Page 38 of Unscripted with Mila

“I know.”

Our gazes held, and I slid my hand onto her leg, entwining our fingers briefly. I had found it torture being this close and not able to touch her. Walking in here, I wasn’t sure how she would react to me this morning after last night. She had been on my mind all night. The last thought in my head when I finally fell asleep, the first one when I woke up. It was her name I groaned low in my throat as I stroked myself in the shower.

I had heard the slight hitch in her voice when she greeted me. Saw the soft color on her cheeks, the welcome in her shy, sweet gaze. The urge to cup her face between my hands and kiss her full mouth was strong, but I’d managed to resist. I wanted to know if her blush warmed her skin. To trace the heat with my lips and discover how far down her neck the pink went. I settled for sitting close and inhaling her floral perfume, listening to her voice, losing myself in her world. She was magical as she talked about the characters and her vision. The shy woman melted away, and she became animated, her voice taking on a different tone. She used her hands to emphasize her points, was adamant in her beliefs, not offering an apology for her thoughts. I loved seeing this side of her. It was so different from the more timid version she usually showed.

“You can ask me,” she whispered, squeezing my hand and bringing me to the present again.

I smiled, glancing over to make sure Andi was still busy on the phone. I liked her. She seemed to be a straight shooter, and I had half listened to her when she was talking to someone. Always polite, but firm. She represented her artists well. MJ was abrupt, bordering on rude at times. She insisted she had to have balls to “play with the big boys,” but it seemed to me that Andi did the same thing without the attitude.

It gave me pause, wondering if perhaps it was time to look for new representation. I had always been loyal to MJ. She was there when no one else would look at me. We’d fought together. She’d stuck with me through some rough times. Celebrated my achievements.

Or at least, she used to.

I tried to recall when that changed. When our relationship changed. When we went from fighting together to fighting each other.

I shook my head. I was maudlin this morning.

Satisfied that Andi was still busy and not remotely concerned about Mila and me, I leaned a little nearer. No one had objected when I sat next to her this morning. It gave me the chance to touch her occasionally. I liked having her close.

“Have dinner with me.”

“What?” Mila responded.

“Dinner. Tonight.”

She glanced at Andi. “Where?”

“I don’t care.”

“I’m not sure it would be a good idea…” She trailed off.

“There are lots of places we can go and not be discovered,” I urged her. I knew her need for privacy was for her own anonymity, not because she didn’t want to be seen with me.

Her lovely eyes lit with mischief. “Oh, a clandestine dinner. Will there be passwords and secret handshakes?”

I chuckled. “A good meal, some conversation, and if I have my way, my mouth on yours as often as I can get it,” I said honestly.

She blinked. “Oh.”

“Is that a yes?” I asked, hearing Andi say goodbye to whoever she was on the phone with.

“Yes.”

Andi sat down. “You two behaving yourselves?”

I smiled at her. “Mila’s insight is helping me see my character better. I still have tons of questions, though.” I glanced at my phone then at Mila. “You should eat, though, right? I don’t want you to faint again. I can get you something from crafty.”

She shook her head, and I glanced at Andi, who looked surprised at my words. I cleared my throat, covering my slipup. “I assumed yesterday happened because of no food and the heat hitting you.”

“Oh, um, yeah,” Mila mumbled.

Andi stood. “You should take a break, kiddo, and walk around. We can sit down again after lunch if you still have questions, Nicholas?”

“Yeah, I do. Plus, I was hoping Mila was going to be around during some of the filming so I could pick her brain on occasion.” I glanced at Mila. “Yes?”

“We haven’t determined how long,” Andi said smoothly. “But some time is planned.”

“Good.” I winked subtly at Mila, reaching under the table to squeeze her fingers again. “That is good.”