Chapter 4
JARED
TWO DAYS LATER
T he first day of shooting a film was my favorite.
The anticipation of a new production, the chaotic fever of the manic set. Fuck, even the heat of the lights and the smell of makeup had my adrenaline spiking.
Having a movie come together under my creative direction was something that never got old.
And getting the chance to direct one of my closest friends and favorite actors was even better.
Tonight we were settled in the heart of Bangkok, having booked out the top four floors of one of the tallest building in the city. The first few shots of the movie involved a late-night office sex romp, followed by a dramatic death scene involving explosives.
Nothing like starting off a movie with a bang. Or two, in this case.
“I hear Aiden’s joining us tonight,” Dylan commented as he sat facing a mirror, the bright lights illuminating his face. “Are you prepared to deal with him full time over the next two weeks?”
I glanced across the dressing room at Dylan.
The actor was applying his own makeup—adding contour to make his sculpted cheekbones pop and charcoal eyeliner to bring out the green of his eyes.
Every actor had their quirks, and Dylan was no exception.
He liked to have private time before he had to report to set, and doing his own makeup, when possible, was part of his routine.
“Am I ever? Half the time I’m afraid of what’s about to come out of his mouth and the other I’m making mental notes to use his lines in one of my scripts.”
Dylan chuckled and set down the liner, glancing at his profile and adding powder to his face.
“He seemed to enjoy himself at Rafe and George’s wedding, despite the over-the-top romance of it all. And he certainly keeps a close eye on you. What’s that about?” Dylan asked.
I glanced at the dressing room door to make sure it was shut tight.
Movie sets were gossip central. And with so many people about, you couldn’t be too careful.
“It’s my case.”
“I know, but what does that have to do with the way he eye-fucks you?” Dylan replied with a dirty grin as he ran styling creme through his thick hair.
“He does not. Alex is the one he’s interested in.
Every time we’re in the same room, Aidan asks me about my bodyguard.
Like I have any answers to give? I’ve been working with Alex for over a year, and I haven’t been able to pry any personal information out of him.
He’s a fucking safe within a locked room.
Within another safe, within another locked room,” I responded, avoiding Dylan’s gaze.
“Interesting,” Dylan whispered. “And what about you?”
“What about me?” I replied as I began to pace.
God, I was not ready for this conversation.
I swear, since Dylan fell in love with his fiancé, Max, he was all about fucking matchmaking. I figured since Dylan had been divorced twice over, he’d still have a little bit of cynicism left.
But nope.
Now that he was happy, and his best friend Rowan and his brother Rafe had found their respective loves, it was all he could talk about.
“Come on, Jared. I spend more time observing other people than participating in conversations. I see the way you look at Alex.”
If only it were that simple.
“Come to think of it—” Dylan stood up and turned. “You look at Aiden like that too.”
I kept pacing and refused to make eye contact.
I had been a good actor once upon a time, but I was rusty, and I didn’t trust my face.
“Don’t tell me you’ve got it hot for the two of them?” he exclaimed and walked towards the door. “Holy fucking hell, why did it take me so long to put that together? And you’ll be on Now, Voyager with both of them? Jared, do you know what happens on that ship?”
“Hilarious. You know you’re filming a thriller and not a comedy, right, Dylan?” I muttered, tugging on my hair. “And Rafe told me all about the love spell joke. I can make movies about superstitions and the unexplained, but it’s not like I’m a believer.”
“I wasn’t either, until it happened to me.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I scoffed.
“Yes…and no,” Dylan replied as he leaned against the door, folding his arms across his chest.
I finally looked up.
“I mean, technically I met Max in New York, and I like to think that no matter where we ended up working, we would’ve found our way to each other. But look at the facts. First Rowan and Andrew, then me and Max, and now Rafe and George. You can’t deny there’s something special about that ship.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Are you ready? We’ve got a film to make, and time is money,” I bit out, changing the subject. “By the way, how are Tate and Reed getting along?”
Tate Aduma and Reed Larkin were Dylan’s costars.
Both successful actors in their early thirties, the former best friends were now at each other’s throats all the time, and no one knew why. They’d been arrested in France for disturbing the peace and nearly caused a scene at the related film premiere a year later.
It took a fuckton of convincing before I agreed to let either one of them audition for this movie. But their talent won out in the end. I just hoped they could act like best friends again, even if they weren’t.
“They’ve gone from constantly fighting to the silent treatment. It’s fucking weird, but at least it’s quiet. I don’t know what the hell happened. Neither of them wants to talk about it,” Dylan replied and grabbed his script and backpack before opening the door.
“As long as they get the job done without drama, then I’m good. I guess it’s only fitting that they play opposing characters. The tension is built right in.”
Speaking of tension, Alex was standing outside the door waiting for me.
Of course, he was.
When we’d first arrived on set, Alex wanted to be in the room with me and Dylan, but I put my foot down.
I needed some privacy. And who was going to get to me in a locked dressing room?
Day and night, I couldn’t escape Alex, and it was driving me nuts. His cool blue eyes met mine and my stomach dipped.
Why did this man affect me so much with one simple look?
“Don’t think I’ll forget about our earlier convo, though. Ooh, I’m gonna have so much fun over the next few weeks,” Dylan whispered.
Alex looked at me with one eyebrow raised, but I shook my head.
