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I toss my napkin down and quietly excuse myself.

By the time I make it to Guy’s changing room, my tie hangs loosely around my neck and my shirt’s completely unbuttoned.

I kick open the door and barrel inside.

“What the fuck!” Guy shrieks, barely pulling the pants over his shiny white ass. “What are you doing⁠—”

I don’t have time to waste answering his questions right now. I unbutton my trousers and shove them to the floor. “I’m going to need those sweatpants…”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Kira

I sit in silence as I mentally rehearse the scene I’ve been dreading since I read the script less than two hours ago.

It’s not that I’m uncomfortable with intimate scenes. Hell, at this point they’re basically my bread and butter. But now, I stop thinking about that night in the hotel with Roman. Probably because of the sexy red dress I’m wearing, if you can even call it a dress. After talking to Miss Scarlett for five minutes, it’s easy to assume her very own Adult Store is the source of most of the costumes.

Who knew a small town would have such a robust community of open-minded people? I can’t believe I waited this long to visit.

Soft music plays as I sit, waiting for Guy’s return. I haven’t exactly rehearsed, but it seems like he should be back by now.

All he had to do was take off his shirt and change into sweatpants. That shouldn’t have taken more than a minute, two max. I hope everything’s okay…

Suddenly, I’m keenly aware of my every micro-expression, that I’m the sole actor, commanding the attention of the entire room while I sit in this chair awkwardly staring at the audience. How fucking bored must they all be right now? I may be a professional, but I’m not delusional enough to think I’m that good.

I take a moment to angle my body to what I feel is the most flattering angle, crossing my legs to appear nervous, like my naive, inexperienced character.

I was excited to actually get to play the heroine for once rather than the villain, even if it’s just for a dinner theater production that’ll never be seen by the masses. But then I realized I’d, once again, be expected to revert to the role of the sexual vixen I’ve been portrayed to be since my boobs came in at fourteen years old.

It’s not that I’m uncomfortable in my body. I’d just like to have the option to choose—and maybe mix things up creatively once in a while. I shouldn’t complain, though. At least I know exactly what the people expect from me.

Being the bad girl is my brand. And I’m good at it. Even if I never had a choice in the matter.

I guess I was hoping things could be different for me here… That just for the summer I could just be Kira, not Kira Blakely.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he says, voice so low that only I can hear. His hand brushes my hair away from the back of my neck, and I suck in a hiss. My eyelids flutter closed, and I find myself leaning into his touch.

Goosebumps erupt over my skin and my stomach dips. His touch is gentle yet deliberate, familiar in a way I can’t place.

My eyelids flutter open just as Roman steps in front of me. He looks sexy as hell in his baseball cap, gray sweatpants slung low on his hips, and a tight white sleeveless undershirt that clings to his muscles like it was painted on.

His lips curl into a cocky grin, those signature panty-melting dimples on full display.

And just like that, the arousal I was feeling turns into a rolling boil of annoyance.

“What the hell are you doing?” I hiss between clenched teeth.

Roman leans down, his lips barely grazing against my neck as he whispers, “I’ll explain later. Just go with it.”

At the feel of his breath on my neck, more traitorous goosebumps erupt all over my skin. I grind my teeth.

I hate the way my body responds to him. His brother’s not at all unattractive. He’s been shaking his ass in my face all night, and I haven’t felt a single tingle below the belt. Not even a shiver when the AC kicked on.

And all Roman has to do is waltz in with some direct eye contact, and suddenly I’m panting like a dog in heat.

Well, if he thinks I’m going to play into his ego any more than I already have, then he’s got another thing coming.

“Now, where were we?” he says his line, somehow making it sound like it’s all his own.