Page 36 of The Casting Couch

She flipped to the next page in her folder, and her smile turned...thinner.

“Now...bad news.”

I braced myself.

“Liam and Jack made a decision.”She sighed like she’d been holding this in all weekend.“They’re hiring Bradley Mitchell.”

I blinked.

Bradley.

Laura’s warning about the ex-con popped into my brain like a bad pop-up ad.I played it cool.Tilted my head like I was just mildly curious.“That’s the bad news?”

Nessa’s expression soured.“The guy did them dirty, Nico.Dealing drugs and lying to them.They’re being sentimental.It’s bad business.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.

Because… truth?

I’d been thinking about Bradley all weekend.

The way he’d flushed during our test shoot.The way his eyes kept darting away like I scared him.Plus, I absolutely, 100%, without question, wanted to get him naked.But none of that needed to be said right now.

No sense poking the Nessa-bear.

“Got it,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.

“Anyway,” she said, shaking her head like she was brushing the whole topic off, “he’s not even camera ready yet.But, he’s your new scene partner once he’s ready.”

That got my grin going for real.“Oh, really?”

Nessa’s smile turned wicked.“Oh yeah.And guess what?He’s coming in today for a full body session with Lola.”

I winced.“Oh, no.”

“Oh yes,” she purred, laughing.“And I told her to be extra thorough with hair removal.”

“Damn.”I rubbed the back of my neck.“That’s cold, Nessa.”

“Welcome to the industry, sweetheart.”

She waved me off, and I headed for the door, still buzzing with excitement about the comedy gig… and okay, yeah, buzzing a little about Bradley too.I wasn’t even three steps out of her office when I turned the corner—

—and walked straight into him.

Bradley Mitchell.Wearing jeans and a t-shirt, looking like sex on a stick.His eyes went wide, like I was the last person he wanted to see.

My heart did a weird little skip.

And just like that...Monday got a lot more interesting.Before I could say anything to him, Nessa popped her head out of her office.The moment she spotted Bradley standing there, she froze mid-step.Her smile faltered just enough to show how much effort it took for her not to laugh.

“Well, well, well,” she said, folding her arms.“Mitchell.You actually showed up.Color me shocked.”

Bradley shifted awkwardly, stuffing his hands into his pockets like he was debating a full retreat.Then Nessa’s gaze flicked to me.

“Nico, be a doll and escort our newest star to Lola’s Sanctuary of Beauty, would ya?”Her voice was all innocent sugar, but the glint in her eye was straight-up evil.

I sighed, but smiled.“Sure thing, boss.”

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