Page 58 of Love On and Off Set

Slowly, he nodded. “You’ve had a rough month.”

I forced out a laugh. “The master of understatement. Jeremy, it’s been a shitshow—and you know it. I’ve been unceremoniously outed by my ex-boyfriend. The one who’d sworn he’d left his wife. When I discovered he hadn’t, I dumped his ass—”

“And had a fight in that bar washroom.”

“Well, yeah. That.” I winced. Not one of my better moments. “Then he put those videos up of me…” Including the one with my wearing women’s underwear, trussed up, and handcuffed to a bed. Or the one with my entire ass on display. Yeah, again, not one of my better moments. “Look. Rearview mirror. You and Shayna said that. Norah’s waiting for me to be the best costar ever. It’s a tough movie, Jeremy, but nothing I can’t handle. I just don’t know if I’ll ever want to do this again. I’ll honor my commitment. I’ll give it a hundred percent. Hell, a hundred-and-ten. But then I’m out.” I held out my hand.

He pulled me into a hug.

Which was kind of cute since, at six-five, I sort of had him beat in the height department. Hell, I towered over Norah. A foot taller than her. I worried about how the camera would capture us, but our screen tests looked amazing. She with the long, flowing, flaming red hair and stunning emerald-green eyes. Me with the light-blue eyes, and dark-brown hair.

“I’ll handle things down here.” Jeremy pulled back and tapped my chest. “Just stay out of trouble, okay?”

I rolled my eyes. “I always stay out of trouble.”

He, in turn, rolled his eyes.

A lot of eye rolling this morning.

On that note, I hopped into my car, pointed it north, and prepared for the drive to Canada. I did worry about the border guards. But I had a legitimate work visa and could easily promise to leave Canada the day filming was over.

Feeling both optimistic and queasy, I drove away from one of my closest friends. Hell, one of my very few friends.

Little did I know how much chaos was to come.

Chapter Two

Freddie

“Can you repeat that?” My heart rate accelerated as I met Hallstein Bauer’s gaze. My boss was one of the best studio security chiefs in the business, and I’d been thrilled when he hired me last month. I just hadn’t expected my first assignment to be— “Right, you said Andreas Elliott?”

“Yes.” Hallstein examined me carefully. “Look, I know that whole debacle might make you uncomfortable. Those videos…” He winced. “Revenge porn is a horrible thing. Valentino is incredibly sympathetic to what Andreas has been through. He might’ve consented to the videos being taken—” Another wince. “Maybe not the brightest move. I mean, I love my boyfriend, but he’s not getting a camera within a hundred feet of me. Especially naked.”

Myles, Hallstein’s eccentric boyfriend, was the set decorator for the upcoming film.

The upcoming film starring Andreas and Norah.

“It’s not the porn…” How do I get the fuck out of this assignment without actually quitting this amazing job.

“Is it because he’s gay?” Hallstein cocked his head. “I didn’t peg you as a homophobe. If you are, you might want to find your way out. I can’t fire you, of course—”

“I’m not a homophobe. Not at all.” In fact, I’m gay. I just haven’t found the courage to tell you…despite the fact you’re gay as well.

“Is it Andreas who is the problem?”

“Uh…” I cleared my throat. “There’s no good way to answer that.”

He frowned. “I’m not understanding. Freddie, you just need to ensure he stays out of trouble. I doubt he’ll need your bodyguard services. I hired you as a security guard, but you’re so good with people that I want you to work directly with the actors instead of guarding a perimeter or a gate. Am I clear?”

Great. Those interpersonal skills I’ve worked so hard on means better jobs…and Andreas. “I’m really honored. I’ll always work a gate if you need me to, but yeah, I prefer working with people. I mean, personal trainer was okay, but I wanted something…more diverse.”

Hallstein chuckled. “I’m not certain sitting around all day on set is all that stimulating, but you’ll get some variety.” He tapped a few keys on his laptop. “Andreas finally cleared the border twenty minutes ago.”

“Finally?”

“It doesn’t normally take two hours in an interrogation room. I was checking with studio lawyers to see if we needed to send someone down. I was assured his work permit was in order. He said something about too many possessions in his car and that the guard thought he was trying to move to Canada.” Hallstein sight. “Actors can be…eccentric.” He straightened. “I’ve forwarded you the file I have. He’s staying in a hotel arranged by the studio. Your job is to pick him up each morning and deliver him back at the end of the day. He’s supposed to stick close to the hotel. If he wants to go out, he’s to ask you. We’re talking about twelve-to-fourteen hours-a-day assignment. You said you were available for that, right?”

“Yes.” Would make studying a challenge, but I’d manage. I always did.