I KNOW WHAT HE’S DOING. He’s trying the sweet approach. Demanding me to go to dinner isn’t working, so he’s switching on the charm. I rub my forehead. I wish that it wasn’t working either.
I sit at my desk, grinning as I sip my coffee. I like being around him. I can’t deny it. Sammy pops in the room, startling me.
“Morning, boss.”
“Hey, Sammy. What’s up?”
“I’m going to be in the movie today.”
“Yeah? Doing what?”
“Antonio’s character bumps into me as he’s rushing to get Susie’s attention. I get to say ‘watch it’.” He laughs. “I’m going to use my straight voice,” he says, lowering his voice several octaves.
I just laugh. “That’s great. I’m happy for you.”
“Are you gonna come watch me? It’s in like thirty minutes.”
“Sure, I’ll watch.” He’ll never let me live it down if I don’t.
“Cool. Melissa’s in it, too.”
“Hey,” she says, coming around the corner. “Who’s talking about me?”
“I am,” Sammy says. “I told Gio you’re in the movie too.”
“Oh, yeah, I get knocked down with a vase of flowers in my hand.”
“So exciting,” I say, laughing.
“I’m sure we could get you in there, too,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows.
“I’m good. I’m happy to watch.”
“I have to pee,” Sammy announces. “I’ll see you gals up front.”
Melissa turns to me. “So? Any updates on the movie star’s offer?”
“I’ve declined so far.”
“The force is strong in you, girl. I would’ve pulled my panties off and handed them to him by now.”
I burst out laughing. “Mel!”
“Tis true. That man is…whew!” She fans herself. “If he even looked at me the way he looks at you, I would fall over.”
“I’m probably slightly insane saying no to him.”
“Not slightly. You are certifiable.”
“I’m warming up to the idea.”
“Okay. I’ll hold off on having you committed then.”
“I appreciate that.”
We get to the front and Antonio looks up from his script. My stomach flutters at the sight of him. I’m fucking doomed.
I walk to the snack table and check the coffee. I’m wiping up some spilled sugar when he appears by my side. I look around for Yasmin, but she’s nowhere to be seen.
“Have dinner with me?”
“Not tonight.”
He grins. “When?”
I shrug. “Hard to say.”
“I’ll just keep asking, you know.”
“I do know.”
“If you don’t go out with me, what are you going to do?”
“Tonight, I plan to read a couple of chapters of my book and then take a nice long steamy hot bath.”
“Yeah?” His eyes light up, and I decide to flirt back, just a little.
“Yeah and while I’m at it, maybe I’ll just slide my hands between my legs and get rid of all this excess tension I’ve been carrying around.”
He grins. “I could do that for you.”
I tilt my head, smiling. “But you’re the cause.”
Antonio swallows hard and smirks. “Ah, so you admit I’m having an effect on you.”
“I think we’ve established the answer to that already,” I say, repeating his words from this morning.
“Sweet, Giovanna, you don’t have to masturbate alone. I’d be more than happy to assist. In fact, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than sit at your feet and watch you get yourself off.”
“Well, tonight, I guess you’ll just have to imagine what that’s like.”
“Oh, I will. You can bet that’s exactly what I’ll be doing.”
I pat his chest, momentarily distracted by the muscles under my touch. “I’ve got work to do.”
“You’re just avoiding me.”
I smile. “You got me.”
“Not yet, but I’m going to.”
“We’ll see about that.” I grin. “See you later, Movie star.”
Antonio grins, crossing his arms. “See you, Beautiful.”
I walk away with a little bounce in my step. I want him, no doubt, but it can’t be that easy for him. He’s going to have to work for it, earn it. I already know I’m doomed. I’ll end up in his bed, but at least I’ll know I wasn’t easy. If I could just hold him off until the movie is almost over, then I won’t have to see him every day after he’s done with me. At this point, that’s the best option I can think of.
WALKING DOWN THE STREET to my store the next morning, I’m confused by the crowd of people standing in front of the door. They definitely aren’t from the movie. As I approach, I address the crowd.
“Can I help you?”
They all turn and look at me, then a woman steps forward. “Do you know when the store will be open?”
“Uh, well, the store’s hours are a little off right now. It’s being used primarily for filming. Is there something you need?”
