Hot Set (Art of Love #2)

9. Alex

Chapter nine

Alex

B randon returned with renewed energy. He didn’t bring up our one night of sex, so I didn’t bring it up either. Instead, I smiled politely whenever I passed him and tried to happen to be on the opposite side of the set. It worked…mostly. It wasn’t as if, being a make-up artist, I needed to always be in contact with the director. So, I set up in my little corner of the set, alongside Bioncia.

Michelle called again, and we set up another interview over the phone. It was three weeks away. Apparently, the FBI wasn’t exactly in a hurry to get new people hired (at least the ones that didn’t tote guns), but three weeks was nothing compared to the years I’d spent preparing for just the chance of an interview.

I pulled open my makeup case and checked my brushes to be sure they were clean; they were. I always cleaned them before I got started, but I still had a sharp streak of paranoia that I’d missed one. Satisfied, I placed them back in their places and glanced into a nearby mirror. Brandon.

My heart seemed to stop. The world seemed to stop.

Brandon’s hair caught the set light and highlighted his high cheekbones. His blue eyes shone like polished gemstones. It wasn’t fair for any man to be so attractive. A deep flush spread across my face.

I needed to stop thinking about Brandon.

Our eyes seemed to meet in my mirror. I ducked my head. Silently, I prayed to any god who might exist to send Seth over for make-up. But of course, Seth never showed up on time for anything. Brandon was heading my way.

Oh, God.

“Alex.”

A shiver, not wholly unwelcome, passed through me. My heartbeat quickened. “ Keep it cool. Keep it professional.”

Brandon pulled up a chair and flashed me a winning smile. “Hey, Brandon,” I acknowledged.

I tried not to think about how nice Brandon’s teeth were, so straight and white.

“I haven’t seen you around in a while,” he said.

Was it an accusation? It didn’t sound like one. It sounded like Brandon being Brandon, as friendly and charming as always. He must’ve known I was avoiding him, though. He must’ve realized why. It wasn’t as if I’d been subtle.

“I’ve been busy,” I said awkwardly.

“Oh, I know,” Brandon replied, his face alight with enthusiasm. “I’ve seen the results. Your make-up is really spectacular.”

“Only because I’ve practiced so much,” I said. “Bioncia’s is much better.”

Brandon laughed. “Bioncia has devoted her life to make-up,” he said. “She’s just more experienced.”

“So…”

I was scrambling to find a topic that wasn’t about the sex we’d had. I couldn’t bring it up. If I didn’t bring it up, I wouldn’t have to face it. I could just pretend it hadn’t happened.

“I met your father,” I said instead.

Brandon sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s what Mark said. I’m sorry about that. He can be a bit intense if you don’t know him.”

Intense was definitely one way to describe Jonathan.

“He clearly cares a lot about you,” I said.

“He does,” Brandon replied, sighing, “But sometimes, I wish he’d just be a little less protective. He means well, but he suffocates me.”

I nodded.

“Not that I can complain all that much,” Brandon said. “Dad is supporting this whole thing. I just wish he’d understand…but then, you know. We’ve talked about this before.”

Right before we had sex.

Alarm bells went off in my head. I needed to steer the conversation somewhere else, and I needed to do it before we opened Pandora’s box.

“I’m wondering if I wouldn’t like to do this full time,” Brandon continued. “It’s…fun to make movies. It’s clear there’s a learning curve to it, but I think I’m getting the hang of it, don’t you?”

I nearly breathed a sigh of relief. Careers were safer territory, much safer than Brandon’s father. Much safer than my sex with Brandon.

“You should go for it,” I said. “You have such a passion for films.”

Brandon nodded. “Yeah,” he replied. “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. How are your career plans going?”

“I have another interview with the FBI,” I said. “It’s just been scheduled.”

“Oh! That’s great,” Brandon said. “Any word yet on when they’d want you to start working?”

None at all.

I looked at my make-up box. Why couldn’t this be the one time Seth showed up when he was supposed to?

“Soon, I suppose,” I said. “You probably want to start looking for a make-up artist just in case. If I do get the job, I’ll have to move.”

“Of course, you will,” Brandon replied.

“I don’t want to chance leaving you high and dry with this production going,” I said. “That wouldn’t be fair to you or anyone else.”

