Page 14 of Full House

CHAPTER SIX

Her lip gloss fell on the floor, and Victoria banged her forehead on the cabinet when she bent to retrieve it. The bathroom in her trailer was that small. Rubbing the spot on her head to take away the sting, she looked at her flushed cheeks in the mirror, took a deep breath, and forced herself to calm down.

Why was she so nervous? It was only dinner, and she didn’t even have to worry about putting out afterward. But the small voice in the back of her head reminded her, because it’s dinner with Nathan Reed and for once you’re actually disappointed the evening won’t conclude with a “happy ending.”

Sighing, she tossed her lip gloss on the counter and picked up the mascara. Noticing her shaky hand, she didn’t even bother opening it before tossing it back down without applying any. In the shape she was in, she’d likely take out an eye.

She heard a fist pound against her trailer door. Shit, Nate was early. Or was she running late? It didn’t matter, he was here, and she wasn’t ready.

They’d parted ways about thirty minutes prior, after filming their last scene for the day. Nate had asked her how long she needed to get ready, and not one to primp, told him a half hour would be enough time for her to shower and change. But, of course, in the state she was in, everything seemed to take twice as long. She looked down at herself covered in a thin, silk robe with nothing on underneath. She wasn’t even dressed yet!

The fist pounded again, louder this time. Victoria opened the bathroom door, squeezing out, and made her way to the front of the trailer.

“I need another five minutes,” she said to Nate with just her head sticking out the door, hiding the rest of her body behind it.

Nate stood on a middle step, dressed in slacks and a lightweight sweater. His hair was slightly damp with a thick lock falling across his forehead. A big grin stretched his face. “You naked behind there?”

“What? No!” Well, mostly.

He tilted his head to the side, stretching his neck as if trying to get a peek. “Then why are you hiding behind the door?”

“I’m in my robe.”

“So, does that mean you’re going to make me wait outside for the next five minutes?”

She realized how silly that would be, especially as he’d already seen her naked. She pulled the door open in invitation, staying behind it. She may have agreed it was okay for Nate to see her in a robe but that didn’t mean she wanted anyone else to see her in one. The studio lot had good security, which made it a pretty safe environment for celebrities, but there was no guarantee it was entirely safe. The last thing she wanted was a photo leaked of Nathan Reed entering her trailer while she was half naked.

Nate entered, and her once mid-sized trailer suddenly felt incredibly small, not only his body but his presence seeming to fill all available space. She closed the door, and his eyes raked her slowly. Appreciatively.

She tightened the tie of her belt.

He raised a brow.

She cleared her throat nervously.

Then their eyes caught, and they smiled before bursting into laughter.

Awkwardness passed.

Victoria waved toward the small loveseat. “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll just be a few minutes. Can I get you something to drink?” The fridge was a few steps away, and she opened it. “I don’t have much,” she moved an old takeout container out of the way, “just some water and,” she looked over her shoulder and smiled apologetically, “half a can of soda.”

Nate came up behind her, a frown on his face as he peered into the fridge. “This thing should be stocked.” He pulled out his phone and started a text.

“Who are you texting?”

“Simon,” he said absentmindedly.

She frowned. “Why?”

“So he can get someone to fill your fridge.”

Victoria placed her hand on his wrist before he could hit send. “Wait.” He looked up from his phone, and she continued, “If you text him that, he’ll know you were in my trailer.”

Cell phone still clutched in his hand, Nate crossed his arms over his chest. His shoulders were rigid as he sent a glare her way. “I can think of a million reasons why I’d be in your trailer and not one of them involves us fucking. That being said, we’re not each other’s dirty little secret. I don’t give a fuck who knows about us, and that includes Simon.”

She held up a placating hand. “Being who you are, I just assumed you’d want to keep things quiet. You know how the media likes to blow things out of proportion.”

He uncrossed his arms, shoving his phone in his front pocket before grasping her upper arms and pulling her close. “I don’t give a fuck if the media knows either.”

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