She grinned at him. “It’s no bother. Now I at least know someone else besides Declan here in Aster Valley, so it was worth staying up.”
Shawn fingered the uniform hat in his hands. “If you want… I mean…” His eyes flicked at me and back at Tessa. “I could show you around. I have the afternoon free tomorrow. Not that I know my way around all that well either since I just moved here myself. But there’s a beautiful park in town. And we could kinda find our way around together?” He blushed furiously.
Tess stood up a little taller, her slender hand going automatically to her belly. “I’d like that. I mean… if you don’t mind?”
He looked to me again as if for permission. Even though it was none of my business, I gave him the barest of nods. He smiled and nodded at Tess. “Pick you up at two?”
Once he was gone, Tess did a little barefoot twirl on the hardwood floor. “Eight months pregnant and I still got it!”
I grabbed her up in another hug and kissed her cheek. “Darlin’, you could be eighty years old and you’d still have it.”
She laughed. “Not like I need a date or anything, but he seemed nice.”
“He’s very nice. Seems like a good man. Family man, from what I can tell.” Her face registered surprised disappointment, so I quickly amended my statement. “He’s single. At least, as far as I know. I only mean he’s close to his parents and siblings, who live over in Meeker. It’s about an hour, hour and a half northwest of here.”
She blew out a relieved chuckle that lifted her dark brown bangs. The rest of her hair was up in a messy ponytail that made her look younger than she was. “Not that it matters. I’m hardly looking for a relationship,” she repeated, like maybe she was trying to convince herself.
Her words were familiar. Casual denial.
A little bit like the same brush-off I gave myself fifteen minutes later when I stroked myself to thoughts of Finn Heller’s fit climber’s body under mine as I sank deep inside of him.
It didn’t matter. I was hardly looking for a relationship.
8
Finn
I slept poorly after everything that happened the night before. As soon as I got to my trailer, I tried a meditation exercise in hopes of clearing my mind so I could focus on the workday ahead of me. Before I finished my second deep breath, Kix banged into the small space like a herd of trampling hyenas.
“Dude, tell me everything.”
I closed my eyes and took another cleansing breath. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Uh, that’s not gonna fly,” Kix said, smacking my shoulder lightly with the back of his hand. “Everyone is talking about it, and I just shared one of the photos in my Insta Story.”
I blinked my eyes open. There were photos?
“Shit. I need to call Iris,” I muttered, looking around for my phone and remembering I’d put it on silent as soon as Declan had left me alone in the SUV to confront the man with the gun. There were dozens of missed calls.
Iris answered immediately, her voice sounding like it was fueled by espresso. “Finn, babe, you need to milk this. It’s PR gold. Nolan’s already been on with me this morning arranging with his agency folks to coordinate interviews. The sooner we can spin you as a real action hero, the sooner your new reputation on-screen will be locked.”
My hands began to shake. This wasn’t a game. It wasn’t a public relations stunt. There had been real danger, and a woman had almost been shot. Hell, I’d almost been shot. The bullet had gone through the passenger door and hit the base of the center console. If I’d been in the footwell, I would have been hit.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said.
Iris chuckled. “You pay me to think, babe. You just show up when I tell you, and answer your damned phone when I call.”
After she ended the call, I stared at the phone. Kix moved closer. “I know you’re upset. Of course you are. It must have been scary as hell. But think of how good this is for your career. Surely you can see that? Man, I’d give anything to be caught at the scene of something like that.”
I closed my eyes and tried to empty my mind to keep from snapping at him. My phone vibrated in my hand.
It was my mother.
“Oh honey! I just heard about the shooting!”
I exhaled. “I’m okay.”
“Of course you are. You’re a Heller, for goodness’ sake. I’m calling because Mario says he can get you on The View. If so, you have to tell me so I can be there, too.”
I bit back another snappish response. My teeth were already sore from grinding together, and I didn’t even know who Mario was.
“Gotta go, Mom. I’m on set right now.”
I hung up while she was still talking.
As the day progressed, I tried to find time to meditate, but it wasn’t easy. There were more phone calls, curious cast and crew visits to the trailer, unnecessary calls to the set and wardrobe that turned out to be more flimsy excuses to get inside information on “the shooting,” and even a visit from one of Declan’s deputies to take my official statement from the night before. By the time Shelly finally released me from the set, I was exhausted, and I still had a video interview Iris had roped me into.
“Come out with us,” Crystobell asked, poking her head into my trailer while the makeup tech was helping me prep for the interview. Her invitation surprised me. “Looks like you could use a drink. Come on. We’re just going to the Roadhouse again.”
Kix’s eyes were wide over her shoulder. He’d wanted to hang with her forever.
“I have an interview…” I began.
“That’s okay. I was going to head back to my chalet first for a shower and change of clothes. We’ll swing back by the set to grab you after, and I’m not taking no for an answer. Logan is going, too, and it’ll be the three musketeers.”
Kix’s frantic nod was going to send his head careening off into the woods if he wasn’t careful.
“Okay, but—”
“Great! See you soon!” She turned and left, almost plowing Kix down in the process.
He stepped up into the trailer with hearts in his eyes. “Fuck yeah. I’m going to need you to take some pics of me sitting next to her for my social media, bro.”
I closed my eyes and let the makeup tech finish with my face. “You’re all set,” he murmured. “Text me if you need a fix before go time.”
I thanked him and watched him leave the trailer while Kix gave him a lurid stare. As soon as the door closed behind the tech, I chastised him. “That’s skeevy. Don’t look at him like you want to fuck him. The poor guy is at work.”
Kix laughed. “Are you kidding? He blew me in the makeup tent like two hours ago. Mind your business.”
I shuddered. This set was noticeably less professional than any of the other projects I’d worked on for as long as I could remember. Kix’s behavior was a reminder that he wasn’t really the kind of person I wanted in my life, and I wondered for the millionth time what the hell I was doing remaining friends with him.
You owe him.
The old refrain was getting very tired. He’d had years to find his own path to success, and maybe his behavior on set was part of the reason no one took him very seriously.