“We came from New Hampshire and wanted to buy something from here as a keepsake for the movie.”
“Oh.” That’s odd. “There isn’t anything in there movie related for sale.”
“We just want a receipt or a bag or something with the store’s name on it. Do you know if we can go in?”
“I’ll see. Wait here.” I walk across the street near the trailers looking for Dan. I ask several people, but they haven’t seen him. I have no idea if it’s okay to let people inside. I see Antonio walking down the sidewalk from the hotel and walk to meet him.
“Morning, Beautiful.”
“Do you know where Dan is? I have a question.”
“He should be out in a few. We were just chatting in the lobby. Is something wrong?”
“No, but,” I point across the street to my store, “those people want to go in the store and shop, and I don’t know if that’s okay or not.”
“Oh, gotcha. I’ll call him. One sec.” Antonio pulls out his phone and dials Dan. I listen as he explains the situation, nodding periodically. “I’ll let her know. Thanks, man.” He hangs up. “He said they could come in if they can be out in one hour.”
“Okay, that works.” I start to walk away, but Antonio pulls my arm until I’m close to him. “How was your bath?”
“It was excellent.”
“Did you touch yourself?”
I raise a single eyebrow. “Of course.”
He grins. “Did you have an orgasm?”
“You betcha.”
“Did you scream my name when you did?”
“Nope.”
“Good. You can save it for when I’m buried deep inside of you.”
I shake my head. “Did you?”
“I did.” He steps closer. “I whispered your name.”
“Hmm, well if you were buried inside of me, you wouldn’t be whispering.”
He smiles. “Prove it.”
I pull my arm away. “You should go hide out in your trailer until they leave, or they’ll mob you.”
“Good call.” He takes my hand and slides it under his coat, pressing it against the hardness between his legs. I should pull away, but I don’t want to. “That’s what you do to me, Giovanna. Just imagining what you feel like is enough.”
Smiling, I give it a slight squeeze. “Save it for me. You never know when I’ll say yes.” I pull my hand away and pat his chest. “You should go to your trailer now.”
“I will. See you later.”
“Bye.”
I wait for him to slip inside his trailer, fortunately hidden behind another larger equipment trailer, then walk back across the street, smiling when the crowd sees me.
“I can let you inside for an hour only. Then you’ll have to go.”
“No problem,” the woman I spoke to earlier says.
I unlock the door and stand back as they all file in, perusing the store. Melissa and Sammy come in a few minutes later, and I’m so glad to see them.
“What’s going on?” Melissa asks.
“They came from New Hampshire and want to shop here. I guess they heard the movie is filming here and they want a keepsake with the store’s name on it. Weird, right?”
Melissa shrugs. “Yeah, kind of.”
“Anyway, I’m happy you guys are here. Dan gave them an hour to shop, and I’ll need help getting everyone rung up.”
“I’ll run behind the register,” Melissa offers.
“I’ll walk around and answer questions,” Sammy says.
“Thanks. I’ll open the second register, so we can ring people out faster.”
Walking to the back, I open the safe and grab the second cash till. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to use this when it wasn’t a holiday. I go back up front and set up the second register. Melissa already has a line, so I start calling people over to me.
Forty minutes go by and finally they’re all gone, having decided to go down the street to the bakery. I lean against the counter and take a deep breath.
“That was crazy,” I say.
“We haven’t been that busy in a long time,” Sammy says.
“No,” Melissa agrees. “I hope it continues once the movie is over.”
“Yeah, it would be nice,” I say, peeking at receipts. “We sold in an hour what we usually sell in a week.”
“That’s wild,” Sammy says. “Just so they could get a receipt and a bag.”
“We should do some kind of promotion once the movie crew is gone,” Melissa suggests.
“We’d need permission,” I say.
“Bet you could get it,” Melissa says, winking at me.
“Anyway,” I say, changing the subject. “Let’s clean up. The movie crew will be here soon.”
I take the two cash tills to the back, while Melissa and Sammy straighten things up. A few minutes later, I hear the jingle on the door and get ready to see him again. I grin, remembering what it felt like to have his cock in my hand. He is such a bad boy, but so sexy. How could any woman, even me, resist?
Still, I plan to keep a low profile today. The less time I’m around him, the easier it will be to say no. At least for a little while longer.