Page 41 of He's The Reason Why

Rachel slid up next to him and grabbed his arm. “Blake, that wasamazing. You were fantastic.”

“Thanks.” He noticed Piper shift away from the two of themand wished he could follow her. “How’s your song with Piper going? Weren’t you in the studio Monday?”

Rachel waved a negligent hand. “No. I had a thing so we pushed it to next week. I thought we should focus on the dialogue first. Listen, I hear congratulations are in order. You’re popping your director cherry. I can’t think of anyone better to lead a project.”

Piper’s head swiveled in his direction. “Director? I thought you were the lead actor.”

“He’ssomuch more than that.” Rachel’s broad I-will-eat-you-alive smile wrapped around her face but didn’t touch her eyes. “He and Marshall are the producers and the writers too.”

“Oh.” Piper looked at Blake. “You’re the director, the producer, the writer,andthe actor?”

He dipped his head in acknowledgment. “I’m also the scheduler, the casting director, and the dishwasher.”

“But not the housekeeper.” Piper smiled faintly at her own little dig. “Wow. No wonder your office looks like an explosion in a paper factory.”

Rachel’s smile slipped a degree. It was her turn to stare at Piper. “His office?”

Blake kept a neutral mask on his face.

“Yes,” Piper said sweetly. “As in a room with four walls, a desk, and a floor that looks like a crime scene.”

Rachel flicked an uncertain gaze in Blake’s direction. “I’ve never seen your office, Blake, have I?”

Rachel knew the answer to that. She’d never been to his house at all, let alone his office. But he knew she wouldn’t make a scene in front of this many people. She wasn’t the type to pitch a fit. She liked to strike from the tall weeds when you least expected it, like a snake.

Piper looked from him to Rachel and back. “You sure wear a lot of, um, hats.”

He shrugged. “We’re trying to keep the budget down.”

“Surely you don’t need to worry about the budget,” Rachel said.

“Every director is worried about the budget.” He wasn’t surprised that Rachel had heard thatConnedwas greenlit. She had an uncanny ability to sniff out new projects.

Rachel put a too-intimate hand on his arm. “It must be exciting to finally get this project off the ground. You and Marshall have talked about it forever.”

Blake caught Paul’s eye. “Are we going to get started soon? Or do I have time for a quick call?”

“Yes. I mean no, no time.” Paul clapped his hands. “We have lots to do today, people, lots and lots to do. We start with the sisters having their moment, and then…where’s Jeremy? Has anyone seen Jeremy?”

Paul bounced up and down on the balls of his feet and peered around the room.

“I heard you were having trouble casting the romantic lead,” Rachel stage-whispered to Blake. “Any chance you’d consider me for the role? You and I work so well together.”

Her eyes smoldered with not-so-hidden meaning.

There it was. The question he’d been trying to avoid answering. The last thing he wanted was to be paired up with Rachel Morris ever again. He’d already told Marshall there was no chance in hell he was letting her in onConned—in any role.

The problem was, Rachel was perfect for it. She had an ability to fake sincerity that was unmatched in the industry. With the right makeup and styling, she would be the perfect girl-next-door foil to his conman lead, but every particle of his body rejected the idea.

Every instinct screamed for him to run. But he couldn’t just slam the door on her in a roomful of people, which was exactly why she’d chosen this moment to ask. She could be spiteful andvindictive, and she had a lot of influence in certain circles. Nobody got anywhere in Hollywood by making enemies.

What the hell could he say to get her to back off but not have an instant fit?

“That’s a kind offer, Rachel. I’ll talk to Marshall about it.” He gave her a chagrined, Brad Pitt inOcean’s Elevensmile.

“I—” Whatever Rachel had been going to say was cut off by Jeanette, the goddess of sound engineering.

“We’re good to go when ready,” Jeanette shouted over the buzz of conversations. She flicked several switches, and the lights came up in the booth.

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