“I did.”
That piece of shit had gotten a part in a hit show after he’d screwed over Aria? She didn’t tell me that. “Do me a favor and send the Portaloo off a fucking cliff.”
“You know this guy?”
“I can’t go into details, but he hurt someone I care about.”
“Interesting, considering I found out he used to date Aria Howard,” Theo mused. “He likes to tell anyone who will listen that she fucked up his chances of working with Wesley.”
That scummy bucket of rancid turds. “Make sure that Portaloo is stuffed to the gills with sheep shite before you stuff him in it.”
Theo snorted. “Oh, you have it bad, old boy, don’t you?”
“It’s not about me.”
He considered this. “I only have to tolerate one more week of directing this thing. I’ll come up with something fun to express my appreciation for Lucas’s abhorrent behavior.”
I smirked at the thought. Theo was devious when he wanted to be. “Keep me posted on that.”
“So, what are you up to, my friend? Other than defending a lady’s honor.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m hanging tight on the request of my agent. There might be some movement on the Forster movie.”
“That’s good. You’re at the castle?”
Glancing around the beach house, I lied, “Aye. Still here.”
“Well, I might see you soon, then. Once I’m done here, I’m flying back to Ardnoch to work on that damn script.”
“Still giving you problems?”
“Being here has shaken some ideas loose, but I like the peace up north. Besides, before I left, I made the acquaintance of this young widow from Thurso. An ex-gymnast, if you can believe. Wonderful girl. Very flexible. It’s a bit of a trek to bed her, but she does this thing with—”
“I don’t need to know the details, you dirty bugger.”
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot you like your sex wrapped up in romance and commitment. Sometimes I don’t know why we’re friends.”
Chuckling, I reminded him, “You called me.”
“Yes, well, despite your appallingly saccharine need for monogamy, you are quite a bit less of a prick than most of my other acquaintances.”
“High praise indeed,” I snorted.
“Oh, fuck, they need me back on set. I haven’t even finished my sandwich. Don’t be surprised if the next time you see me I’ve wasted away because soul-sucking fiends known as actors have nourished themselves on my blood and bones.”
“Goodbye, you melodramatic bastard.”
“Yes, well, fuck you too.”
“Talk soon.”
“Tell Ms. Howard I was asking for her,” he snuck in with laughter in his voice before he hung up.
“Bawbag,” I muttered.
I was just reaching for the television remote when the sound of the front door closing brought me to my feet. Anticipation filled me as I strode quickly through the house toward the entrance. As I entered the foyer, I drew to a halt. Aria stood at the door wringing rainwater from her ponytail. Water drops clung to her eyelashes and wet her plump lips. Her olive cheeks glistened with rain, and her soaked shirt clung to her tight nipples. My skin heated and all my blood traveled south.
This woman was a craving I’d never experienced before.
