Running usually relaxes me, but this run is anything but. My mind is racing with a thousand images flashing through my head.

I’ve only ever seen Kayla behind a desk, in the writer’s room, or at a table read, and she always has her head down, pecking away at her keyboard. Until now, I never looked at her closely, or thought about her as a woman.

Maybe she’s a decent person, who knows? It’s damn hard to trust anyone in Hollywood. This industry is callous, and she probably doesn’t give two shits about my character or my career. If she decides to kill me off…well…I don’t know what I’m going to do. My mortgage isn’t going to pay for itself. A multi-million-dollar mansion doesn’t come cheap after all.

If I didn’t need the money so badly, I would give them all the finger and go back to indie films. But let’s face it, there are major perks to being on a hit TV show, and The Kings is one bad-ass series. I gotta admit I like raking in the big bucks every week, and the star treatment, the separate trailer, the personal assistant, and all the swag.

If I’m being honest, low budget movies are ghetto in every way, and besides, the food fucking sucks.

I’m no prima donna, I just like the creature comforts I have right now. I think I've earned them, and everyone deserves a few pleasures in their life. Right?

There are some actors who think it’s annoying to be constantly hounded by groupies, the paparazzi, and anyone else looking to get into their personal lives.

But, fuck it. My mother always said, you gotta take the good with the bad. So, if the bad means going through gyrations with the public in order to enjoy some luxuries, then, I’m all in. Because continually looking for my next gig is not what I consider a good time.

So, this Kayla person needs to come through. Big time.

She wants to race me for the answers, fine. I’ll play along with her game. But it’s working my last nerve, because I’m forcing myself to be nice, and nice isn’t usually how I play.

I just want to know – Is my character dead? Or am I staying on the show?

I slow my pace so I can run next to her. I want her to know I’m pissed that I have to tackle this dumb-ass trail just to find out what she has in mind for me.

I turn to say something, but I hold myself back from releasing the shit storm inside of me. Not the reaction I expected from myself.

She gives me a sideways glance and suddenly I don’t feel angry.

Hmm…what am I feeling for this woman who has the power to delete me from the script with one keystroke?

Damn.

Seeing her here in the great outdoors with her cute little running shorts, and I do mean little, as in petite, as in barely there, makes me want to see more of her.

Scott, get fucking straight. You’re here for one reason only, to discover your fate.

I hate when I talk to myself. This woman is somehow getting to me. Not what I want to happen. Not at all. I’m a tough guy. Not a pussy.

“Tougher than you thought,” Kayla teases.

It takes me a minute to understand she's talking about the trail.

“Ha,” I force a laugh. “Ain’t nothin’ tough about it. Just enjoying the view.”

I’m running, but I’m not trying to beat her. I just let her set the pace and continue to take glances in her direction. Damn, she’s pulling me in.

Stealing glances at her face, I can see that without any make up, this woman’s skin looks awfully touchable. And her naturally pink lips are just begging to be kissed.

I know Kayla’s not gonna tell me what I want to know until we're done playing this little cat- and-mouse game. Okay, fine. As long as I have to play by her rules, who says I can’t have fun? Time to shift gears, let her get ahead of me. I might as well enjoy the view while I’m out here working up a sweat.

I slow it way down, and rub at my side. I make her think I’ve got a pain and let her pass me. What the fuck – I’ll pull out a sprint in the last eighth of a mile and get what I came for. In the meantime, I’m going to get a look at her from behind.

I admire beautiful women, and I’d have to be crazy not to see that Kayla is one piece of deliciousness wrapped up in a neat package. Her tight buns, long lean legs, and slim waistline are much better scenery than these rolling hills. So, yeah, it’s time for her to take the lead. I want to just watch for a bit.

“Better look out, you’re going to fall behind,” she says in a breathy voice as she passes.

“Yeah, that’s the plan,” I say under my breath.

I hold back and I smile, because I’m finally relaxing.

But Kayla keeps turning to see how far ahead she’s getting, and I’m careful to keep the distance just enough to look and her hips in motion, but not too much that I can’t take her in the end.

As we move along the trail, I know there’s no way to go any slower without her knowing I’m copping a look. I gotta make this look natural, so I bend down to re-tie my shoelaces.

“Hey, you okay?” Kayla asks, turning and jogging in place.

I keep tying, and look up. “Yeah, sure. Go ahead, I’ll catch up.”

Kayla doesn’t stop running in place. A slow smile spreads across her face and I’m captivated by that mouth of hers. Kissable. Supremely kissable.

“Like hell you will,” she says.

“Huh?” I seem to have missed a beat in the conversation. It’s those damn lips.

“Catch up with me,” she says laughing, and then takes off up the trail.

I get up and follow in hot (and I do mean hot) pursuit.

We're getting close to the finish line now and I want some answers, so I have to ignore that bulge pressing against my jock strap and put some steel in my stride.

After a few more seconds I pass her and give her a wide grin. As I round a bend in the trail, I can almost see the finish.

“I hope you’re ready to spill the beans,” I call over my shoulder.

“Ha! You’ve won nothing yet,” she yells back.

Then without realizing, I see Kayla pass me on the inside of the turn. I literally do a double take, because I didn’t think she had it in her. But clearly, she’s digging deep for that last kick.

As if running ahead of me isn’t enough, she turns completely around, taunting me.

“You got lead in your shoes, pretty boy.”

“Seriously, that's the best line you can come up with?” I’m panting a bit, but I keep smiling.

She’s running backwards and she keeps smiling.

“Come on, pretty boy, show me what you got,” she says in her best taunting voice.

I’m about ready to surprise the shit out of her, ‘cause I still have plenty of juice left, and I’m not about to save one ounce. I’m going to pass her so hard and so fast, she’s gonna scream.

“Oh, shit!” Kayla cries, flying backwards. I can see she's tripped on a tree root and she's now airborne.

She lands flat on her ass and the look on her face is one of total agony.