Page 64 of Last First Kiss
“I guess that’s a yes, then.” She ran a long red fingernail down his arm. “I knew something was off. I didn’t think she was your type.”
He swatted her hand away. “You don’t know what is or is not my type. We’re here to work. That’s all.”
“You know how much PR we could get if you and I hooked up? The crowds would eat that up. Plus”—she stepped closer—“it would be so fun.”
He was starting to get upset. He looked over Julia’s shoulder and saw Annie quickly avert her eyes. How bad did it look? He didn’t want Annie to get the wrong impression. “No it wouldn’t. You’re with Lawrence. Have some fucking class.”
Julia was a straight up bitch. There were really no other words to describe her. She wasn’t always that way. When he’d met her ten years ago, she was fresh-faced, bright-eyed and ambitious. Just like he was. Except he always remembered where he came from and Julia must’ve forgotten since her feet were so far from the ground, she was flying high. And her spineless husband was so blind, Rocco actually felt bad for him.
He stomped away and was going to go to Annie to explain but she wasn’t there. “On set!” the PA called.
“Damn it,” he whispered to himself, looking quickly around before he was shuffled away.
The rest of the day went more or less the same, but Julia was more subdued after he’d quickly shut her down and Annie was back in the one of the directors’ chairs. His eyes would find her every time they had even a moment between takes. It was as if there was an invisible tether connecting them. The way she felt, smelled, tasted—it was intoxicating. That was the word to describe it. Intoxicating. She was a drug and he wouldn’t—couldn’t—stay away.
“Let’s try to make this the last take! Monroe, you with us?” Spelling hollered from the side.
“Yes, sorry,” he mumbled as he got into the mind-set to play a ruthless drug dealer.
Craft services set up lunch on a large picnic table while Annabelle and Ben were chatting off in a corner. It bothered him that she was so chatty with the other bodyguard. Yes, they were colleagues, but he was a selfish bastard and wanted her to give him all her attention. “Hey, Tiger, you gonna eat something?” he interrupted them.
“Yes. Be right there,” she said, all-business, and turned back around pointing to something at the edge of the surroundings.
“Good idea. We can take shifts . . .” Rocco didn’t hear the rest of the conversation as he sat down at the long table.
“Well, they seem friendly,” Julia said, cutting an annoyingly small piece from a tomato. She was like a bird, everything she ate was small and precise. He remembered how much that had irked him when they’d briefly dated all those years ago. Funny how Annie had a weird eating habit, but it didn’t bother him. No, in fact, he wanted to take care of her, make sure she ate. With Julia, he couldn’t give a fuck, even back then. She wanted to eat lettuce all day—fine by him.
“That’s because they’re friends,” he answered, knowing full well what she was doing. Trying to poison him, plant a seed of doubt. And he wasn’t going to bite. He refused.
“I can’t believe we’re eating at a dreadful picnic table.” She ate while she complained. “This is absurd.”
He wasn’t going to engage in her childish antics, so he ignored her, looking back up at Ben and Annie.
Ben moved away toward the clearing they’d been talking about, and Annie walked toward the table. “Hey, want something to eat?” he asked as she sat next to him.
She reached forward and took a sandwich. “This is good. I’m starved.”
“You want me to have them set up a blender for you?”
She stopped mid-bite and turned her face to him. “You’re sweet, Monroe. But I’m good. Thank you, though.”
“No problem, crazy. Just let me know.” He kissed her cheek and then continued to eat the shrimp pasta he’d been served. When he looked up, Julia was looking at them with disdain, but he didn’t give a fuck, he just held her stare, daring her to say a single word.
“Ben and I are taking turns going around the perimeter,” Annie said to Julia, completely unconcerned that the woman was shooting daggers at her. “I’m uncomfortable with the lack of security and telephone reception. Just Ben and me to cover about seventy people . . . those aren’t good odds.”
“What are you trying to tell me? You’re my babysitter while Ben’s away?”
“No. I just thought you’d like to know where Ben was. You don’t have to be a raving bitch about it,” she replied completely matter-of-factly as she took a bite of her sandwich.
Julia put her hands on the table and leaned forward. “What did you just say to me?”
“Settle down.” Rocco waved at Julia, then teasingly elbowed Anabelle. “Babe, eat your sandwich.” He said it with a smirk. She gave him the finger without missing a beat.
And fuck him—he could spend a lifetime with her and never get bored.
The rest of the day became hectic when it seemed like it was going to rain, so everyone was on a frenzy to get a few key scenes done in order to stay on schedule. Julia continued her snarky attitude, but the woman could act. Once she was in character, she was Victoria Mendoza and Annie couldn’t see her as anything else but Victoria.
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