Nikhil Shamdasani was anxious, a little grumpy, and clearly going through it all, but he wassexynow. Like, breathtakingly so. When he was comfortable, that is. And he appeared to be comfortable around Marley.
“It’s fine,” Marley said. She should distance herself, but she couldn’t. “I’ll stay as long as you need me. I’ve never seen a press junket.”
He grinned a wide smile that was as heart-stopping as his sultry gaze. Shayne wouldloveto photograph Nikhil now. Marley wondered if she was allowed to talk about him yet.
“Let’s go, then,” he said, opening the bathroom door. “You’re my emotional-support wardrobe stylist for the day.”
It was another hour before they were finally called across the hall for the press junket. The room was nowhere near as chaotic as the other two. It had been cleared of furniture and transformed into a little TV studio.
An entertainment reporter from Global TV, a Canadian broadcaster, was conducting the first interview, and they wanted to speak to both Nikhil and Jason, the director. Marley,Lydia, and Kaelyn the publicist were on stools behind the cameraperson. The interviewer mostly had questions for Jason, but eventually, she turned to Nikhil.
“So, the Bronze Shadow! How does it feel to land such an iconic role?”
Nikhil smiled. “I still can’t believe it’s real. Maybe once I get into the super suit and we start filming I’ll start to believe it’s actually happening.”
“Why do you think the studio went in a different direction from how the character is portrayed in the comics?”
Marley had no idea what that meant. Because Simon DeSouza in the comics had short hair and blue eyes? Because he was coded as white in the comics? “Oh, I mean, I don’t know,” he stammered. “I auditioned and got the role.”
Marley cringed. That was not a good answer. She could practically feel Lydia vibrating with annoyance next to her. But it was a stupid question. Why was he being asked why the studio cast him? Why not ask the director that?
“All right, I’m sure everyone would love to hear your secrets. How does a Canadian actor with little action-film experience turn himself into a superhero?”
Nikhil chuckled, rubbing his chin. “Personal trainers mostly.” He needed to give better answers than that. Longer ones.
“Just personal training?”
Lydia leaned over to Marley and whispered, “Get his attention. We’re losing him.”
Marley agreed. She needed to get him back to the man he’d been in the bathroom a few minutes ago. First step: get him to remember she was here. Marley dropped her large Prada tote to the floor. It landed with a loud thud.
Everyone turned and glared at Marley. The cameraman groaned.
“Whoops! So sorry! I’m such a klutz!” She smiled at Nikhil. And he smiled back. The interviewer asked him the question again. “So, all you needed was a trainer to turn you into a superhero?”
While the interviewer was speaking, Marley leaned down to retrieve her dropped bag. And since the stool was tall, it was a pretty deep bend. That’s when she realized she was giving Nikhil and the director a prime view of her cleavage. Welp. That wasunintentional.
Oh well. Might as well use these while she still had them.
When she sat straight again, Nikhil was looking at her. His eyes were hooded like they’d been in the bathroom. His mouth sultry. He even licked his lips. Marley had no idea if he even realized what he was doing, but it was working. The camera wouldlovethis sexy Nikhil. Marley beamed at him, and that brought a flustered smile to his face.
“So, your trainers worked you hard.”
“Very hard,” he said, his expression now hovering between embarrassed and aroused. “I was motivated. I mean, I’ve always wanted to look like a Ken doll.” He chuckled. “But honestly, I can’twaitto start working on the fight choreography. That will be the fun part.”
Marley gave him another reassuring grin as the interviewer asked more about the physical demands of the role. Nikhil was optimistic and easygoing in his answers. He was charming. He did well with the next few interviews, too—without any visual distraction.
After they all took a break for lunch, Marley handed Nikhil a deep-violet shirt to change things up for the afternoon interviews.Marley smoothed Nikhil’s hair after he sat back down. With the amount of product she saw the hairstylist spray on him, she assumed it would be dry and sticky. But it was soft. She resisted the urge to let her fingers comb through the wavy strands as she pushed them behind his ears. Nikhil’s eyes rose to meet hers as he swallowed. “How am I doing?” he asked.
Marley straightened the collar of the shirt. “You’re amazing. The camera loves you.”
He didn’t break eye contact. And she couldn’t look away from his face, either. His skin looked so soft. She wanted to run her fingers over his cheeks. Just his eyes meeting hers had her skin tingling with goosebumps. What was happening right now?
“Oh my god,” a male voice behind Marley said. “Marley Kamal. Is that you?”
Marley quickly stepped back and turned. She knew that voice. Andoh my godwas right. It was Anderson. Shayne’s ex. The one Shayne was still so hung up on that Anderson might as well be a coatrack.
“Anderson!” Marley said.
