Page 5 of Keeping Zita

“Actually, there aren’t public tours available, I’m afraid. Although you can see most of it via the Victory Rover, a narrated cruise that lets you see a lot of the naval ships up close.”

Zita wanted to laugh. Sage was either being incredibly obtuse, or doing an amazing job of keeping a straight face by pretending to not understand what Carmen was fishing for…namely, a personal invitation to tour the base with him.

“I thought maybe you could show me your helicopters personally,” Carmen simpered, giving up on being coy.

“Sorry, but that won’t be possible. The hangar is off-limits to civilians,” Sage said simply.

“Darn. Well, maybe we can come up with something else to do.”

“You’re obviously a beautiful and successful woman, but I’m not looking to date anyone right now. I’m sorry.”

Once again, Zita was impressed with Sage’s matter-of-fact tone—and that he was being incredibly blunt without being rude about turning down Carmen’s advances.

“That’s too bad. But I’ve found that men change their minds all the time. Have you ever dated a famous actress?”

“No.”

“It’s an experience. A good one. I’ll see you around, Obi-Wan,” Carmen said.

It wasn’t Zita’s imagination when the woman leaned into Sage a little more—did she actually smell him?—before giving him a sexy little smile and turning to head for the door of the trailer. She put a little more sway into her step than usual, showing off her perfect ass and calf muscles, which flexed because of the high heels she was wearing.

Then it was just her and Sage left in the trailer.

Zita wasn’t sure what to say after Carmen’s embarrassing, but not surprising, attempt at seduction. But she didn’t expect Sage’s shoulders to sag, or for him to step back a couple of steps and lean heavily on the same counter she was currently resting against.

“Holy crap. She’s a barracuda.”

It took a moment for his words to sink in, but when they did, Zita could only giggle in relief that Sage was smart enough not to fall for Carmen’s sweet talk. This was only the second movie Zita had worked on with Carmen, but she and the actress hadn’t gotten along that well the first time, and it looked like this movie wasn’t going to be any different. Not if the glare the woman had shot her when she’d refused to leave was any indication.

Not that Zita cared. She was past trying to get people to like her. She was a damn good paramedic, and she wasn’t here to make friends.

“Are you okay?” she asked Sage, since he looked a little pale.

“Thank you for not leaving me alone with her,” he said in response.

“I told you I wouldn’t.”

“Well, I appreciate it all the same.” He shuddered.

Zita couldn’t help it. She chuckled under her breath. “I told you she’d take one look at you and decide you were her next conquest.”

“Was it my imagination or did she actually sniff me?”

Zita giggled anew. “I saw that. I don’t think it was your imagination.”

“Next time, I’m totally coming on set after PT. Casper, our team leader, loves to make us roll in the sand after running for miles. Reminds me of the time I screwed up something on my uniform during inspection, and I had to run into the surf, then roll around in the sand…then walk around like that all day. The effect’s known as a ‘sugar cookie.’ Trust me. It sucks. I’m totally coming on set covered in sand and sweat. That ought to discourage her.”

Zita shook her head. “Don’t bet on it. It’ll probably turn her on more. You know…the big bad helicopter pilot, looking all manly after working out.”

Sage snorted. “It’s uncomfortable as hell. And trust me, smelling like butt after one of my team’s workouts is not sexy in the least.”

“Oh, I believe you. But Carmen and her ilk are a different breed. I’m afraid you made yourself a challenge now. She’s not going to just give up.”

“Fucking hell,” Sage muttered.

Zita wanted to laugh again, but honestly, it wasn’t really funny. Carmen could be charming and sweet as pie, but she could also be vindicative and a total bitch. Thankfully, most of the movie focused on Logan’s character, and she was in the background as the wife waiting for any word on her husband while he was MIA. But still, she’d be around the set, especially here in the beginning, while her end scenes were filmed. Once Logan gained the weight he’d lost for authenticity, she’d film her parts from the beginning of the movie, before her “husband” left for his mission, with Logan back in California.

Remembering that Henry wanted him to speak to the script supervisor, Zita said, “After you talk to the AD, I can take you to the person to discuss the script issues you told Henry about. If that’s okay.”