Page 44 of Fake It 'Til You Sleigh It

“I’m anuisance animal?”

“How else do you explain all my on-the-job stress headaches?”

“Whatever. It’s okay to confess you love directing me.”

“Directing you is like trying to wrangle Godzilla.”

“So you’re saying I'm bigger than Godzilla?”

“You have the same ego. But talent? That’s debatable.”

I lean in close, unable to help myself. “You know what they say about guys with big egos…”

Chase pushes me away. “That they’re compensating for something?”

“I was going to say ‘great screen presence,’ but I like where your mind went,” I say with a wink.

I guide her to the boardwalk that gives us a prime view of Alligator Lagoon. The sunlight dances on the water, catching the scales of dozens of gators as they chill in the murky waters.

“Check out that big fella over there. That’s Brutus. He’s the head honcho of this place. And if you–”

SPLASH!An alligator lunges playfully.

Chase jumps like she’s just touched a live wire, grabbing onto me and clinging firmly. My arms instinctively wrap around her—every nerve in my body tingles.

Time seems to slow, and suddenly we’re caught in our own little bubble of sexual tension. Our eyes meet, and I’m drawn into her gaze. Then my attention shifts to her lips, slightly parted and tempting as hell. Chase sucks in a breath, and I can practically taste her mint toothpaste on my lips. Her pulse is racing at the base of her throat, and my heart feels like it’s about to beat out of my chest. My body’s screaming at me to kiss her again, to see if it’s as fucking incredible as the first time. I start to lean in—

But then Chase pulls back. “Are the gators always this restless?” she asks, trying to act normal, but I can see desire in her eyes. It's the same urge that’s clawing at my insides.

“Only when they’re hungry, which is typically once a week. Don’t worry. Gators prefer sunbathing over anything else. Chase, serious question. Do you trust me?”

She eyes me warily. “Do I have a choice?”

I ignore her negativity(years of training)and steer her toward the Reptile House. She stops dead in her tracks at thedoorway. “I get the idea—gross, slimy, scaly things. I don’t need to see them up close.”

“Let me show you something cool,” I say, offering my hand to her, palm up. I hold my breath, waiting for her response.

She pauses, rolls her eyes with award-winning flair, and then grudgingly takes my hand. Her fingers are warm and delicate, and I can’t resist giving them a comforting squeeze.

The darkness inside covers us like a heavy blanket. Chase inches closer, her body pressed against mine, and I’m vividly aware of every point of contact. That sweet citrus scent of hers—it’s all around me again. I long to bury my face in her hair and breathe her in.

It’s strange seeing her so uncertain. The Chase I know from work is relentlessly confident. This Chase is vulnerable, and it does something to me. Makes me want to be… better somehow.

We step into a room filled with illuminated glass terrariums. She eyes the reptiles suspiciously, her hold on my hand tightening. “Yup, just as I thought: gross, slimy snakes.”

I guide her to a large glass case. Inside, the humid air fogs slightly at the edges, where rocks and greenery mimic a miniature jungle.

“This one is my favorite. The coral snake.”

Coiled on a large rock, the striped serpent is a showstopper. Its bands of vibrant red, black, and yellow deliver a warning and an invitation all at once—kind of like Chase. It’s nature’s way of saying, “I’m hot as fuck, but I’ll kill you if you get too close.”

“Wow,” she breathes, her face softening. “Okay, it’s actually pretty cool.”

I take a deep breath, deciding to share a piece of myself. “Want to know a secret? When I’m prepping for a role, I give my character a spirit animal. Helps me get into their personality.”

Chase turns to me, genuine curiosity in her eyes. “Really? That’s... fascinating. Why haven’t you told me about your process before?”

Her question takes me by surprise. I swallow hard, deciding to risk the truth. “Honestly? Because whenever I try to bring things up, you shut me down.”

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