She shook her head. “I’m being ridiculous. The set has security and nobody knows I’m in town.”
So far there’d been no paparazzi or anyone outright noticing her. She wasn’t dressed up and hadn’t looked anyone in the eye. Just acting like a regular person in the city. It wouldn’t last. It never did, but for now she was fine, and whatever odd sensation she’d felt a few seconds ago was gone.
They went back to their rooms to wash up and get into comfortable clothes, and for the next couple of hours, they hung out in the suite and Sasha and Cassidy ran lines.
She wasn’t completely comfortable with the character, and she knew why. Because a script never completely conveyed the depth and thoughts of the person, and she needed more insight. More than even reading the book had given her. When a movie was an adaptation, she hesitated to put her own spin on it completely. Even Isaac, the director, had told her to meet with the author because he had contractual input. Which meant she needed an in-depth take on Amanda’s personality.
She needed Xander.
Chapter Three
Sasha and Cassidy had spent the day shopping, starting early. Although Sasha had purchased a couple of outfits she might want to wear tonight, as she stared at the huge pile of clothes on her bed, she was no closer to deciding what to wear to go out to dinner with Xander.
She was being ridiculous since he wouldn’t notice her clothing. She’d be lucky if he noticed how she looked at all. If their time together was like yesterday, he’d sit with a clenched jaw and stare past her with an I no longer give a damn look on his face.
Frowning, she decided on a navy and white polka-dotted skirt. A ruffle hit mid-thigh, and a matching loose top fluttered at the bottom, creating a cropped look if she lifted her arms. She grabbed a reasonable-height neutral colored heel in case they walked because … the city … and a small purse.
“How many more times are you going to change outfits?” Cassidy asked, an amused smile on her face as she entered the room.
“This is it.” Sasha gestured to her cute skirt outfit. Picking up a tube of lipstick, she strode to the mirror, swiped a hot-pink color over her lips, and pressed them together.
“Well, you look great. I know I suggested a professional blow-dry and glam, but you don’t need it. You’ve got the talent to handle things yourself.” Cassidy’s smile helped Sasha relax despite the butterflies in her stomach at the thought of spending time with Xander.
“I don’t want him to think I’m that girl anymore,” she said. The one who cared so much about appearances and making it in Hollywood that she made the wrong choices and hurt people in the process.
Cassidy leaned against the doorframe, her head tipped to one side as she studied Sasha. “I met that girl and now she’s my best friend. Do you really think that would have happened if there was something wrong with how you behaved? Or dressed? Or…” She stepped all the way into the room. “I think you’re too hard on yourself about how and why things ended between the two of you.”
Sasha frowned. “Maybe. Maybe not. But the fact remains, I’m more centered now.” She trusted her own judgment a lot more than she ever had and did her best not to let other people influence her decisions.
Her cell rang and she picked it up off the bed, staring at the word Mom on the screen. As if Annika Keaton knew her daughter had been thinking about her.
“Ignore it,” Cassidy said, aware of how insistent Sasha’s mother could be.
Not manipulative per se. Annika just thought she knew what was best for Sasha based on her own mistakes.
Sasha shook her head. “She’ll just keep calling.” She picked up her cell and accepted the call. “Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, honey. How’s New York?”
“Great. The hotel is so much fun. It’s decorated so beautifully. High ceilings in the suite, bay windows, and Cassidy has an attached room. It’s all good.”
Her mother talked about how she’d filmed as an extra in Manhattan before changing the subject to the one Sasha had been dreading. “So have you talked to him?”
Sasha sighed. “Yes, Mother, I’ve spoken to Xander. We’re meeting up soon to discuss the character I’ll be playing, and before you ask anything else, further questions are off-limits.”
There was no way she could focus and do her job if her mother kept calling to remind her to be careful, not to make the same errors she had.
“I’m just looking out for you,” her mom said.
“I appreciate it, but I don’t need you to worry. I’m an adult and I know what I’m doing. And now I need to go or I’m going to be late. I love you and I’ll talk to you soon.”
“But–”
“Bye, Mom.” Sasha disconnected the call, tossed the cell onto the comforter, and met Cassidy’s gaze. “Well, that was fun.”
Her friend laughed. “You’ve learned to handle her well.”
Her phone buzzed again from its facedown position on the bed. “If my mother is calling back to give her opinion…” Sasha flipped the phone over and saw Xander’s name flash on the screen along with a text.
She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or to get worked up again, this time for a wholly different reason. “Looks like my– Looks like Xander’s here.”
Cassidy raised her eyebrows. “Tell me you weren’t about to say date.”
Ignoring her, Sasha lifted her phone from the bed and replied she’d come down to the lobby. She grabbed her handbag and met her friend’s gaze. “I’m leaving.”
Cassidy waved, wriggling her fingers. “Be good!”
Sasha rolled her eyes and strode past her friend, the butterflies in her stomach growing by the second.
“I’m kidding, you know that right?” Cassidy asked. “If you need to talk about anything, I’m here.”
She turned back toward the bedroom, where Cassidy stood in the doorway. “I do. I’m just a nervous mess. I’ll see you later.”
Making her way down to the lobby, Sasha caught sight of Xander standing by a pillar. He wore a pair of jeans that showed off his toned physique. A black tee shirt hugged the muscles in his upper arms and chest, and a pair of loafers were on his feet. His dark brown hair was cropped short, same as when they’d met.
He rarely spoke about his military service, but she was aware of the tension that often consumed him in crowds of people. His hair was just part of his routine and who he’d become while in the Marines.
A pair of sunglasses hung from the neck of his shirt, and as if he felt her staring, he raised his gaze to meet hers. Between his chiseled features, full lips, and piercing stare, he was so sexy, any self-respecting female with a pulse would notice him.
He pushed himself off the pillar and strode over to meet her. “Hey,” he said at the same time she said, “Hi.”
She smiled.
He didn’t but his intense expression unnerved her.
She fidgeted, wondering how to break the ice, then decided to just ignore his mood and the walls he obviously intended to keep in place. “I thought we could take a walk and talk about Amanda? Her motivations, who she is, things like that?”