Page 21 of Hot Set

Brandon wastechnicallymy boss, and I shouldn’t have gotten involved with him. The irrational urge to flee shot through me. I thought of bolting out, like a frightened rabbit. Already, I’d constructed a bizarre, extravagant fantasy where I disappeared and assumed a new identity far away from Bluehaven.

But then, Brandon looked up. His blue eyes caught the light and turned nearly silver. “Alex!” Brandon exclaimed with an easy grin. “Or do we have to call you Special Agent Alex now?”

“It’s just the first interview,” I said. “There’s at least one more.”

This was the easiest way to approach this. Just keep talking to Brandon, answering his questions. If I could manage to do that,I might be able to get through this. Heat flooded my face. What had I beenthinking?

Seth swooped in and threw an arm over my shoulders. “Congratulations,” he said. “I’m sure you’ve as good as got it!”

I wished I shared his confidence. I smiled awkwardly and tried not to look at Brandon, but despite my best efforts, my eyes kept darting up to him. His blond hair was bright beneath the set lights, whiter than blond. Practically angelic. He was so handsome. My heart fluttered.

I couldn’t possibly like Brandon. I couldn’t. Not inthatway. The sex had just been…an experience. That’s all. It wasn’t that weird. And sure, things were awkward now, but eventually, this awkwardness would fade. Even if Ididlike Brandon, it was surely just an infatuation; a temporary crush. If I waited long enough, that crush would go away. I’d had crushes before on women, and they always faded eventually. Really, all I needed to do was just—just avoid Brandon.

Avoid him as much as I could, even though we were working together. I could do that. That would be for the best, anyway. I wasn’t attracted to men, or I hadn’t been. Did I want to be? I didn’t know. But Brandon liked men. What didhethink about us having sex? Did he think it was just a one-night stand? A poor decision? Or more?

Oh, God, what if Brandon had interpreted what we did as me being in love with him? As some sign that I wanted a relationship with him? I didn’t want to break Brandon’s heart. Maybe I was jumping to conclusions, though. Maybe Brandon didn’t think that at all.

I could ask.

I wouldn’t, though. I’d die of embarrassment if I did.

“You’re late again,” Brandon said. “Honestly, Seth, you’re glued to your phone. How don’t you know how to read a clock?”

Seth swept around me and climbed onto the edge of the trunk, clambering over half the photos spread out there. “Reading clocks stresses me,” Seth said. “They remind me I have obligations. I hate obligations.”

“Hate them or not, youdohave them,” Brandon pointed out, “And deadlines.”

Seth grinned. That smile probably would’ve charmed most people; it was so friendly and daring. Seth was like a cat, trying to charm his prey closer. He leaned into Brandon, leaving only a few inches between them. “Well, you’re welcome to find another lead actor if you want,” with the sarcasm meter pegged. “Although I don’t know where you’ll find someone with my incredible looks.”

“Yeah, right. I’m sure there’sno onein New York City who’spossiblyas attractive as you,” Brandon said.

“I’m one of a kind,” Seth replied.

“Oh, please, you’re barely the most attractive man in a Home Depot,” Bioncia said.

Seth shook his head. “It’s so sad how badly you lack in taste,” Seth said.

Bioncia gave me a longsuffering look. “Alex, will you get Seth ready for make-up? He’s supposed to look like he’s been shot in the face.”

That sounded fun. I mentally ran through everything I’d need to do—how I’d have to mix up the blood and make the guts. Wounds were always fun, the more gruesome the better. And doing make-up had the added bonus of getting me away from Brandon, which was important right now.

I tried to keep my eyes from drifting to Brandon. “I can do that, Bioncia,” I answered.

“Great,” she replied. “I’m gladsomeonecan do their job.”

Seth slid off the trunk and stood languidly. “Do you see how underappreciated I am?” he asked, his voice husky. “It’s dreadful.”

“You’re definitely a martyr,” I said.

“More like my purgatory,” Brandon muttered.

I shook my head and led Seth to his make-up chair. He pulled out his phone and adopted an expression that dripped of boredom and nobility.

I opened my make-up case and dug through the pots and potions. When I’d first gotten into doing make-up, I’d thought of it as being a sort of magic; sometimes, I still thought of it that way. I wondered if Brandon was looking at me or what he’d thought when he saw me, or if he’d talked about me to Bioncia. Warmth flooded my face.

“So, what’re you doing to celebrate?” Seth asked.

“Celebrate?”

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