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Good God, what is happening?
“Teagan . . . ”
“It’s nothing,” she snips. “I’ll be fine.”
“It’s not nothing.” I lift my hand and place it on her shoulder. When I do, she takes a deep inhale, her body shaking beneath my touch. “You can talk to me.”
Her eyes meet mine, and for several seconds, she’s quiet.
“Fine,” she finally says, exhaling a deep breath. “It was Brad.”
My jaw tightens, and my fists clench at my sides. “What did he say to you?” I grit my teeth, waiting for her response. Brad is known to be a playboy who is inappropriate most of the time. I figured he’d make a pass at Teagan. She’s young, naïve, and beautiful. His kryptonite.
The audacity of Paxton to tell me I need to do my job better. He has some nerve.
“It’s—”
“Nope.” My head shakes. “Don’t do that. Don’t make excuses for him.”
She nods. “He was giving me shit about my mom. About being taken seriously in this field—giving me pointers.”
I lift my brow. “And let me guess. The pointers would be done alone in his hut.”
“Well, he didn’t say that.”
My eyes narrow. “But it was implied?”
Teagan raises her hand and scrubs at her face. “Not really.” She groans. “I don’t know.”
It will do no good to interrogate the girl. Whether he did or didn’t make a pass, one thing’s for sure, he will.
“It’s been a long day. Why don’t you go back to your hut and rest?”
I know Paxton won’t like it, but too damn bad. If she tries to shoot now, they’ll only get shitty acting, which is just as bad as calling in sick. If not worse.
“You know I can’t do that. I need to go back.”
“You do, but not today. I’m sure they can film plenty of scenes of just Brad.”
“Mal—”
“Don’t Mal me. I got this. And you got a stomach bug.” I wink. “I’ll take care of everything.”
Teagan gives me a small nod. “Okay. If you think . . .”
“I do.”
She offers me a small smile before heading back toward camp.
I head in the opposite direction, taking my time so that I don’t look like an idiot, huffing and puffing out of breath. Before I move into the clearing, I pat down my hair and my clothes. I’m sure I was looking disheveled, and I need people to take me seriously.
Once I’m happy with my appearance, granted I don’t have a mirror to see the real damage, I head toward Brad. I don’t care who he is. If he thinks he can proposition my client like that, he has another thing coming.
With my shoulders pulled back, I approach him, ready to say my piece and get this over with.
He’s currently standing next to someone I don’t know but recognize. It’s the creepy guy who was staring at me. I think he’s a cameraman, but I’m not sure. They’re laughing boisterously, and I’m glad not to be in the know.
“Brad,” I say once I’m standing in front of him.
He tilts his head up and meets my stare. A look in his eye tells me he’s thoroughly amused, but I’m not sure if I’m the cause of his entertainment or if it’s Teagan. Maybe it’s something else entirely.
“We need to talk.” I keep my voice level despite the fact that, for the first time in the past two days, I agree with Paxton. I am in over my head.
Despite knowing I have to say something to this man, I can’t afford to piss him off, and by the cocky look on his face, he knows it, too.
“Do we now?”
“We do. Please.” I tack on the last part out of professionalism.
“Very well.” He turns to his little buddy and laughs. “We’ll continue this conversation later.”
“Have fun.” The creep laughs as he stands to walk away, raking his pervy eyes over me as he does.
“Oh, I will.” The innuendo in his voice makes my back muscles tighten.
I shiver in response, feeling dirty and appalled.
Nothing is comforting about knowing I’m stuck on an island with either of these guys.
Once no one is within hearing distance, I place my hands on my hips.
“What did you say to Teagan?” I practically bark out.
He raises his hands in mock surrender. “Whatever she told you is not true.”
“She told me nothing, which is why I’m asking you. I’ll repeat, what did you say to her?”
His eyes partially roll. “All I did was offer her some friendly advice.”
“I’m sure it was extra friendly,” I retort, shaking my head. “Just stay away from her when you’re not on set.” I go to walk away, but his words stop me short.
“I’ll offer you some advice, too, sweetheart.”
I spin back around, glaring. “Don’t call me sweetheart.”
“Very well, Ms. Reynolds. You are playing in a field that you don’t understand. Hell, you don’t even know the rules.”
“I know enough to know hitting on your costar isn’t what you need right now.”
