9. Nico #2
I couldn't quite figure out why, but the way he looked at me made my stomach flutter.
Eventually, I checked my watch and frowned. "How long have we been here?"
"Too long. We're running late."
Isaac caught me by the arm and steered me toward the exit.
"Come on."
His hand remained around my arm for half a second longer than necessary before he let go.
Our third stop was a temporary production area set up for reviewing footage from the previous day's filming. A large monitor stood beneath a canopy, with several rows of canvas chairs arranged in front of it.
I recognised some of the people gathered there immediately.
The director, one of the producers, the cinematographer, and several other senior members of the production team were there. A few people I didn't recognise sat farther back, presumably family or friends who'd been allowed to watch.
I had no idea how Isaac had managed to get us in here, but apparently he had.
A production assistant was already waiting for us, looking annoyed. "You're late."
Isaac gave her an apologetic smile. "I know. Sorry."
She narrowed her eyes. "And you still owe me."
"I'll get you good tickets."
She sighed, but finally waved us through. "Fine. Go."
I stared at Isaac as he led me toward the chairs. "You bribed her."
"I negotiated."
"With baseball tickets?"
He shrugged. "Logan's name goes a long way."
He guided me toward one of the chairs near the back and waited until I sat down before taking the seat beside me. This was completely different from what I usually got to see on set.
I spent most of my time in Logan's trailer or dealing with whatever IT problem had decided to appear that day. Now I was sitting among the people who actually made the decisions.
Yesterday's footage began to play. I watched, fascinated, as the scene I'd seen being filmed came together on screen.
Little details I'd barely noticed while watching the actors and crew work suddenly became important once I saw how they fit into the finished footage.
I listened as the director and producer discussed the scene, occasionally stopping and replaying sections while they talked about what had worked and what might need to be changed once filming resumed.
I was so absorbed that I didn't even realise I'd leaned forward until Isaac quietly said, "You're enjoying this."
I glanced at him. "Very much."
Isaac seemed far more interested in watching me than the screen, and a sudden, ridiculous thought crossed my mind. Maybe this entire day had been about me.
I wasn't ready to ask him yet. I was enjoying the possibility far too much.
The day had slipped away without me even noticing. We were back on the golf cart, heading to pick up Logan, when Isaac's phone rang.
Isaac glanced at the screen before answering. "Logan."
I couldn't hear everything Logan was saying, but the slight furrow between Isaac's brows told me it wasn't what he'd expected.
"All night?" A pause. His jaw tightened slightly. "Just be careful. Don't wander off. Stay with Vic."
Vic was one of the other bodyguards assigned to Logan.
Isaac listened for another moment before ending the call. He lowered the phone and stared ahead as he drove, his expression thoughtful.
"Looks like Logan's going to be there all night."
I tried not to grin. "So I guess you're still stuck with me?"
He glanced at me, and something warm flickered in his eyes.
"Seems that way."
The thought of having more time alone with him sent a ridiculous flutter through my chest, and I had a feeling my wolf was far too pleased about it too.
After a moment, I turned back toward him. "So... are you hungry?"
He glanced at me. "Actually, yeah."
"Then let me buy you dinner."
His eyebrows rose. "You sure?"
"Very."
His smile returned, warm and easy. "All right."
I turned my attention back to the road, trying not to think too hard about the fact that I'd just asked Isaac out to dinner. And he'd said yes.
I took Isaac to Griffin’s bar. It seemed like the obvious choice. It was close enough that we wouldn't have to go too far from the film site and the food was good.
The moment we stepped through the door, several pack members looked up. As soon as they spotted Isaac, a couple of them called his name.
"Isaac!"
Before I could even take another step, someone clapped him on the shoulder, another greeted him with a wide grin. Griffin himself appeared from behind the bar.
"Look who's finally decided to show his face."
Isaac laughed and shook his hand. "Good to see you too."
I stood there beside him, waiting patiently while everyone seemed to completely forget that I was there. Eventually, I cleared my throat. Griffin finally glanced in my direction.
"Oh. Hey, Nico." He gave me a polite smile before turning his attention back to Isaac.
Okay. Maybe Griffin was still pissed about me finding out about the filming through Michael. Which, really, wasn't exactly my fault. And technically, wasn't that between Griffin and his mate?
I decided not to bring that up unless I wanted to get thrown out before we'd even ordered dinner.
I reached over and grabbed Isaac's arm. "Come on."
Isaac didn't seem to mind as I led him through the bar. We found a table toward the back, far enough from the busiest part of the room that we could actually talk.
I slid into the seat opposite him and picked up the menu.
"Order whatever you want. My treat."
"Whatever I want?" He looked at me curiously. "What's the occasion?"
I hesitated. I'd been thinking about it ever since we'd left the set.
All the little things he'd done for me, from remembering which muffin I liked to getting us into places I normally wouldn't have been allowed.
I had no idea how he'd managed to arrange all of this on such short notice. Honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to know what he'd had to promise people to make it happen.
I had a pretty good idea what was going on. I just didn't want to embarrass myself by assuming too much. At the same time, I didn't want to spend the entire evening wondering if I'd imagined it all.
I lowered the menu and looked at him.
"Because you planned all of that, didn't you?"
He didn't answer immediately. The silence stretched just long enough for doubt to creep in.
"You did all that because you wanted to spend the day with me. Right?" There. I'd said it.
For one horrible second, I wondered if I'd completely misread everything.
Then Isaac smiled. It wasn't his usual teasing smile. There was something softer about it, almost shy.
"Did you like it?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly. "The tavern didn't exactly work out."
"No, but I loved it."
He looked back at me.
"I mean it. I loved all of it." My smile widened. "And I got to spend the whole day with you."
"I just wish I'd been able to do more."
I laughed. "You did plenty."
I'd been waiting to kiss him since the moment I'd seen him standing outside that building that morning.
I'd spent the entire day finding excuses to stand a little closer to him, catching his eye and wondering if he was thinking the same thing I was. Apparently, I reached the end of my patience.
I leaned across the table and caught the front of his shirt. Isaac's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't pull away.
His lips were warm and soft against mine, and the moment he kissed me back, the rest of the bar seemed to fade into the background.
The music was still playing, people were still talking, and glasses clinked somewhere behind us, but none of it seemed important anymore.
His scent surrounded me, and the familiar warmth of it made me want to stay right where I was. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, utterly content with having him this close.
When I finally pulled back, Isaac followed me, chasing my lips with another kiss as though he wasn't quite ready to stop.
I laughed softly and pressed a hand to his chest. "Food first."
Isaac shook his head, but he was smiling too.
I picked up the menu and tried very hard not to think about how much I was already looking forward to the rest of the evening.