Page 6 of Ruthless Passion

"It's okay, Luca. Like I said." She licks her lip. "I don't mind getting wet."

"You're perfect." My heart's racing and I can't get enough of her, but I need to reel this thing between us back in before it's too palpable for others to notice. "You're perfect for both these roles, Josephine."

I see her thinking it over, saying, "A leading role sounds like a lot of long hours."

"Aren't you an actress? You don't want long hours? Aren't you in the union? You'd get the SAG union rate."

"Long hours are fine if I didn't have a kid to look after. My, um, help has recently scattered in all directions. It would be hard for me to get a consistent babysitter. I don't want to hold up production. Especially since it looks like that woman wants the film ready as soon as possible."

"You're right. Agent Shaw is being impatient, but since she already believes you're the leading actress, and this audition shows me you can be the leading actress, I want you, Josephine. I only want you," I tell her. "Promise me you’ll think about it. I'm the producer and can make it work for your schedule. We can stick to weekends, but they'll be long shoots. Your kid can be in it, or they can hang out on set."

"That's all really nice, Mr. Devlin."

"Call me Luca."

"That's all really nice, Luca. Still, I have to give it some thought."

"Do you have plans for the rest of your day? I'd like to convince you over lunch." My hand brushes against hers. When she nudges her fingers against mine, I let my fingers wrap around her small hand, rubbing my thumb across the top.

She shivers, pulling away gently from my grasp. "I don't know about that. Somehow, I feel like we'd talk about everything but the movie."

"We can talk about whatever you want, Josephine."

A soft moan escapes her lips as Josephine blinks, then her eyes lock onto mine. "I'm sorry. I made plans with Monique for lunch."

"Don't apologize, Jo. You never planned on meeting me and I never planned on intruding on your audition or stealing that kiss. We'll cross paths again." I grin and step back, shoving my hands in my pockets to ensure I keep them to myself.

"You're so sure of that?"

"Well, of course I am. You've already landed the role of Amber in this feature film, and after about two days of thinking, you'll be ready to take on Cadence the Siren."

She smiles, laughing and taking steps to leave the room. "Oh really? Two days? That's all it's going to take for me to commit to this part?"

I nod. "Yeah. I'd say you have to run it by your boyfriend, kid, babysitters and all of that. But I can tell that people who care about you will go out of their way for you."

"That's a crazy assumption to make."

I shrug. "I wouldn't be the businessman I am if I didn't make a few crazy assumptions. Besides, you're going to need those two days to remember your promise to me."

"What promise?"

"Your promise that you'd do anything I want, Jo," I tell her, repeating what she said. I'll do anything you want, Mr. Devlin.

"That's not fair, Luca. That was about this audition and doing multiple takes, multiple kisses. A promise like that taken out of this room and out of context could lead to careless decisions, especially when you look at me like that."

"How am I looking at you, Josephine?" I ask her, knowing very well what I want her to see.

"Like I won't regret doing anything you want."

3

JOSEPHINE

Ican flirt with Luca Devlin, Mr. CEO of Luca Brisco Studios, all day long with no regrets. The likelihood of things going beyond flirtation and a kiss at an audition is slim. However, I take my job and reputation as an actress seriously.

The way he stepped in to read with me was wonderful. I can tell he has some experience and he should, as a movie producer. But, giving me the role simply because I upheld his lie to that federal agent seems like trouble. It doesn't help with that kiss being great, too. What if it's the kiss that got me the role? This won't be a casting couch situation. I refuse.

The role I'm here for versus the role Luca's ready to offer me has to have repercussions. This isn't as cut and dried as the director loving my audition out of the dozens of people who read for the same part. Maybe I'm overthinking it.

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