OLIVER
Iwas exhausted—both mentally and physically.
After Kassie left, Sheri seemed livid when she reappeared from wherever she had wandered to.
She had to go to wardrobe because of an issue she refused to discuss, pushing back filming.
When she showed up again, her performance was off and she snapped at everyone—especially me.
I had no idea what had pissed her off again, but I held my tongue until one particularly waspish comment was directed my way about my lack of professionalism and talent.
I had crossed my arms, fed up and ready to be done. “What the fuck is your problem with me, Sheri?”
She tossed her hair. “You overstepped your mark—again.”
I looked down, shaking my head. “I’m on my mark. I have been every take. You’re the one who keeps fucking up the scene.”
She threw up her hands, looking so appalled it was almost amusing. She made sure her voice was loud enough to be heard by everyone in the vicinity. “You keep picking on me! I can’t work like this!” Then she burst into tears and ran from the set.
It was her best performance to date.
I frowned in confusion. Davis dropped his head in defeat, and Carl slapped me on the shoulder. “Damn.”
“I didn’t do anything,” I protested. “She was unprofessional first. I was pointing out her mistake.”
He lowered his voice. “Snakes don’t like to be cornered.”
“Fuck,” I muttered as Davis came over.
He met my gaze. I shook my head before he could speak. “Don’t ask me to apologize. She pushed and pushed me.”
“I’m aware. But I need you to get along the rest of the shoot. It’s imperative for both of us.”
I withheld my sigh. I knew what he was saying. I was still earning my way back. One word from him to Annie and I was a dead man walking. I had to swallow my pride.
“I’ll go apologize, then,” I said through gritted teeth.
What happened next shocked me. “No. I’ll go talk to her. She was unprofessional and overdramatic. She needs to save that for in front of the camera. But you will behave. Walk away next time.”
“I can do that.”
I sat in the chair, remembering how they’d reappeared, her looking smug but calm and Davis calling us all back to order.
I had no idea what he said to her, but she ignored me, other than the brief moments we interacted on-screen.
I was fine with that. We finished the scene, plus I did two others that needed the darkness of the night.
And with the rain holding off, it was the perfect time to get them in the can. But I was drained.
Another exchange kept nagging at me. When Kassie was getting ready to leave, I’d almost said I love you.
I caught myself in time. It was force of habit, I told myself.
When we were younger, we never left each other without saying the words.
It was simply muscle memory and how close we had suddenly become again.
I wasn’t in love with her. Those feelings were in the past. We had agreed to that. Both of us. She would have been upset if I had uttered those words to her.
I nodded as I climbed out of the car.
Just a memory. Far, far in the past.
Yet, even as I comforted myself with that assessment, my feet took me to her door.
She had left me a key earlier in my trailer, and I’d found it when I went to change and grab my jacket and wallet.
I let myself in, listening carefully. I toed off my shoes and headed to her room, stopping in the door.
She was asleep in her bed, almost nestled into a pillow fort.
She was leaning against a pile of pillows and had one tucked under each arm.
The light beside her was on, the dim glow casting shadows over her as I approached quietly.
Shutting my eyes, I matched my breathing to hers, peace settling over me.
I could smell her scent as I inhaled, the soft aroma of her perfume seeping into my senses and further calming me.
Simply being close to her did that to me.
“Oliver,” she murmured.
I opened my eyes to see her staring at me.
“You looked wrecked.”
“It was a bad night.”
“What can I do to help?”
I swallowed. “Can I stay?”
She held out her arms, and I dropped my jacket to the floor, crawling up the mattress.
I wrapped my arms around her waist, laying my head on her chest. She hummed, stroking my hair and letting me engulf her with my body.
It brought back memories of when my mom died and I needed Kassie close.
She’d always let me wrap myself around her, her closeness helping banish the pain.
I sighed, the steady thump-thump-thump of her heartbeat under my ear.
“I’m here,” she whispered.
“I needed this.”
“Go to sleep, Olly. I’m not going anywhere.”
I lifted my head, meeting her tender green gaze. “I need you.”
“You have me.”
I laid my head back down, feeling a sense of rightness. Of being…home.
I shut my eyes, surrounded by her, and let sleep take me.
I woke in the morning, the sun high, streaming in the windows across from the bed. I was alone, but the sheets smelled like Kassie. She had obviously draped a blanket over me at some point, but I was still facedown. Though now, instead of holding her, I was clutching her pillow.
