Page 32 of Steamy on Set

“You have asked me on multiple occasions about my sex life. Decidedly thinking it is happening with people we work with. There has to be a reason.”

He just seems like a flirt. I have even felt like at times he was flirting with me. He did call me stunning, and also accused me of wanting to sleep with him, and he doesn’t even like me. Also, he is obviously attractive.

My cheeks heat a little as the memory of him shirtless brings me to stare at his body. It is a really nice body. Lean and fit, and outlined with muscles all under beautiful brown skin. He catches me staring, his smile turning feline and satisfactory.

“It’s just the way you come across.” That had to be it, right?

“Did you always want to work on movies?” he asks, distracting me from my train of thought. His bare foot slides across the couch to rest against my knee as he spreads out a little. Goosebumps rise at the place where he is subtly touching me.

“No, I prefer styling people. Helping them find a sense of who they are through their clothes. It’s obviously how I express myself, so I want to help people do it too.” I gesture to my outfit. Dressed in athleisure wear, the simple jewelry I paired with it speaks of my personal style and usual flair. It sums up that I want to present myself as someone who is comfortable while still being cute.

I continue. “But it’s cool building up a character through their looks and using the costumes to communicate different things. I never thought I would get so much joy out of it, but I do.”

“You are good at it, too.”

I search his eyes for sarcasm, but find only earnestness there.

“You wouldn’t have said that a week ago.”

“A week ago, I was taking someone’s word at face value. Everything they told me I believed, and that led to the conclusion that you weren’t very good at doing as you’re told.”

Knowing Mira had been telling him these things this whole time, I’m more determined to confront her the next time I see her. She was throwing me under the bus at any given chance, and cheering as my remains were dragged down the street. She was putting my name down under all of her mistakes. True rage sparks in my belly as I finally acknowledge how much she has hung me out to dry time and time again.

The part that bothers me most is I don’t understand why. Why give me this job just to make me look bad at it? Why is she so different from the girl I used to live with in Paris? There has always been a competitive streak between us, but before I moved here, we were able to support each others’ wins. I don’t know what changed.

“How did you figure out the truth?” Needing to know how the cookie crumbled, I ask for him to piece it all together.

“With the script change, I just went back in and asked Jack. He told me you told him Mira wanted it changed. I figured it was less likely you were lying in that moment than she was when I came to her, guns ablaze, wondering who made that call. You also looked so taken aback when I asked you about it, something in my gut just twisted.”

I can see the apology on his lips again, as that night plays out for both of us in our minds.

“What about the other projects? The clothes you didn’t like?”

“Well, with one lie unraveled, it became really easy to see that your name was offered up every time I asked about something I didn’t like. So I checked the assignment board, looked at your projects and saw a pattern of work.”

I try not to laugh out loud while he is talking.

“Okay, Sherlock Holmes.”

A chuckle bursts free from my lips anyway, and he follows suit a second later. We finish off with broad smiles on both our faces.

“Well, now that this is all out there, I want to say I agree. I don’t think Fiona should be wearing lingerie in the break-up scene,” I say.

“And why is that?” His voice is the sharpest it’s been all day. I can tell he is preparing for a fight, by the way he breathes out.

“Relationships are more complicated than that. An outfit isn’t really a deterrent for breaking up with someone. If he came to that conclusion, it would take a lot to change his mind.”

“Not necessarily.” He scoots closer. “Men are simple; seeing her in that state could just remind him of the good times, make him want her all over again.”

“The sexy times you mean. Not all men prioritize that the way you do.”

“And what do you prioritize in a relationship, Farrah?” He leans forward, closing some of the distance between us. I can see his eyes dart between mine and my mouth as he waits for me to speak, his dimples on full display.

After the last few months, my answer is simple.

“Trust.” I ease back a little, feeling like I need all the space to breathe.

He nods as he looks down at the discarded script. I wait for the questions that type of answer would prompt, but he just keeps his eyes focused on the pages.

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