Page 25 of Unscripted with Mila

At least, for now.

I knocked on the door, waiting anxiously until I heard her soft footfalls approaching. The door opened, Mila already shaking her head in vexation. “I told you I’m fine, Andi. Why…” She trailed off in shock at seeing me standing there.

“Not Andi, I’m afraid,” I replied, studying her. She was still pale but looked okay, although the word weary came to my mind.

She gripped the edge of the door. “Nicholas. What are you doing here?”

“I came to check on you.” I indicated the room. “Are you going to invite me in?”

She leaned her cheek on the hand resting on the door, the worry in her expression doing something to me. The urge to cup her face was strong. So strong, I had to physically stop myself from reaching out to her. The sensation made me tense, and my voice was sharp when I spoke again.

“I really don’t want to have this conversation in the hallway. But we’re having one, regardless. Where it takes place is up to you.”

She nodded. “Come in.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

MILA

To say I was shocked to see Nicholas at my door was an understatement. I could feel his emotions, tightly contained, as he strode past me. It was in the set of his shoulders, the way his hands were fisted at his sides. He was still furious.

I shut the door, taking in a deep breath. I followed him, sitting on the sofa as he looked around. “Nice place,” he muttered.

I nodded, unsure what to say.

“I just have a regular room. But then again, I’m not the real star here, am I, Mila? Or do you prefer Ms. Archer? Or Shortcake?”

I sighed, accepting his anger.

“Mila is fine. That is my name. Shortstack is what my brother calls me. You changed it to Shortcake, Nicholas.”

“And the Archer?”

“For my privacy. For my family’s privacy.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Are you married?”

“No!” I frowned. “I let you kiss me the other night. Do you think I’d do that if I were married? Or even involved with someone?”

“I have no idea,” he replied coolly.

“Well, I wouldn’t.”

“Why the subterfuge?”

I rubbed a hand over my eyes. “Can you at least sit down? I’m getting a crick in my neck looking up at you.”

He sat across from me, still glowering.

“You’re the one who mistook me for a gofer.”

“You could have corrected my mistake.”

“I know. But you were funny with the whole coffee thing. I should have said something. I’m sorry.”

“And the pool?”

I had to look away from his gaze. “You were larger-than-life. The last person I expected to see. The man I had fought to have cast as Duncan. Right there.” I looked at my feet. “I’m a little shy. I didn’t know how to tell you who I was, and I thought I wouldn’t see you again outside the studio, and you wouldn’t recognize me when we met.”