Yawning, I sat up, running my fingers through my hair. I glanced at my watch, shocked to see it was past nine. I was grateful I wasn’t due on set until one. This morning’s shooting schedule didn’t include me at all.
I flung back the covers, used the washroom, and splashed cold water on my face. Kassie had left me a toothbrush, which I was grateful for. Then I went in search of her.
I found her in the kitchen, a row of pies filled and ready to bake on the counter.
“Do you ever stop?” I asked from the doorway.
She turned and smiled, making my breath catch in my throat. The sun played on her hair, turning the tresses a rich reddish-caramel blond. She wore an old-fashioned apron, and a dusting of flour decorated the bridge of her nose.
I leaned on the doorframe. “You could be a poster for the sexiest baker of all time,” I observed.
She laughed. “You need coffee.”
I stepped closer, pulling her against me. “No. I’m wide awake. I know what I see.”
“Prejudiced, then.”
“No, truthful. Beautiful.” I bent and kissed her tempting mouth. “Thank you for last night. I needed that.”
She bit her lip. “You looked exhausted.”
“I was. Tough night on set. Sheri was causing trouble.” I gave her a brief rundown of what had happened. She frowned, looking upset.
I headed to the coffeepot, pouring myself a tall mug. The fragrant liquid was steaming. “You want a cup?” I asked.
“Sure. I’ll just put these in the oven.”
I sat at the table, observing her in her element. Pies went in the oven after she pulled six others out. The fruit filling bubbled and steamed under the golden crust, making my mouth water. She sat across from me, taking a sip. “Mmm.”
“How many of these are you making?”
“Quinn says I need more for the lunch on Friday.”
“Right. So you’ll be back on set then?”
“Um, no.”
I set down my coffee. “Why?”
“I think I might have been what upset Sheri.”
“What?”
She described what had happened by her car. I scratched my neck in vexation, although thinking about the dirt spraying Sheri made the wardrobe thing make more sense.
“I’m sorry,” Kassie offered. “She was just so nasty.”
I took her hand and kissed it. “Don’t worry about it. She was pissed at me, and you didn’t back down. So her diva ego was engaged.”
“But you got into trouble.”
I shrugged. “I survived. She wasn’t as careful this time and let her mask slip.
Some of her true personality showed. Others saw it.
” I snorted. “Carl called her a snake. At least all I have to do is trade some dialogue with her. One hug, I think. He has to kiss her. A lot. And there are, ah, intimate scenes. Poor guy.”
“Is that difficult?” she queried. “The intimate stuff?”
“The hard part is making it look intimate. There are lights, cameras, people. I always worry about making sure I don’t hit my costar in the face with an elbow or press too hard.
If I remembered to brush my teeth or if I ate garlic with lunch.
Hope she doesn’t drench herself in perfume and make me sneeze.
There is a vast amount of trust that is involved. And I have a strict nudity clause.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Really,” she drawled. “I’ve seen your bare ass a couple of times on the big screen. And you flash your torso often.”
I chuckled. “And there is a line to which they can pan. No lower. I always wear modesty covers. There are barriers we can wear too—and always an intimacy coach. My ass is rather spectacular, so that, I don’t mind. Or at least, I didn’t. I haven’t shown it in a couple years.”
“Why?”
“I prefer not to unless it’s needed. And the argument has to be a good one for me to agree.” I shrugged. “Getting older comes with wrinkles. My ass isn’t as tight as it used to be.”
“Felt pretty great to me,” she murmured, the corners of her pretty mouth turning up. “Looked firm, but I suppose the lighting was dim.”
I grinned. “Oh yeah? You want to see it in broad daylight, lovely?”
She laughed, which was what I wanted her to do. “No, my memory is still fine, Hart,” she stated primly, taking a sip of her coffee. Then she met my eyes.
“I don’t like watching those parts of your films,” she admitted quietly.
“Maybe knowing how they are filmed helps?” I asked, feeling a little pleased that she didn’t like to see me with someone else.
“Maybe.”
“Trust me, they are anything but intimate. It’s all part of the job.”
She hummed, not really answering.
I drained my coffee, glancing at the counter. “Any of those pies for me?”
“No. I gave you two yesterday.”
“You can’t call those pies, really,” I replied, walking to the row of enticing pies. “Tarts, more like it.”
“Big tarts.”
I pursed my lips. “Depends on your viewpoint, I suppose.”