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Smiling, he rakes his gaze over my face, and we stare at each other for a long moment. We've danced around each other for so many years, never giving in to our burning need. Is this the right time to tell him about Brent?
When I lick my lips, his gaze drops to my mouth. I don't know what to do with my feelings. He's too perfect. Too tempting. I avoid him as much as I can to keep the peace, but life feels meaningless and empty without him.
"Sorry Auds. I overreacted, didn't I?" His eyes remain fixed on mine. I could drown in the depths of his magnetic, dark gaze.
"You didn't overreact. You were worried …." My voice drops to barely above a whisper.
"Always," he says, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "But I'm sure old what's his name, wouldn't be too happy knowing I've got my paws all over you."
Four
LUCA
Does it matter if I can't remember her fiancé's name?
I can't stand the thought of another man touching her because no man on earth loves her like I do. Frustration makes me want to smash the trailer with a baseball bat. I blame my family and their stupid rules, and hers for enforcing them.
Audrey's eyes cloud over. There's an uneasy look on her face and it isn’t the look of a woman in love. "His name is Brent and don't worry about him," she says. "He wouldn't care."
Why is her fiancé so cavalier, and why does she let him treat her that way? The casual way she says it makes my blood boil. If Audrey was mine, I'd never let it happen.
Call me old fashioned, but a man who allows another man to touch his woman must be an idiot. It's obvious Fuckface doesn't deserve her, but if he’s hurt her, there’ll be hell to pay.
"Why not?" I grit my teeth to conceal the rage churning my guts.
"We broke up.” Her brows knit together, and she twists away, focusing on the used makeup brushes scattered on the vanity. Audrey sprays one with cleaning fluid and wipes it dry with a towel.
Meanwhile, I'm reeling over the bombshell she dropped. She’s acting as if nothing happened. But something did happen. Something momentous. Audrey’s not getting married, which proves that Christmas miracles do happen.
Reaching for another brush, she asks, "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Hailey to Luca. Do you copy?" The assistant director's voice crackles from the comms unit, interrupting our conversation.
Hailey’s using the private channel reserved for the director and AD. After unclipping it from my belt, I hold it, thumb hovering over the push to talk button.
"Aren't you going to answer?" Audrey quizzes.
My grip tightens, thumb closing over the button.
"Copy." Pissed at the interruption, my tone is unnecessarily gruff. Hailey doesn't deserve it. She's a solid operator but I can't take my eyes off Audrey.
News of the broken engagement opened a world of possibilities. Enough to make my head spin and my mouth go dry.
"All cast and crew accounted for. Over," Hailey says.
"Thanks.” That's good news. I don't need to leave the trailer and visit the sound stage. “Confirming all clear. No change to tomorrow's call time. Over."
"Night, boss." Hailey sounds relieved to know that she can pack up and go home.
"Night."
I switch off the radio and turn my attention to Audrey, who is tidying the clean brushes. Her back faces me, but our eyes meet in the mirror.
"Everything's okay then?"
I give her a brusque nod. "Everything's fine on set, but how about you, Auds? I'm sorry about your engagement. Are you okay?"
I'm not an asshole, and if she needs reassurance, or a shoulder to cry on, I'll be that person. I care about every aspect of her life, not just the parts that benefit me directly.
