Page 28 of The Casting Couch

“Pleasure to meet you,” she said.“Laura’s told me so much about you.”

Oh.Great.

Before I could respond with something stupid, she bent down and picked up a cardboard box from the floor, sliding it across the table to Laura like this was some kind of covert op.

Laura opened the box, peeked inside, and lit up like she’d won a raffle.

“Oh, my God.This is perfect.”She pulled out… a censer.Like, one of those swinging incense holders priests use in church.All shiny brass and vaguely ominous.

I just… stared.

“Mary Grace,” Laura said with a grin, holding the censer up like it was a prized dildo, “I owe you big time.I’ve got this new client who’s obsessed with the whole naughty nun thing.This’ll really sell the scene.”

I blinked.“Wait.Hold on.Your sister… the nun… just brought you church accessories… for your dominatrix gig?”

Mary Grace gave a little shrug, totally unbothered.“The Lord provides in mysterious ways.And nothing bad really happens.In fact, my sister provides a service for lonely men, and since she never has sex with them, why not?”

I almost choked.

Before I could unpack that, a waiter appeared at our table like a caffeinated hurricane.

He was tall and skinny with bleached hair, eyeliner, and an attitude that came free with every shift.His nametag read “Damon” but something told me he answered to “Bitch” if you said it with enough affection.

“Well, well, well,” Damon said, giving us all a once-over like we were contestants on a reality show he was judging.“Either I’m hallucinating, or we’ve got a nun at table seven.What’ll it be, folks?Water into wine?Body of Christ shot special?”

Laura snorted.

Mary Grace smiled beatifically.“Club soda with lime, please.”

“Iconic,” Damon deadpanned, jotting it down.“And for you two sinners?”

“Whiskey, neat,” I said without hesitation.

“Vodka tonic for me,” Laura added.

“Perfect,” Damon said, already pivoting on his heel.“Y’all enjoy your existential crises.Be right back.”

I watched him walk away, still halfway convinced I was in some kind of lucid dream I couldn’t wake up from.

As soon as Sister Mary Grace excused herself to the restroom, moving with all the quiet dignity of a woman who definitely did not belong here, Laura leaned in close, her eyes glinting with mischief.

“So… that scene with Bradley.”

My stomach did a weird little flip.

Laura grinned wider.“Dude.That was fucking hot.Like… no offense, but I’ve seen you fake your way through scenes with Bob before, and this?This wasn’t that.”

I felt the heat climb up my neck, spreading to my ears.I opened my mouth, closed it, then opened it again.“Um, I was just doing my job.Professional.You know.Acting.”

She laughed.Loud and sharp.“You’re a terrible liar.”

I scratched the back of my neck, thinking about the way Bradley had felt under me on that couch.The way his hands had grabbed me like he meant it.The way he kissed like he had something to prove.

Laura’s smile softened a little, but her voice dropped into something more serious.“Listen, if Jack and Liam decide to hire him… you need to keep things professional.”

I blinked.“Wait.What?Why?”

Her gaze held steady.“Because I went to college with Bradley.And trust me… he’s got a history.Guy could sell water to a drowning man.He’ll charm the pants off you and then disappear with your wallet.”

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