MAX

Lying on her bed she says, “That feels good, Max,” as I caress the lines on Natalie’s relaxed palm.

“I like your hands. Soft, but strong.” My eyes slide up to her soft lips, and linger there. “You ready to get to business?”

Her light brown eyes shimmer on a subtle, “Okay, fine. Let’s work.”

“Fine,” I chuckle and kiss her palm before gathering my abandoned clothing. She snaps her bra into place, eyes on me as she stifles a smile.

“You really hate that I have a male roommate.”

“Not bothered by it at all.”

“Bullshit,” she chuckles pulling on her sweater. “But I like how you worked out that jealousy.”

“Wasn’t jealous.”

Sliding her black jeans on she cocks her head, hair messy in the best way. “Remember how when we were interviewing all those actors and you told me about your sister Lexi, and how she lies?”

“Yeah.”

“Runs in the family.”

I chuckle and acquiesce, “Okay I might have been a little jealous.”

“Are you still?”

While I slide into my shoes I shrug my shirt into place and tell her, “Not right this second but when I leave you and go home, and night comes and he’s here and I’m not, then probably, since you’re making me be honest.”

Thinking about it, Natalie sits on her bed and tugs her fuzzy socks into place. “We said we wouldn’t get involved.”

“We did.”

Her eyes are a mess of emotions as she looks at me. “Are we sticking to that?”

Dragging a hand through my unruly hair I honestly say, “I don’t know what we’re doing, Natalie.”

Standing up and buttoning her jeans she sighs, “Can we be sure of one thing? Because I’m really trying to keep it together here.”

I step closer to her, unhappy with the worry in her eyes. “What do you need from me?”

“Let’s just make this film the best we can, okay? I need this to work. I need it to mean something.”

Gently lifting her chin with my forefinger I brush our lips together and murmur, “Deal. I want that, too. I also can’t keep my hands off you.”

She searches me and it occurs to me she’s about to shoot me down, or that wall is going to fly up.

My stomach tenses as I prepare myself.

“I’m having trouble not touching you, too.”

A smile spreads on my face. “Yeah? I’m not alone in this attraction?”

She rolls her eyes with a lopsided grin. “Were you alone in that hot sex just now?”

“Nope.”

Tilting her head for a kiss she echoes, “Nope.”

“He coming back soon?”

“No.”

“Damn.”

She makes a funny noise and heads for the door. “Let’s get some work done.”

Chewing my cheek I nod, walking past the photos in the hall and wondering if he took them. This sucks so bad. But there’s nothing I can do about it right now. Not sure how to handle my feelings. It’s a normal reaction to be jealous of another guy, but this was more than that.

Pointing to the couch I ask, “You want to sit on your throne over there or is this good?”

She stares at the chair. “It does look like a throne doesn’t it?”

“Purple, back almost reaches the ceiling. Pretty royal.”

“It was an impulse buy. I saw it on a website and my inner queen had to have it. But it’s not very comfortable. Let’s do the couch. This is better.” She sits cross-legged and reaches for her notepad. “I wrote down everything I thought related to what you’ll need. By hand. Retro, huh?”

“Okay. Lay it on me.”

Thumbing through pages of messy scrawl she explains, “Food trucks are cheaper than actual catering because you can schedule them to come to your location and they can serve other people in that neighborhood, too. Not just your crew and cast. So they’ll charge you less with the free advertising it’s giving them. Especially being connected to a film, no matter the budget. It just looks cool.”

“Smart,” I nod, gaze sliding up her sweater to the dyed tips of her shiny, bobbed hair.. “You have great style.”

“Focus, Max.”

“I’m listening.”

“I verified that your crew is fine not working union, and I got the contracts for the actors from SAG-AFTRA.” Glancing to where my fingers are absently caressing her thigh she struggles to stay focused, too. “I asked some friends about a location for Marnie’s apartment and I have two selections for you to choose from. Did you tell me why you went with the name Marnie?”

“The real girl’s name was Bernie. It’s close without being damning.” Taking the folder I check out the photos she printed and pasted onto the pages. “This the exterior for her place?”

“Yes, that apartment belongs to Mary. Close name, huh? But Mary has it together, believe me. I thought her place was a good fit because it’s very modern, stylish, something a model might own. But not as big as Eric’s. More of a one-person place, even though Mary is married now. Wow, that’s a tongue twister. Alan, her husband, moved in with her and ditched his place.”

I picture the camera angles I could shoot here. “Looks good. I like this a lot. Who’s Mary?”

“My closest friend.”

Her hand falls to rest on my leg as if that’s perfectly normal. My cock would argue that it’s extraordinary. Clearing my throat I ask, “Best friend?”

She frowns, “I guess so. I don’t get to see her much since she got engaged over a year ago, married last fall.”

“That’s a long time.”

“Mmhmm, but she’s still my closest friend. I think he took the best-friend slot for her.”

Covering Natalie’s warm hand with my own I set the notebook down. “Tell me more about your life.”

Her gaze drops to my lips. “What do you want to know?”

Oddly?

Everything.