We both collapse to the hard wooden floor.
Somehow, I’m lying on top of her, my hook is gently touching her cheek like I’m starting to caress her, or maybethreaten to pluck out her eye with it. I’m not sure which is more likely of the two scenarios.
My face is only inches from her face as well. As we both exhale our breaths become tangled in the air between us. I should have smashed my head into hers. I didn’t catch myself.
I twist my head to check on my other arm and see that it is thrust over both our heads. On top of Vera’s. She has her fingers wrapped around both my sword hilt and my own fingers.
“Wait a second…” I drawl out slowly. “How did that work physically?”
We landed perfectly. Even, dare I say it… provocatively?
It’s the type of pose that would wind up on a poster. Her with her hair splayed across the wooden floorboards as her pale eyes stare at me defiantly. Me with my coat fanning around us and the reddest blush on my cheeks. Our legs tangled against each other.
It’s ridiculous. People don’t land like this in real life. I should be bleeding from my hook and maybe from hitting my nose against her forehead.
Vera’s eyes widen as she seems to process our situation. I’m so close that I can see her pupils dilate.
Too late I realize that I’m holding this pose longer than necessary. “Yikes!” I gasp as I leap up. I put too much weight on her as I try to move off and I hear her grunt.
I scramble back just as I hear someone say, “What is going on here?”
I whirl to see a new man has entered the scene. A tall fellow with dark hair and swarthy skin. His eyes, however, are about as blue as blue can be. His rich brown hair cascades around his shoulders in a way that makes me wonder what conditioner he uses. Those waves are perfect.
I slap my forehead when I realize I just thought that about another man.
The shirt girl is clinging to his arm. Fortunately, she is now wearing a large coat on her shoulders that I realize must be from the man. She must have made a run for it while Vera and I were making that disgusting scene with our bodies.
I’m glad she did and got some help. This nightmare can end and I can go home. I’m booking a resort hotel after this. I deserve a facial or whatever it is non workaholics do to relax these days.
Wait… would they need to shave my beard for a facial?
I decide I’m getting ahead of myself as I smile at our extraordinarily handsome new savior. I bend over, holding my hand out to Vera, pausing when I realize I am offeringher my hook. I yank it away and hold out my other hand. “Thank goodness you are here,” I say as Vera accepts my hand and pulls herself to her feet.
I notice that she gives me a dirty look while she holds her side. I hope she doesn’t blame me. It isn’t as if I chose to land on her.
It was an uncomfortable experience for me too. Maybe not physically. But mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
I shudder as Vera shoves the sword into my hand. I realize I must have let go of it in my attempt to get off of her. I wonder why she is giving it back. Do I look like I want to be holding a sword right now?
“Unhand her, you pirate,” the handsome stranger says, holding up his own sword and pointing it. Straight at me.
“Pirate?” I choke out. “Oh, no, I’m just dressed like one, I—”
“It appears I arrived just in time to keep you from committing an unspeakable atrocity. These are crown-controlled shores, and I will not stand aside and allow you to have your way with these innocent women.”
“I’m a producer,” I gasp out. I turn to Vera, trying to use my eyes to beg with her to explain it. We just fell. It isn’t my fault we fell in such a sexy position.
She is busy, burrowing her face in her hands, not offering me the slightest bit of aid. I realize a second laterI probably should have just spoken up and asked her to defend me.
I turn back to the man, holding my hands up. “It wasn’t like that at all. I’m—she—Vera… We’re just coworkers.”
He frowns, his perfectly trimmed brows furrowing. “Coworkers?”
“Vera,” I hiss out of the corner of my mouth. “Help me out.”
“It wasn’t like that at all,” Vera squeaks. “James isn’t like… he would never. You see, well, he’s a bit like a robot. He doesn’t see women that way. He is completely incapable of experiencing romantic feelings.”
I whip my head to her. “What?”
