Page 26 of Playboy Billionaire

Her cheeks grew hot. “No thanks. I doubt your girlfriend would appreciate you groping my ass.” Then she climbed up the pool stairs and onto the patio.

She had never been this turned on by someone.Griffin Bennett. Noah was right. She couldn’t afford to blur the lines. She’d have to be very careful. They needed chemistry for the scenes to come alive and to be believable, however she had to remember that they were actors. In real life she was far from interested in pursuing a relationship with the gorgeous playboy.

13

Penelope leaned back in her chair watching the outtakes from last week’s shoot. Now four weeks into filming it was undeniable. She and Griffin were H-o-t! They lit up the screen. No reason for false modesty. You either had it or you didn’t. They had it. And then some. Noah was not happy about Griffin stealing the scenes. Right about now, he’d switch parts with Griffin in a heartbeat, even if that meant giving up the leading role. He was making that perfectly clear in this meeting.

Noah scowled, arms crossed over his chest, “Look, I may be the actor with the most screen time, but Mr. Fifty Shades is sitting right next to me. I think I got screwed.”

“Your part is complicated and dynamic and you’re nailing it,” Stewart said.

“Yeah Noah, I’m playing a glorified cabana boy, Sydney’s boy toy. Doesn’t take nearly the acting chops that your part requires,” Griffin added.

“What are you worried about?” Stew asked

“Truthfully? That my career as a leading man is over.”

“At forty, you’re far too young to be worrying about that.”

Penelope threw up her hands, “For Pete’s sake! Imagine being a woman in Hollywood! You have a couple dozen more years at least. My shelf life is rapidly approaching.”

“I’m quite a bit older than you are,” Noah said.

“Still, you know how it is. I’m thirty-two, which is like fifty in terms of available scripts for women. I think you’re worrying over nothing. Most actors would kill to be a part of this film, let alone nab the leading role. Your character is complex, and remember, the better Griffin is, the better the film is, the better we are.”

“I know all of that. I’m glad he’s killing it, it’s just that I don’t want to come off as the old man.”

Penelope kept a poker face as much as it pained her too. She wanted to laugh. His ego was enormous, and they all had to baby him like he was a twelve-year-old boy.Men!

“Noah, think Oscar! You’re that good. Leading man verses supporting role? You’re due for another nod and I think this is the vehicle to take you there,” Penelope said firmly.

“I agree,” Stew chimed in.

They could see Noah’s jaw soften and she and Griffin exchanged a look. Her lips twitched. The corner of his mouth tugged up and he winked. Her stomach flip-flopped. An unexpected shot of pleasure coursed through her at the intimacy of the moment.

“Griffin, Penelope, we’re on schedule to shoot your first sex scene toward the end of the week. Are we clear about the contract? Any questions or objections? Have you both read ahead to the blocking?”

Griffin cleared his throat, “Yes sir.”

“Yes,” Penelope said. “No one but Griffin and I and the two camera operators allowed on set.”

Stewart smiled, “Aren’t you forgetting someone?”

She laughed, “Oh yeah, you.”

“Griffin, I’m sure you’re a bit nervous, but Penelope is a seasoned professional and she’s had experience with nude scenes. She’ll coach you through it. It helps that it’s a closed set. We’ll make sure everyone is as comfortable as possible.”

“I just hope my ass is buff enough for the part,” he joked, and everyone laughed, breaking the tension.

“Nobody will be looking at you anyway,” Noah said.

Griffin stretched his arms overhead, chuckling. “One hundred percent true.”

“Today we finish the fight scene between Noah and Penelope, then if that goes smoothly, we’ll try to film the beach scene with you and Griff,” he said, looking at Penelope.

She nodded and stood grabbing her script. “I’m going to my dressing room to have Dolly start on my makeup.”

“Be on set at half past,” Stew said glancing at his watch. “That gives you forty-five minutes.”

---