Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“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.