Chapter 4

Kane

I knock on the door of the producer’s office, wondering why he called me in here. It’s been a decent day of shooting and I think we’ve about wrapped for the afternoon. Things went well, despite my distraction throughout the day, so I’m really not sure how this will go. You never know with Ryan. It could be good or bad. I thought I had my lack of focus under control for the most part, but the man is like a hawk at times. Nothing is off his radar.

When he calls out a cheerful “Come in,” I let my shoulders relax. So it’s a good meeting. Not that I have anything to worry about. I’m being paranoid. How the fuck would Ryan know that I haven’t been able to get that girl who auditioned yesterday—Sasha—out of my head? He’d be appalled to know that I even jerked off to thoughts of that sexy scene we performed together. I’m almost shocked myself. Except I’m not, because she was that fucking hot. I almost forgot it was just a scene.

“Kane,” Ryan says, standing from his desk and walking around to meet me with his hand extended.

I shake his hand and nod in greeting. “How’s it going?”

“Great.” Ryan is all smiles. “We decided to hire Sasha—you remember, the girl you auditioned with yesterday?”

Like I could fucking forget.

“Yeah,” I say casually—at least I think it’s casual. Who knows, because right now a rush of adrenaline is coursing through my veins. “I remember. I think she’ll be a good fit.” Good? It’s fucking great. And I can’t help but wonder just what a nice fit we’d be together. Perhaps with my dick inside of her. Yeah, I bet that would fit fucking perfectly.

Ryan narrows his eyes and holds up his hands, palms facing out toward me. “Not so fast, man.”

Shit.

“I saw the sparks between you two. That’s part of the reason we gave her the role. You had some amazing chemistry that will translate well onscreen. But you know the rules. No sex on set. Absolutely, positively under no—”

“Under no circumstances,” I say. “Yeah, yeah. I know. I’ve heard this before.”

Ryan grits his teeth, and I regret my flippant response almost immediately.

Giving him my most winning smile, I add, “Of course not, Ry. You know you can trust me to be a professional.”

He’s not buying it.

“Kane, don’t think for a second that I don’t know about you and that extra,” he says with a searing look. “You’re already on thin ice.”

Fuck. I figured he probably knew. It’s not like I was trying to hide it. In fact, I haven’t tried to hide any of my hookups on set lately. I figured Ryan was over his “no sex on set” phase, but apparently not. Here’s the thing. Ryan put this strict policy in place last year when his girlfriend at the time—who happened to star in Manhattan Reign—cheated on him with her leading man. It was a perfect storm of complications. Not only did it end his relationship, but she left the show because of the fallout. She was unable to work for Ryan anymore after the very public and very painful breakup. And that, of course, led to a huge drop in ratings. The show tanked for a whole season, and only just managed to get up to the number one rated show again this season—in no small part thanks to me. Not being cocky, just telling it like it is.

Anyway, if there’s one thing Ryan loves more than he loved her, it’s good ratings. Hence the strict no sex on set rule. He isn’t willing to let anything derail Manhattan Reign again. Especially since we’re now on top.

I nod at Ryan, trying to give him my most sincere look. “I understand, Ryan. No sex on set.”

Either I’m not as good an actor as I think, or Ryan knows me too well—I’m going with the latter—because he then says, “You might be the star, Kane, but you can still be replaced. Anyone can be replaced.”

He even points a finger in my face, something that annoys the shit out of me.

“I’ve got it, man.” This time I don’t bother with the act. “You don’t have to beat a dead horse.”

But apparently he does.

“I just want you to think with your brain this time, not your dick. This girl Sasha has a lot of talent. If it came out that a hot new actress like her was sleeping with her co-star, it could end her career before it ever got off the ground. Think about that.”

I raise my palms this time, trying to placate him. Ryan is taking this extra seriously. I guess he’s really happy to have snagged talent like Sasha. I can’t say I blame him. I’m stoked to find out I’ll be working with her, and not just because she’s fucking hot and we’ll get plenty of steamy scenes together. She really is talented.

“Relax, Ryan,” I say. “I know how serious you take this. Off screen I’ll be strictly hands off with Sasha.”

He finally seems to take me at my word and nods. “Thank you.”

I leave his office, ready to call it a day, but as I leave the studio and stroll down the busy New York streets with my hands in my pockets, I can’t help thinking about what Ryan said. The fact that her career could be so easily ruined really bothers me. She seems like a sweet girl and I hate the thought of something like that happening to her.

I’ll just have to keep things professional, like I said. There are plenty of women in this city, and I can take my pick.

Like that one, or that one, or that one, I think as I glance around the crowd.

Yeah, there are tons of women ready and waiting. So why am I still thinking about the only one I can’t have?