“Oh, well,” Brandon said. “We don’t really know when it will be, though.”

When, or even if.

“It’s better safe than sorry,” I said. “With a production like this, you should have a replacement ready if I have to leave suddenly.”

Brandon narrowed his eyes. I tried to ignore how blue they were and how warmth flooded my face when I looked at him. I wasn’t attracted to Brandon. I didn’t like men at all. I never had. But Brandon made my heart race.

It was just…just a weird infatuation. That was all. Nothing serious.

“If you leave suddenly, that’s when we’ll start the search for your replacement,” Brandon replied with a one-shouldered shrug. “It won’t be the end of the world if we have to be short-handed for a few days.”

But that didn’t make any sense.

“Wouldn’t it be better to go ahead and begin looking, though? Just in case,” I said.

“You haven’t gotten this job yet,” Brandon said. “What are we going to do if we replace you, and you keep working here?”

My throat was dry. “I’d find a job elsewhere,” I said.

That was an idea. I could look for another job, doing something else. Anything else, as long as it didn’t involve me having to keep ignoring Brandon.

“That isn’t fair to you, though,” Brandon replied. “You have a job here, and we won't just kick you out in the cold.”

But why? It would be better for him to be safer rather than sorry. Maybe Brandon wasn’t taking me seriously, but that didn’t seem like Brandon. Maybe there was something else going on. Or maybe he just really cared about my job prospects and didn’t want me jobless. My heart fluttered as I thought of the latter.

“It wouldn’t be the end of the world,” I said awkwardly.

“But you like working on this production, don’t you?” Brandon asked.

“Yes,” I said carefully, “But I also don’t want to hold things up.”

Brandon smiled. “Well, considering all the chaos we’ve already dealt with, I don’t know. I guess this would be just one more thing.”

I gulped. Why did he have to be so nice? It would all work out better if Brandon was a jerk. Then, I wouldn’t have any problem telling Brandon that having sex with him was a mistake that meant nothing. But I’d be lying.

And even if I had been attracted to Brandon, we still wouldn’t have worked. I was looking to join the FBI. That was my dream. And if I were picked for the job, I’d have to move. There would be no way around that, and I could never ask someone to pick up their life and go with me.

This was for the best. Be polite and professional, avoid Brandon as much as possible, and do everything I can to join the FBI.

“Hello, plebians!”

Seth tossed his motorcycle jacket in Brandon’s face and swept into the vacant make-up chair beside me. I’d never been so happy to see a man in my life.

“About time,” Brandon said, the remark not nearly as scathing as it should’ve been. “You’re holding us up.”

“Good things come to those who wait,” Seth said.

“Don’t get biblical. Besides, I don’t know that I’d call you a good thing,” Brandon replied dryly.

Seth tipped his head back and smirked. “You know you adore me, Brandon. Don’t deny it.”

“Adore?” Brandon replied. “I like that you haven’t quit yet. Does that make you adorable?”

“I would never do that. You wouldn’t survive without me.”

With Seth’s distraction, I turned back to my make-up. I knew pretty well by now what I wanted to put on Seth’s face, so I pulled out the usual base. We were doing blood and gore today, so there would have to be latex and gum.

“Make sure you make my good side shine, Alex,” Seth said.

“You haven’t got one,” Brandon retorted. “You’re impossible,” he said. “We should’ve been filming your scenes at least thirty minutes ago.”

Thirty minutes was actually an accomplishment for Seth, who’d shown up hours late before.

“Clearly, it’s not urgent,” Seth said. “You and Brandon were just sitting here talking.”

“Only for a few minutes,” Brandon replied.

I turned around and squeezed the foundation onto my wrist. “Ready?” I asked.

Seth grinned. “Ready,” he said in a sing-song voice. “Be gone, Brandon. You’ll distract him.”

Brandon rolled his eyes but climbed to his feet. “I’ll see you guys later, then. Alex, try to make sure Seth actually comes to the shoot once you’re done.”

“No promises,” I replied.

Brandon looked between Seth and me. “Do your best,” Brandon said, seemingly resigned to his fate. “Please.”

As Brandon turned away, Seth winked at me. “Good luck, Alex,” he said.

I needed good luck far more than Seth knew.