CHAPTER TWO
By the time the meeting was over, Paige’s empty stomach was complaining, and she was dying to get away from Gannon. A glance at her watch told her she had half an hour to find something to stuff in her face before she and Eddie hooked up with the location manager to get details on the first three shows.
She rose to pack up her laptop and papers, but Gannon remained seated at her elbow. She felt his eyes on her and tried to ignore it, but the searing heat finally broke her.
“Do you need something?” she asked primly.
His mouth quirked into a crooked grin. “I’ve never seen you in a skirt before. It’s…” His gaze skimmed her. “Nice.”
Gannon had seen her in everything but professional clothing. On the road, the crew uniform was jeans, t-shirts, and any layers that could be added or removed. When they were filming, Paige considered herself lucky if she found time to swipe a coat of mascara on her lashes before heading to the set in the pre-dawn hours. There were some benefits to being behind the camera.
The tingle on her skin told her that her legs would blush if they could under his scrutiny. She resisted the urge to tug her pencil skirt down. “So glad you approve,” she said coolly. “See you on location.”
She scurried out the door at a pace she hoped suggested busy but not fleeing for life even though she could feel his eyes boring into her with every step.
“Paige!” Cat caught her at the door. “Hey, wanna grab lunch?”
Paige peeked at her watch. “What can we consume in twenty-five minutes?”
Cat wrinkled her nose, and then her face lit up.
“Hot dog cart,” they said in unison.
Paige laughed. “What about your brother?” The conference room door was closing behind them but not before she caught Gannon’s voice rumbling over two words that gave her the chills. “Meeghan Traxx.”
“He’s got business to take care of,” Cat said with a wave of her hand. “Let’s go eat terrible things and catch up.”
Paige stashed her bag and papers in an empty cubicle, and they took the elevator down. They found a vendor around the corner and headed into the park, loaded hot dogs in hand. The early spring sunshine immediately lifted Paige’s spirits.
“Oh sweet Jesus, this is delicious,” Cat said rolling her eyes heavenward.
Paige muttered in agreement as she worked her way through a mouthful of sauerkraut. “I don’t know how you eat like that and look the way you do,” Paige grumbled. Cat had two inches on Paige’s five-foot-seven and was built like a damn ballerina.
“Please. Pot. Kettle.”
“Yeah, I’m going to spend an hour and a half in the gym tonight regretting this. You’re probably going to go home and eat six pounds of fettuccini.”
Cat patted her flat stomach. “Good genes and liposuction.”
“You’re such a liar,” Paige accused.
“I’ve been assured that it will catch up with me, and when it does, I’ll look like the adorable Italian meatball my nonni is.”
“As long as it evens out in the end,” Paige waxed philosophically.
Cat shot rapid-fire questions as they walked and ate. “So how was your break? Holidays good?”
“Yep. How about yours?”
“Crazy and hectic, but awesome. Are you seeing anyone yet?”
Paige rolled her eyes.
“I’ll take that as a big fat no.” Cat’s platinum ponytail swung rhythmically. In her skinny jeans, boots, and tunic sweater she looked like she had just strolled away from a photo shoot.
“You know what my schedule’s like. I’m too busy for men.” Paige crumpled her napkin and tossed it in a trashcan as they passed.
Cat shoved the last bite in her mouth. “Your priorities are out of whack.”
“I can’t understand you with all that meat in your mouth.” Paige teased.
“Oh!” Cat high-fived her. “Nicely done. Now, back to me pressuring you to date or at least get laid. You’re a beautiful, young woman, Paige. It’s a crime to keep all this—” she gestured at Paige’s chest, “buttoned up.”
“You’re ridiculous. Please tell me you’re not seeing anyone right now.” Cat had a history of falling head over heels for the occasional unworthy man who proceeded to break her heart or piss her off. The whole cycle usually lasted around three weeks, and when it happened during filming, havoc was wreaked.
“Nope. Mama’s going through a dry spell. Want to be lesbians?”
“Well, it would be more convenient on the road,” Paige mused. “Which side of the bed do you sleep on?”
“The middle.”
“Nope. It would never work. I can’t be crowded under the covers.”
Cat sighed. “Fine. I’ll go back to men. Distrustful and confusing though they may be.”
