffered through all the tests, not surprised when the doctor informed me I was fine aside from the stiffness and bruising. I understood the insurance company wanting affirmation. I was an expensive commodity, and they needed to protect their investment. I was glad to be done, and I headed to the lobby, waiting for the car to return and take me back to Richton. I was restless and edgy, and I headed outside. I sat on the bench carefully, waiting for my ride. A few moments later, I got the same prickle at the back of my neck. I glanced up and froze at the sight of the man sitting across the road from me. He had his ankle crossed over his knee, a camera balancing on it. He smirked at me, lifting the lens to his eye and clicking the shutter repeatedly. I had to lock myself down and force the rage that flowed through me not to burst out. I wanted to rush across the street and punch him. Smash the camera he was aiming so gleefully at me. Instead, I turned my head, counting slowly to try to remain calm. He shouldn’t be here. He was breaking the restraining order I had against him. I needed to call my lawyer and Annie. Most importantly, though, I needed to remain calm.
He stood and sauntered over. I carefully turned on my phone mic and hit record.
“How’s the ass, Hart?” he asked as a greeting.
“Better than yours will be when the cops kick it to jail for breaking the restraining order, Flynn,” I replied, my fist tightening in my pocket.
How did he know about my injury?
He chuckled. “It’s for the continental US,” he said with a smarmy grin. “Doesn’t include this country.”
That news made me even angrier. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
He shrugged. “I heard there was a good story involving my old friend Oliver Hart. Had to come and check it out.”
I shrugged. “No story here, Flynn. Shooting an indie film. Closed set. Nothing to see. So be a good little pap and fuck off.”
I saw the car rounding the corner, and I stood, refusing to let him see that it hurt when I did so. He was a short little man. Wide. Ugly as hell. Dishonest and a schemer. He twisted words, faked photos, created false quotes, anything to get his name in print. He and I had clashed so often, my file against him at the law office had a drawer of its own. I didn’t want him anywhere near the set, the town, and especially Kassie. Just the thought of that made me ill.