Page 60 of Love On and Off Set

“Yeah. I trust you.”

I departed mere moments later, chased all the way to the security office by my boss’s words. I could’ve interpreted them as flippant—or merely stating a fact. They weren’t, though. As I flipped through the folder, I tried to tell myself I had my shit together. It’s been seven years. He’s not even going to recognize you. He’s a different person. I’m a different person. We’re different…

Telling myself I’d be cool and actually maintaining my composure when we finally met proved to be two entirely different things.

Chapter Three

Andreas

The first time Freddie Wentworth stepped back into my life, I was completely unprepared and I nearly lost my shit.

Like right on the spot.

In front of a room full of strangers.

Well, I knew Valentino and Norah.

The latter who grasped my arm. “Are you okay?” She whispered the question fiercely. “You look pale.”

I was normally pale, so for her to notice was something to stick a pin in. I drew in a deep breath. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

“Driving up from LA was a little crazy, you know. And then getting held up at the border? That would’ve terrified me.”

“I can understand that.” Hell, it probably should’ve terrified me, but I’d been so tired I hadn’t really cared. The hotel in Seattle had been way too noisy. Some year-end party or something. Which was super weird since we were in the last week of July. Nary a holiday in sight. “I’m okay, Norah, truly.”

Just gazing at the man I’d once thought my future and trying not to lose my ever-loving shit.

Suddenly he was moving my way along with the studio security-chief dude. Holstein? No, not a cow name. Hallsy? No, Hallstein. “Mr. Hallstein.”

“Just Hallstein. Mr. Bauer was my dad.”

Shit. Well, at least I didn’t call him by the cattle name. As a Nebraska farm boy, I damn well knew better. I plastered on a smile while specifically not looking at Freddie. Right, like that’s not weird either.

Before I could say anything, Norah extended her hand. “You must be Frederick. Andreas is so lucky to have someone so clearly competent.”

Freddie blinked. “Uh, it’s Freddie, ma’am.” He shot a glance at his boss.

Who merely shrugged.

Obviously Freddie didn’t know what high regard his boss held him in. Or hadn’t been aware that trust would be conveyed so forcefully in the meeting. Implied in all that was the Andreas, just don’t fuck this up.

As well, Norah’s bodyguard, Colette, had been introduced. She appeared to be just as no-nonsense as Freddie was coming across.

Freddie? Here? A bodyguard?

My bodyguard.

Yikes.

Norah turned to me. “So, early to bed and early to rise?”

“Costume fitting and then the table read. Yes, looking forward to it.”

She tapped my nose. “No partying tonight.”

“Hey.” She should know me better. I wasn’t a party animal.

But I enjoyed going out for a drink or two, and that was definitely my intention after the insane trip I’d just undertaken. Three states in three days. Just thirteen hundred miles…but I somehow managed to hit rush-hour traffic in every major city up and down the Pacific coast, which had turned a drive that the GPS had promised would be a mere nineteen hours into a three-day odyssey since I’d needed to stop at night. I blinked. “No partying, Norah, I promise.” Finally, I cut a direct gaze Freddie’s way.