No way was he ever finding out about that conversation.
I’d decided that my friendly attitude with Alex was over.
I’d tried to get him to open up to me, but he refused. That was his right. Even though him knowing almost everything about me, including my personal life, when I knew next to nothing about his, had me feeling incredibly vulnerable.
From now on, it was business. He wanted to be treated like staff, I would oblige.
If Alex didn’t want to tell me anything—outside of where I could and couldn’t go—I wasn’t about to give any more than I had to.
I’d already given him enough.
I turned to Dylan and used my impatient director glare, but it had no effect on my friend. Dylan just smiled wide and then turned and whistled a tune while we headed out to the set.
Suddenly, I was bombarded from all angles as my crew converged on me: my senior executive assistant, Haley Fine; two production assistants, Kyle Dasitch and Darwin Bodhi; the lighting director; the videographer; and the sound technician.
I spent the next hour answering dozens of questions and asking a few of my own, until we were finally ready to start shooting.
I had all but forgotten Alex was by my side—sort of.
“You’ve got a visitor,” Alex announced.
The sudden heat of his breath on my ear had me nearly slipping out of my chair.
Okay, so I wasn’t totally immune to him. Yet.
“Who is it?” I bit out, anxious to get filming.
“Aiden,” he replied calmly.
“Why is he here on set and not on the goddamn ship?” I demanded, my nerves kicking up into high gear.
“I’m afraid I’m not psychic. Why don’t you ask him?” Alex quipped as he lifted his hand and waved.
I stood up and noticed an auburn head moving through the packed crowd.
The last thing I needed was Aiden here, at my place of work. How the fuck was I supposed to concentrate now?
Taking a deep, cleansing breath, I tugged on the collar of my black t-shirt and prepared myself.
Aiden’s face finally came into view as he stalked towards me, weaving in and out of the people, props, and lighting setup.
There was a blond man following him, standing as close as Alex was to me.
His new bodyguard, I assumed.
Aiden’s angular face looked thinner than the last time I saw him.
Stress?
Nah. It was probably just the lighting. Insults, tirades, and compliments alike slid right off him.
His wavy hair was mussed, like he’d just rolled out of bed. Fuck, don’t think about Aiden in bed …
I noticed that his hazel eyes were bright despite the circles underneath them. Like always, I felt his intense gaze pinning me in place.
Suddenly I was the one in the spotlight. And all the cameras were rolling on me.
Gone was Aiden’s usual hand-tailored suit, and I was not at all disappointed.
I swallowed hard at the sight of his broad shoulders in a tight-fitting gray t-shirt and dark jeans that molded to his legs like a second skin. The closer he got, the more nervous I became.
I called upon every acting skill I had to remain unaffected—at least on the outside.
I was under enough pressure as it was with the legal case and the movie schedule. The last thing I needed was to get my dick involved.
It turns out I was a better director than an actor because I felt Alex’s gaze burning into me. I turned to him, and I swear he could read my every thought. The slight twitch at the corner of his mouth coupled with the one eyebrow thing again had my nerves giving way to irritation.
“What?” I snapped, but Alex said nothing.
He stood there and gave me a brief smirk like he knew my secret. Which made my annoyance turn to anger.
“Whatever it is you think you know, you don’t. And someday, Alex, I’m going to find out one of your fucking secrets. We’ll see who’s smiling then,” I bit out.
Alex’s sharp inhale and furrowed brows gave me some satisfaction.
Not enough, but it would do for now.
The riptide that was Aiden Barstock picked up pace as he spotted me. I prepared myself for the shockwave that his presence always created.
Even Alex began to shift between his feet, which I found odd. The man was usually a brick wall. Immovable.
“Could there be any more people packed in this tiny fucking space? It’s got to be a fire code violation. And why are they all yelling at each other at the same time?” Aiden bellowed as he stood in front of me, so close I had to look up to meet his vivid gaze.
I wanted to lean closer but stuffed that stupid idea back down where it belonged.
Until his smell wrapped around me, and God, Aiden’s scent was fucking amazing. Musk and wood and citrus mixed together.
Intoxicating.
“It’s a movie set, Aiden. It’s loud and chaotic. It’s not an orderly courtroom,” I replied, sitting back down in my director’s chair, hoping no one would notice the slight tremble in my hands.
Aiden’s bodyguard stepped forward and shook hands with Alex.
“Jared, this is Kiernan Doyle,” Alex declared. “One of the best on my team.”
I stared up at the handsome blond with the man bun and tattoos and offered my hand. “A pleasure.”
“You as well. Despite the long travel, I’m buzzing. Never been on a film set before,” he replied with a rumbly Irish accent.
His heavy grip was just shy of painful, and I was thankful when he finally let go.
“I’m happy to answer any questions you have,” I responded with a polite smile.
Alex stiffened beside me.
“But first I have one of my own,” I commented as I turned to Aiden. “Why are you here, in my place of work, instead of on the ship?”
Aiden shrugged his shoulders.
“We dropped off the luggage, but I’m hyper as hell. I thought this might be good entertainment until jet lag sets in.”
I shook my head, not sure I believed him.
“Fine but this is my domain, so you play by my rules. You’re only allowed to watch.”
“Kinky. I’m game if you are.”
Aiden glanced at Alex and winked.
This was going to be the longest two weeks of my life.