“And… Action!”
Consecrate.
“Damon, we have two minutes and forty-nine second before the alarm goes off.” She glanced around the corner and then back at her watch.
“More than enough time,” I said, slowly turning the lock.
“That’s what you said last time.”
“Hey! We made it out, didn’t we?”
“Whatever you say.”
When I made a face at her when she turned her back, I saw the director smile.
Beep.
“Damon…”
“Shh...”
“Shush me again.”
Standing up, I got in her face. “I swear to God, Blair.”
She didn’t back down. “Two minutes twenty-seven seconds. Should I get it, sweetheart?”
Lifting my hands to her face, I clenched my fist as if I wanted to choke her and then turned back to the task at hand.
“Thought so,” she said, even though it wasn’t in the script.
Oh, we’re improvising now?
“Keep mouthing off, babe. I’ll remember that when you’re on all fours begging me to fuck you harder.”
Her mouth dropped open. Smirking, I winked at her.
“Two minutes—” she said.
Click.
“Told you, more than enough time.” I pushed open the vault. “Now, can you do your job in time?”
Stepping out of her heels, she dropped a good six inches. After taking her gloves out of her purse, she handed me her bag.
“Don’t stare at my ass.”
“When you say ‘don’t’ you really mean I should, correct?” I asked, handing her the fake rolled-up painting.
Grinning, she took the painting from me before bending slowly.
“As much as I enjoy the view, Blair—”
“Shh…It’s part of my process.”
I glanced at her ass again and then back at the camera, winking.
“Shit!” she said.
“What?”
“Each title has a different pressure sensor,” she replied. She crouched down, glancing at the doors of the vault.
“Blair, we only get one chance at this.”
“I know. I just need to think—” Grabbing her arm, I pulled her to her feet, forcing her to look me in the eyes. My lips crashed down on hers, grabbing a handful of her ass and pressing her into me, our tongues circling one another.
“Figure it out. We have just over a minute,” I said.
“You know when you kiss me like that I can do anything…” her thumb grazed over my lips.
“Good. Now get a move on.”
“And cut! Beautiful!” The director clapped, and so did a few others. However, even I noticed the looks Amelia was getting.
Some were confused. Others impressed. However, it was the looks of lust that bothered me the most, and I had no right to be bothered.
“That’s a wrap, everyone. Call time is tomorrow at six am!”
She didn’t spare me a glance as she casually walked to Ollie, smiling cheerfully, like it was such a big deal to do well on a few scenes.
“What do you want to eat?” Austin questioned while texting.
“Ms. London?” The sound guy awkwardly called to her. “Do you mind if I get an autograph? I’m a fan.”
“He’s completely unprofessional,” I complained as she laughed, signing his shirt.
“What’s wrong with you? You’ve been annoyed since you both came back. Did something happen?”
“No. Going for a smoke,” I said, reaching into my pocket.
What was wrong with me? I was annoyed, and horny from kissing her, and on top of it all, I had a headache bigger than Texas.
The cool air helped when I walked out on the steps in front of the museum, but only for a moment when I saw him—the guy with the ponytail and ripped jeans. He was speaking to some older man at the bottom of the steps.
“Noah, we’re all set.” Austin stepped up right beside me, following my gaze. “You know Léo Lémieux?”
“Who?”
“The artist you’re glaring at, Léo Lémieux. He recently came down from Montreal. I’ve seen his work. They call him the modern master of the female nude.”
“Oh God, my feet hurt,” a voice said.
I didn’t need to look back to know it was Amelia.
It was like everything in that one moment slowed down, and I could clearly see what would happen if I stood out of her way. She’d see him, and he’d see her, and—
“Hey, I know him.” She paused right beside me, raising her hand as she called out to him. “Léo?”
He glanced around, confused.
“Léo!” She waved, leaving all of us—Ollie, Austin, myself—to run toward a guy she’d never met before.
This was one of the side effects of being a child star. We all lacked the ability to reason and act like normal adults sometimes. We weren’t around many kids our age unless we were working, and everyone was always nice to us because we were celebrities. We could do whatever the hell we wanted and speak to whomever we wanted like we’d known them our whole lives. But worst of all, most of us were eager to meet new people—Amelia especially.
“Hey, finished creeping around the museum?” he asked, waving goodbye to the older man he was with.
“’Creeping’ is a harsh word, don’t you think?” she asked.
He shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets. “I call them as I see them. So you are an actress?”
“How did you find out?”
He most likely already knew, like I fucking said. Come on, Amelia.
“Because three people came in after you left and asked how I knew Amelia London?” he replied.
“You aren’t going to stop this?” I asked. Oliver smirked.
“As long as he’s not you, I’m fine,” Oliver replied.
Fine. Whatever.
“I was just about to get dinner—”
Walking down the stairs I stopped right before them, “Amelia, we’re going out to eat.”
“Here to steal her away again?”
“Let’s go.” I ignored him.
“I’m fine, Noah, thanks. We haven’t eaten a meal together in years. I’m not sure why we should start now,” Amelia said.
Clenching my jaw, my gaze shifted to him. “Sorry, we have an early call time in the morning. She’ll take a rain check.”
“Is that so?”
“No. I mean yes. But it’s not a big deal. I’m used to it,” Amelia explained.
“Really? Because you looked like hell when you crawled out of my bed this morning,” I said, pulling out my phone as Austin texted me not once, not twice, but several times to figure what the hell I was doing. It was a good question.
“It’s not—” Amelia began.
“No need to explain. When your guard dog isn’t around, call me. I’d love to talk some more with you,” the man said, handing Amelia his card and waving before marching up the stairs. It was only when he was gone did she smack my arm as hard as she could.
“What is wrong with you? You can sleep with all the women you want, but I try and talk to one guy and you become a douchebag?”
“Oh…you wanted to sleep with him?” I cringed. “I thought you wanted to become one of his nude models.”
“Why? Because it’s so impossible for anyone else to want me, too?”
“Sorry. Next time I’ll butt out of it,” I said lifting my hands in mock defense.
“Ugh. You’re such a son of a bitch!” She was so angry that she looked like she wanted to hit me again, but instead she stomped over to Oliver, who was waiting next to her car.
When Austin stepped up next to me, I could feel the lecture coming.
“I know what you’re thinking. Don’t say word.”
Amelia
Closing the doors behind me, I tiptoed toward the balcony since Ollie was asleep on my couch. I took the card out of my back pocket, trying to decide whether or not to call him.