Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
“Well, I never.” Oliver recovered first, plastering a coaxing smirk onto his lips. “Hello, Cuddlebug.”
In this small, insignificant nickname, he shattered the rest of my composure. I let go of the candelabra and slacked against the wall. The needle I held fell to the floor.
Oliver gestured to the skin-colored thong in my fist. “Is this for me?”
I felt like a gutted fish. How could he be so calm? So thoroughly entertained?
Through the anger, the pain, the frustration, I gulped him up. The sleepy, lust-drunk cobalt eyes, still heavily lashed. The petulant, childish pout that begged to be kissed and the high Roman nose. All these years later, his rugged, imposingly tall frame still had the same effect on me.
I didn’t know what was more devastating – how gorgeous he was or how pathetic I was, unable to produce a sound.
“Are you okay?” Frankie placed a hand on my shoulder. “Look, I know he has a reputation for being a brothel on legs, but I promise he is mostly harmless.” My surprise assistant’s voice echoed along my spine.
Say something. Do something. Show him that you are not the same desperate girl. The one who realized too late that nobody would come to save her, and she had to get up and save herself.
Ollie’s falcon gaze did not withdraw from mine. “We know each other.”
Frankie glanced between us. “Like, biblically?”
Neither of us answered her.
The assistant producer jogged over to me. “Hey, Briar? We need to wrap this scene up.” Jaylla yanked the thong from my clenched fist. “Is the thong ready? Scarlett is cold.”
Scarlett. Of course. Scarlett. My actress. The woman currently in a robe, waiting for me so she could complete the sex scene. Come to think of it, Oliver had no clearance to be here. He was another stranger gawking at my client.
“Y – yes.” I turned to Jaylla, mustering a smile. “All good to go. I’ll be there in a second.” I swiveled back to Oliver, finding my voice. Razor sharp. Just like he deserved. “Sir, we do not know each other. You can’t be here right now.”
The words caught Oliver off guard. His smile melted into a surprised gape. “It’s my hotel.”
“It’s my set,” I countered, reaching for a bottle of water and taking a big swig. “And I’ve heard all about your antics, Mr. von Bismarck. I have my clients to think of, and your presence in this room with naked actors is unwelcome.”
“My presence in this roo …” He glared, his mouth dropping open. “Are you really going to pretend we don’t know each other?” His entire face pruned into a scowl.
I blinked, regaining my hard-earned confidence. “I think you have me mixed up with someone else. Not too surprising, considering the number of women you go through.”
Frankie coughed into her fist. “Burn.”
Oliver couldn’t pry his eyes off me. “And you know this because …?” A slow, confident smile began to eclipse his face, showering me with nostalgia.
“I am literate and have internet access. It would be negligent of me not to identify all the potential threats in the vicinity.” I raised an eyebrow. “Now … can you, please, leave? Having a stranger on the set is not good for my naked actors’ psyches.”
It was critical to put space between us. Ideally, three continents and four oceans.
“You can’t kick me out of my own property.”
“Sure can, if you leased it to us.” I grabbed the lapels of his shirt and led him out the doors. “We’re paying customers, and we hired out this entire floor. You are unauthorized to enter the premises during a sex scene.”
Frankie gasped as Oliver stumbled backwards, staring at me like I was a rabid animal.
“Thanks, Briar!” Scarlett squeaked from the master bed at the end of the room. “For having my back.”
“I have to say, this is my first time being escorted out of a sex scene instead of being invited.” Oliver nestled a hand against his heart, feigning devastation. “Have I lost my charm?”
“Ask someone who fell for it,” I lied.
Alone, in the hallway, I pushed him toward the elevators, ignoring the way he stared at me like he’d discovered a new dragon species.
He popped up a brow, not quite fighting my manhandling but not making it easy on me either. “Are you going to drop the charade, now that we’re alone?”
“Nobody is dropping anything in this exchange, Mr. von Bismarck. Your reputation precedes you.”
He shot me a playful wink, grinning. “Your anger sets fire to my loins.”
“That burn is an infection, sweetie. Get it checked.”
“Don’t believe everything you hear, Briar Rose.”
“Ah, he’s a gaslighter, too.” I pushed him harder. “How did I miss all the red flags? You’re a freaking carnival.”
“Well, you’re always invited for a fun ride.”
“I swear to God, if you make a tent joke, I will have to stab you. And no jury is going to fault me for it, considering our history.”