Chapter 2 #2
“It’s an experience. A good one. I’ll see you around, Obi-Wan,” Carmen said.
It wasn’t Zita’s imagination when the woman leaned into Sage a little more—did she actually smell him?
—before giving him a sexy little smile and turning to head for the door of the trailer.
She put a little more sway into her step than usual, showing off her perfect ass and calf muscles, which flexed because of the high heels she was wearing.
Then it was just her and Sage left in the trailer.
Zita wasn’t sure what to say after Carmen’s embarrassing, but not surprising, attempt at seduction. But she didn’t expect Sage’s shoulders to sag, or for him to step back a couple of steps and lean heavily on the same counter she was currently resting against.
“Holy crap. She’s a barracuda.”
It took a moment for his words to sink in, but when they did, Zita could only giggle in relief that Sage was smart enough not to fall for Carmen’s sweet talk.
This was only the second movie Zita had worked on with Carmen, but she and the actress hadn’t gotten along that well the first time, and it looked like this movie wasn’t going to be any different.
Not if the glare the woman had shot her when she’d refused to leave was any indication.
Not that Zita cared. She was past trying to get people to like her. She was a damn good paramedic, and she wasn’t here to make friends.
“Are you okay?” she asked Sage, since he looked a little pale.
“Thank you for not leaving me alone with her,” he said in response.
“I told you I wouldn’t.”
“Well, I appreciate it all the same.” He shuddered.
Zita couldn’t help it. She chuckled under her breath. “I told you she’d take one look at you and decide you were her next conquest.”
“Was it my imagination or did she actually sniff me?”
Zita giggled anew. “I saw that. I don’t think it was your imagination.”
“Next time, I’m totally coming on set after PT.
Casper, our team leader, loves to make us roll in the sand after running for miles.
Reminds me of the time I screwed up something on my uniform during inspection, and I had to run into the surf, then roll around in the sand…
then walk around like that all day. The effect’s known as a ‘sugar cookie.’ Trust me.
It sucks. I’m totally coming on set covered in sand and sweat. That ought to discourage her.”
Zita shook her head. “Don’t bet on it. It’ll probably turn her on more. You know…the big bad helicopter pilot, looking all manly after working out.”
Sage snorted. “It’s uncomfortable as hell. And trust me, smelling like butt after one of my team’s workouts is not sexy in the least.”
“Oh, I believe you. But Carmen and her ilk are a different breed. I’m afraid you made yourself a challenge now. She’s not going to just give up.”
“Fucking hell,” Sage muttered.
Zita wanted to laugh again, but honestly, it wasn’t really funny.
Carmen could be charming and sweet as pie, but she could also be vindicative and a total bitch.
Thankfully, most of the movie focused on Logan’s character, and she was in the background as the wife waiting for any word on her husband while he was MIA.
But still, she’d be around the set, especially here in the beginning, while her end scenes were filmed.
Once Logan gained the weight he’d lost for authenticity, she’d film her parts from the beginning of the movie, before her “husband” left for his mission, with Logan back in California.
Remembering that Henry wanted him to speak to the script supervisor, Zita said, “After you talk to the AD, I can take you to the person to discuss the script issues you told Henry about. If that’s okay.”
“That would be great, thanks.”
“All right. When you’re done with the AD, just come find me on the set I showed you earlier, where they’ll be filming this morning. And if you’ve got time after discussing the script, maybe you can watch some of today’s scenes.”
“Is that what you’ll be doing?”
For some reason, Zita’s heart beat faster at his question. Pleasure swam through her veins at the way he held her gaze as he asked. As if her response would decide if he’d stay or not.
“Yes. I’m always on set while filming’s going on. Just in case.”
“I’ll probably have a little time to hang around and see what this movie thing is all about then. I’ll find you when I’m done with the script supervisor.”
Something arced between them at that moment, and Zita wasn’t exactly sure what it was.
Only that it felt good to be seen for once.
She was kind of a ghost on the sets where she worked, at least until someone got hurt and needed medical attention.
She hung out in the background and watched what was going on.
But this man…he was looking at her as if he truly saw her.
Was interested in what she said and what her plans were.
It was a heady feeling.
But it wouldn’t be smart to fall for him. She was a nomad. Her life was wherever the job took her. And he was a military man. Heading off on missions to who-knew-where, doing dangerous things that could very well get him killed.
No, she wasn’t interested in dating someone who worked in such a dangerous profession.
But a little voice deep down inside her was screaming that she was a liar. That if Obadiah Sage Engle asked her out, she would say yes before the words had finished coming out of his mouth.
But he wasn’t going to ask her out. She’d heard him tell Carmen that he wasn’t looking for a relationship. So she was being silly. Fantastical. She was dreaming.
He exited the trailer ahead of her and held out his hand to help her down the stairs.
As their fingers touched, Zita swore she felt a jolt of electricity from the contact.
He made no indication that he felt the same, but his fingers tightened on hers for a split second before he dropped his hand, once she’d stepped down from the last stair and had both feet on the ground.
Zita couldn’t help but look up at Sage as they walked toward the AD’s trailer.
He had a strong profile, and his gaze constantly roamed the area, as if he was looking for danger in every nook and cranny.
His shoulders were back and his head was up.
He was full of confidence, and way more masculine than any guy she was used to being around.
And Zita had never been more attracted to a man than she was to the one at her side.
Shit.