Chapter 10
Emily had been helping Eli with the front yard landscaping all day Monday while Michael worked on the kitchen. After an amazing weekend together, he could have sworn it had been years since he’d been able to hold her, when he knew it was mere hours. Despite his intention to make significant headway in the kitchen, he’d kept finding excuses to poke his head into the yard, just to look at her. He felt like a smitten teenage girl.
Before heading back to the house, Emily had asked him to keep quiet about their relationship. It was too new. No one needed to know. He’d promised her he wouldn’t reveal anything about their new relationship on set. He could understand why and didn’t want to put her on the spot. It didn’t prevent him from wanting to pull her into his arms and kiss her silly.
Toward the end of the day, his hands itched from not being able to touch her. The camera crew was already wrapping up and were headed out the door. Michael almost made a run for it himself, eager to whisk Emily away somewhere private. He decided to put some of his tools away before meeting her out back.
Standing between the equipment trailer and his truck, he loaded up the back of his pickup and grinned as he imagined walking up behind her and planting his hands on her hips. He couldn’t stop thinking about how good those soft curves felt as they yielded to his touch.
“Jacob, stop pawing me.”
Lacey’s voice sounded from the other side of the trailer.
“Come on, Lacey.” Jacob must have tried something because Michael heard a bit of shuffling. “Don’t push me away.”
“I’m not in the mood right now, hun.”
“Seems to me the only time you’re in the mood is when Michael’s watching.”
Whoa. So the kid wasn’t as naïve as he thought.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m not an idiot. I know you’ve been using me to put on a show for Michael because you still have the hots for him.”
“Michael and I are through.”
“And yet you can’t stop staring at him and talking about him.”
“He’s my colleague. We have a professional relationship. I need to talk to him.”
“But you wish you could do more.”
“You know what, Jacob? This isn’t working for me.”
“But…”
“When we hooked up, we agreed it was a bit of fun. A fling. I really thought you were mature enough to handle it but I guess I was wrong.”
“I care about you. I want to take things to the next level.”
“Next level? Don’t you get it? There is no next level.”
“Lacey, please. Don’t walk away.”
“Look, if I thought you could give me the space I need, I’d hang in there but…”
“But you still love him.” When Jacob’s voice broke, Michael felt for the kid. He’d only been her pawn and the game had ended for her. The cat had grown bored with its mauled mouse and wanted juicier prey now.
“I’m sorry. I want a man in my life, not a boy.”
“I’m not a boy.” Jacob cursed and stormed off, his heavy footfall sounding on the pavement. Michael saw him as he marched down the road toward his car, shoulder hunched, hands shoved in his jeans pockets.
For a split second, he was tempted to check on Lacey, to see if she was okay. However, from his spot behind the trailer, he heard her tittering at one of the makeup ladies as she passed.
“Oh my God, Rochelle, that kid was so clingy. I mean, he was great in bed. The young ones never get tired, but he wouldn’t leave me alone. ‘Lacey, you’re so hot. Lacey, I love you so much.’ Blah, blah, blah.”
She seemed to have recovered just fine from her breakup with the intern. Meanwhile, poor Jacob thought he was in love with her. He still had a lot to learn.
