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He came with an abundance of compliments. He was so easy to get on with. I was sure working with him wouldn’t be a hardship. It could even be fun, and I looked forward to that.
“Well, thank you all the same. You’re too kind, Juan.”
“I’m not being kind. I’m being truthful,” he uttered as he captured my gaze. “If you were awful, I’d tell you. I don’t hide my feelings and opinions; that’s something to get used to being around me, so I’m warning you now.”
Time stilled. I was quietly riveted by the magnetism this man held at his fingertips. Was it the accent or the simple fact that he was too sexy for his own good? River was the sexiest man I knew,butthis guy came a close second. Knowing where my thoughts were leading, it disturbed me how attracted I was to Juan.
“Um, thanks for the warning?” Though strained from my meandering thoughts, I tried to play off my smile as though he didn’t affect me at all. “As long as you brush your teeth before we film kissing scenes, I won’t be complaining much.” Just as I finished saying that, I could faintly hear my purse vibrate on the chair next to me. Whoever it was, it could wait until I got back in the hotel.
Our food arrived. Paella was a rice dish with seafood, though Juan informed me that the dish came with different meats. I quite liked the seafood and looked forward to tasting the other kinds.
“This is actually really yummy.” I didn’t realize how starved I was until the first bite settled in the linings of my stomach. I slept from the cross Atlantic flight. And after my arrival in Madrid, I was in too much hurry to catch my connecting flight to Barcelona to think about food.
Juan was in the middle of his octopus dish when he paused and honed in on me. “If you like, we can do a few rehearsals tomorrow. That way we can get used to each other. We need to get into the flow and work on our chemistry.”
Chemistry.
Gulp.
I didn’t think I’d have a problem on that front. No, basing on my first reaction to his physical appearance, I’d say there was no need to fake it at all.
My cheeks flamed as I imagined how much this guy would see my body, all the while we would have to act like a couple in a torrid affair. My role inClovernever needed me to bare skin, so this new role as Andy Fuller would surely test the boundaries of my abilities.
Setting my fork down, I reached out to take a sip of my wine as I glanced back at the man across the table. “That sounds brilliant, thank you. You’re in tons of movies, but this is a first for me, so I really appreciate that.”
“Then it’s set. Tomorrow it is.” He raised his glass to toast. “To Andy and Enrique.”
I followed suit. “To Andy and Enrique.”
We stayed for quite some time before we decided it was time to head back to the hotel. Exhaustion slowly crept into me after the delicious meal I had devoured with gusto. Top off the fact that I also had two glasses of wine, my body was ready to shut down and sleep off the night.
The stroll back to the hotel was rather pleasant. The beauty surrounding us was rather overwhelming. Most of all, my charming companion didn’t have a dull moment. Juan Torres, I learned from the small time I had enjoyed his company, didn’t divulge anything personal, though the man didn’t run out of conversation. He gave off the inkling that he was an open book, Come to think of it, he was quite skilled in avoiding personal questions. I had been too overwhelmed by his attentiveness to think much of it.
“Buenas noches, Cara. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He bid me goodnight as he placed his hands in his pockets.
I paused, eyeing him as my fingertips played with my keycard. “Buenas noches. And thank you for not neglecting your obligatory host welcoming tourists,” I teased. “It would’ve been a quiet night had it not been for your company, so thank you for that.” I made a little wave of goodbye before I slid the card into the slot and entered my room without looking back.
Upon closing the heavy oak door, I was barely a few steps into my room when my phone vibrated again.
Releasing a breath, I pulled my phone out of my purse before flinging it onto the nearest chair. I then uncomfortably sat while my thumb busied unlocking my phone while my other hand freed my feet from the confines of my three-inch espadrilles.
River.
Already worried sick that I hadn’t called? I did try to reach him when I landed in Madrid, but it went straight to his voicemail. I supposed that small message clip wasn’t enough for my man.
Then guilt washed over me.
No matter how many gorgeous men came my way, I would never betray him. My heart wouldn’t let me go down that lurid path. All the other actors in Lombardo films had different circumstances compared to mine. I shouldn’t let that cloud my judgment. No, I convinced myself as I dialed his number.
“Hi, babe,” I softly greeted him after he took my call on the first ring.
There was a lengthy stretch of silence. However, I knew he was on the other end of the phone. His ragged breathing gave him away.
“River?” What was wrong with him? “Hello?”
“Cara, something happened, but don’t freak out, okay? I didn’t do anything.”
When someone says not to worry, that’s my cue to do so.
