Page 49 of Hot Nights in Morocco
“It’s here, Jake,” cries Rachel, rushing over with a copy.
Muttering his thanks, he comes straight over to my desk and glares down at me, signaling for me to end the call. Up-close, his dark eyes are bloodshot from the dust but they’re no less sexy for it.
I hate him.
I want him.
“Charlie, babe, are you still there?” Lucy’s voice cuts through my Jake-induced stupor.
“Sort of. Actually, I’ve got to go.”
“You sound odd. Are you— Oh. Has Dalton rocked up?”
Has he ever.
Jake’s expression is blistering. I’m finding it very hard to concentrate.
“This conversation’s not over,” she warns me.
“I understand. I’ll make sure we return to it at our earliest convenience. I’d appreciate your, umm,discretion,as well.”
“Goes without saying. I may write for a tabloid, but I still have a handful of principals left, especially when it comes to my best friend. Look after yourself. I’m worried about you.”
“No need, but thanks.”
“You took you time,” snarls Jake, as soon as I replace the receiver. “Max wants you back on set. He needs his shoelaces tied together. Prepare yourself for disappointment—he’s wearing more clothes than he was yesterday morning.”
Cheap jibe, Jake.
His gaze shifts back to Rachel. “I’m flying out to Marrakech in the next hour. The costume department’s sourced someone who can make the alterations our delightful lead actress is insisting on. Cassie’s adamant, and I can’t be fucked to fight about it anymore.” He adjusts his baseball cap in a fury. She’s clearly pissed him off.
Good.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to drive?” I offer up tentatively.
“Charlie’s right,” says Rachel. “There are no internal flights out of Erizo today.”
“Stop questioning me, the both of you.”
I bristle at his tone, but he pretends not to notice.
“There’s a private landing strip just north of town past the main airport. My jet’s been flown in overnight. I’m not taking any more chances with future cancellations and shitty, unscheduled airport terminal layovers.”
I feel the heat bloom in my cheeks. Jibe two.Is he going for a record?
“Get my first AD on the line as soon as you can,” he says to Rachel. “Patch him through to my cell. I’ll speak to him on my way back to set. He needs to shuffle the schedule around. We can’t spare any of the costume team. We’re too far behind. Max will have to shoot second unit until Cassie and I get back. We’ll leave this afternoon and return tomorrow.”
“Cassie’s going with you?” I can’t hide my look of horror.
“What fucking planet are you on, Charlie? How else can they make the alterations?”
He’s punishing me now, I can tell. I had a drink with Max, so he’s going to screw his ex all over Marrakech.
“Can’t someone else accompany her?” I ask, determined not to show him how angry I am. “You said yourself that Max can’t be left unsupervised. We’re already over budget.”
“I’m very well aware of how over budget we are,” Jake says coldly.
“Give me the details,” says Rachel, rushing over and shooting me a look. As far as she’s concerned, I’m riling up the beast for no reason.