“Speaking of confusing, what’s with you and Gannon crashing the production meeting?”
“We’re strong-arming for a raise for the production crew and our guys.”
“My dwindling bank account thanks you,” Paige said. Gannon and Cat had very strong principles about spreading the wealth. The production company had offered them both astronomical raises for the second season, and Paige wasn’t surprised that they wanted to make sure everyone else was taken care of too.
“I heard Gannon mention Meeghan on our way out.”
Cat mimed vomiting. “Gross, let’s not talk about that over-inflated, poor excuse for a human being.”
Meeghan Traxx was the network’s biggest star. She had the blondest hair, the biggest breasts, and an infamously super-sized ego. A designer with two of her own shows, she was also Gannon King’s girlfriend.
Crews talk. And Paige had heard enough to know that Meeghan was considered a monster on and off set. As obnoxious as Gannon could be, even he didn’t deserve Meeghan.
“Does she show up at your family functions? Like, did she bring some gold-plated designer sweet potato side dish to the King Thanksgiving?” Paige pressed.
Cat snorted. “God, no! We’ve never met her. Gannon’s never even talked about her. Which is a good thing because if he were all, ‘Meeghan is so amazing,’ I’d be all, ‘I’m taking you to the ER to get a head scan because you obviously have a head injury.’”
Paige laughed. “I’m just now realizing how much I missed you.”
Cat wrapped her in a one-armed hug. “Mutual, babe.”
“Oh my gosh! It’s really you!” A woman in a pink jogging suit squealed at Cat, hands fluttering. “My husband is not going to believe this! Cat King just walking around the park like a regular person.” She started digging through her giant purse.
Cat winked at Paige. “It’s always nice to meet a fan of the show. Would you like a picture?”
The woman triumphantly rescued her phone from the depths of her bag. “I would love one!” She shoved the phone at Paige. “Is your brother here?” The woman’s head swiveled from side to side fast enough for a low-grade whiplash.
“Just me today.”
The woman sighed. “It’s probably a good thing. I’d faint if I met him.”
Paige grinned as Cat good-naturedly accepted the bear hug turned headlock. She took a couple shots making sure she captured the excitement and Cat’s best side.
The woman unhanded Cat and immediately flipped through the pictures. “This is so exciting!” She hurried off without a backward glance.
Cat grinned. “How long before she realizes she didn’t say good-bye?”
“Two blocks,” Paige predicted. The star factor hadn’t hit until halfway through the show’s first season, making stardom still new to the Kings.
“Is being recognized still fun?” Paige asked.
Cat rolled her shoulders. “I signed up for it. Might as well embrace it.”
“Better than your brother has.” Gannon had an offseason run-in with an aggressive photographer who wouldn’t leave Cat alone at an awards show. The incident had been captured on tape, and though he was mostly heralded for acting as the protective big brother, the incident left a slight smudge that the network was eager to erase.
“Gannon just has a little trouble overcoming his protective instincts,” Cat said. “He always has.” She glanced at the gigantic watch on her slim wrist. “I guess it’s time we get you back for the rest of your thrilling meetings.”
Paige sighed. “It’s going to be a good season.”
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Hours later, after three more meetings and a conference call, an exhausted Paige let herself into her apartment. She peeled off her heels and tossed them in the direction of the couch. With her roommate, Becca, out of town on a shoot, she didn’t stop there. The skirt and blouse came next as she padded back the shabby hallway to her bedroom. Big enough for only a full-sized bed and a dresser, it was still home.
Paige dropped facedown onto the bed and stretched out.
Shooting started next week. They would fly into Columbia, South Carolina, and spend a day laying the groundwork, verifying permits to begin shooting, and then the chaos would begin.
It was hard work with long days. But the experience was invaluable, and she’d be a damned liar if she didn’t admit to getting a little teary-eyed when shooting wrapped and they turned the keys over to the family. As greedy as the production side of things felt, they were still giving a deserving family a home they could be proud of.
Of course, she made sure no one ever saw the tearful side of her. She was on set to do a job and do it well. Eddie depended on her to keep things under control and on budget. And Gannon King challenged her at every turn.
She sighed into her pillow. Soon she would be able to take that experience and apply it to something more important, more personal. And far, far away from Gannon.