Page 26 of Good Enough

Glaring at him, she explained as she made another note, “Filming doesn’t work that way, Waters. Sometimes there’s weather. Sometimes there are delays, or things go faster than expected. It’s an unpredictable business, and time is money. Literally. I always have to have contingency plans and adjust on the fly.”

“Then, as soon as you know there may be a problem, you tell me. I need to have my own contingencies in place.

“Three. Whenever we’re doing something that’s a SEAL-type maneuver, my word goes. If I say something is too dangerous for the actors, or it’s wrong, whatever, it’s my call.

“Four. And this is nonnegotiable. There will be no meetings with Big Bird without me present. None, Kubrick.”

“It’s a miracle I could function before you came along. However did I survive?” She batted her eyes melodramatically, snark oozing with every word.

“Sauce gets you nowhere, babe. Those are the rules. Take it or leave it.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” she muttered under her breath. “I’ve managed all this time without anyone helping me out. Now, suddenly, because you’re here, I need protection. Give me a fucking break.”

“I’m not joking, Kubrick, the guy is bad news. Never when I’m not around. I don’t care if there are twenty other people in the room with you, if I’m not there and he is, you’re not there.”

“I hired you as a consultant. If I don’t need an assistant, I sure as shit don’t need a babysitter.”

“No, you don’t. But it would be remiss of me if I, as your consultant, didn’t look out for you. My job is to make sure you can do yours accurately and properly. He is working in the exact opposite direction, trying to make it as difficult for you as possible. And his behavior is anything but appropriate.”

Fine,” she pouted. “But I can take care of myself. Let me handle him.”

“As long as he makes no threat toward you, I’ll stay out of it. Last but not least, rule five. You go nowhere without me. I pick you up in the morning, I escort you wherever you need to go, and I drop you off at night. Also nonnegotiable. I trust that fucker only as far as I can see him.”

“Jesus Christ on a crutch. Anything else, Dad,” she barked.

That should not make me harder. I better get hazard pay for this job because my dick is going to be damn near broken.

Leaning across the table and dropping his voice so only she could hear, he warned, “Extra sauce will get you a spanking, sweetheart, and I’ll bill you extra for special services. Not really into age or role play, but if it keeps you out of trouble with him, call me whatever turns you on.”

He watched the color drain from her face, but she rallied quickly. “You’re tying my hands, Waters.”

“I swear on my trident pin, I’ll tie more than your hands, woman. I’m not fucking kidding around with you.”

She stuck out her tongue at him again.

“I lied. One more rule. Rule six,” he grumbled under his breath. “Keep that tongue in your mouth unless you plan to use it on me.”

Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened, but no sound came out.

Oops. Said that out loud.

“Close your mouth, Kubrick. I don’t want to be tempted to shove something in it.” And with that final oops statement, he slid out of the booth, extending his hand to help her out of her side, then led her up to the register to pay the bill.

It was a very quiet ride to the studio.

9

FEBRUARY 14TH

Kai

It was Monday morning, and things had been weird, for lack of a better word. There was a supercharge in the air since breakfast the other day, but oddly, it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Unsettling. That’s the best word I can use to describe it.

Right now, she was supervising Waters and the construction crew as they assembled the obstacle course materials for shipping to the set location when she noticed him take a limping step and wince. She waited until the other men walked over to another set of materials before approaching him. “What’s with the leg?” she asked.

He turned his head, aviators reflecting her in their lenses. She noticed fine lines at the corner of his eyes by the frames. At first, she wasn’t sure he would answer her, figuring her G.I. Joe wouldn’t admit weakness of any kind. “Old injury,” he grunted, then walked over to correct an error in the builders' knot on the support.

---