Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“Can you give us another few minutes?” Xander wanted this conversation over and done with, not to be revisited.
“Of course,” the woman said.
Once she left, he met Sasha’s gaze.
“I’m just tired,” she said. “Not with acting. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to me playing Amanda. It’s just some of the other things that go with the career that are draining me. It’s been like a merry-go-round lately, going from one film to the next, one country to another.” She lifted her shoulder and lowered it again. “But I know how lucky I am to have achieved so much so quickly. I’ll just take a break after this movie and I’ll be fine.” Her gaze darted from his, and he had the distinct sense she wasn’t telling him everything.
But she didn’t owe him an explanation, and now he had a better understanding of … nothing. He’d asked the question, hoping for insight into the woman he’d once loved, and he’d wound up being the one who rehashed the low points of their relationship. Once he’d started, he hadn’t been able to stop, barely giving her a chance to talk.
He ran his hand over his head and, not for the first time, debated growing out his hair. At least he’d have something to pull on when shit went south.
He glanced at her. “I think we should arrange for a car to pick us up after we eat. Hopefully we can avoid fan craziness if someone posts you’re here on social media.”
“I already texted my assistant and she’s taking care of it.” A wry smile lifted her lips and she shrugged. “It’s part of my life.”
He nodded, hating that she lived this kind of life all the more.
When it came time to order, Sasha chose a chicken breast paillard, and Xander opted for a pizza with prosciutto, tomato, and mozzarella.
They changed the subject to the character of Amanda in his novel, spending the meal and their coffee discussing the strong woman he’d written to be Steele’s new dynamic female lead. A woman who could stand up to the Marine, much more than his wife ever had, and one who would ultimately become a partner in his adventures. Sasha asked intriguing questions, forcing Xander to think about the character from an entirely different perspective.
The tension from earlier evaporated, and their old dynamic reappeared, in both the back-and-forth dialogue between them and in her joking and teasing to his more serious persona. Somehow, they meshed. He’d forgotten just how well. Despite the rehashing of history earlier, he relaxed as they talked and enjoyed their time together.
But now he stared at the woman in front of him, seeing her in a new light. She possessed a fresh confidence in her abilities that came with experience, and she wasn’t afraid to offer differing opinions on motivation and conflict, things she’d need to know in order to create and become Amanda. He found everything about her, from her intelligence to her gorgeous face with that pert nose and full lips, so fucking sexy. She’d matured in so many ways. Which made him realize just how young she really had been when they were together before.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Sasha asked, eyes gleaming as they had since they’d stopped talking about the past and begun concentrating on the present.
He shook his head and pushed aside the coffee he’d been drinking. “I’m just impressed with your ability to get inside Amanda’s head. It’s like you’re understanding what I was thinking when I wrote her, only on a deeper level.”
She beamed at his compliment, her cheeks flushed pink. “I really liked her when I read the book, and I love discussing all aspects of a character I’m going to play.”
“Did you get enough information from me?” he asked.
She studied him intently before answering. “For now,” she said, a teasing smile on her face.
The server placed the check on the table, and Xander immediately nabbed the bill and put his credit card inside. She left a few mints on the table, and while they waited for the check, Sasha popped one into her mouth. Xander did the same.
Once he signed and paid, he led her out through the back entrance hoping to avoid any fan encounters. Without thinking, his hand came to rest on her lower back, and his palm came in contact with bare skin.
His entire being reacted to the feel of soft female flesh. Of Sasha’s flesh. Even his dick, which he’d kept under control during dinner, rose up and made an appearance.
Before he could deal with his body’s reaction, the flash of camera lights went off and people surrounded them, all trying to get a picture of Sasha and, Xander was sure, the man with her so they could make up lies about their relationship. So much for avoiding the fans.