Page 2 of Hard
‘Suitability?’ His coffee cup half conceals his sultry smirk as he lifts it to his lips.
‘Yes,’ I say, making a judgment call I know Chas will get behind. ‘We have a shoot coming up next week. It’ll be filmed on location—Barcelona, to be exact. So providing you can supply the appropriate paperwork in time and don’t have an aversion to anal, I’d like to offer you the gig.’
His response has me squealing a little as I jump up from my seat.
I wipe the coffee explosion from my face as my mind intones once again,Well, that didn’t go at all as planned.
Chapter 2
KEIR
‘Jesus Christ,’ I reply, coughing and trying to wipe both the coffee and the smile from my face. ‘That’s some offer. But I only came in to grab a coffee.’ I pass her a paper napkin from the dispenser as her expression falters, the smile quickly slipping from her face.
‘You meanyou’re not... ’ Her words trail off as she pats her face dry, bending at the waist to swipe the electronic tablet on the table, the action causing the front of her dress to gape. Full, soft breasts, and a barely there black bra.I drag my reluctant gaze away but not before I get another eyeful as the tablet lights up.
‘Oh, fuck,’ she mutters, and somehow, this doesn’t sound as harsh in her soft, American accent. She flips the thing upside down, snapping ramrod straight.
‘That’s not me, and that’s definitely not my dick,’ I answer, chuckling as she turns suddenly and begins rifling through a bag the size of Sicily hanging on the back of her chair.
And the rear view is as fantastic as the front.
‘Antonio Uccello!’ she calls in the vein ofeureka! as she pulls a battered white envelope from her bag. ‘I’m looking for Antonio Uccello.’
‘I’d say you were just looking at quite a bit of him.’ Even in the low lighting, it’s easy to see the two distinct spots of pink colouring her cheeks. Leaning back in my chair, I fold my arms across my chest, feeling a certain satisfaction at her flustered expression. It’s been a long time since I’ve allowed myself to flirt—even this little bit. It feels good. Gratifying. ‘And that’s not me.’
‘Hell,’ she breathes out softly. ‘Your accent should’ve been my first clue. You know, with this name.’ She waves the envelope as she takes her seat again.
‘Not really. I went to school with a lad called Aldo De Luca. And you couldn’t find a more Scottish sounding fella.’
‘You can never tell a book by its cover, huh?’
‘Looking at you? I’d say that’s especially true.’ I let my eyes deliberately wander over her again. A navy blue dress printed with tiny birds, the kind of dress I’ve heard Sadie, my mate’s wife, describe asvintage.‘You don’t look like the kind of girl who works for a porn company.’ She looks like she might work in an art gallery or something. Then again, one girl’s art is another man’s porn, I suppose.
‘Erotica,’ she replies, a touch defensively. ‘Visually artistic with an emphasis on seduction, romance, and sensuality.’
‘And fucking. I bet there’s plenty of that going on.’
I regret my words the second they hit the air. I’m usually much more circumspect around the fairer sex.Even those who work in porn. That thought, of course, leads to another. Doesshedo porn? While gorgeous, she doesn’t look the type—not just because of a lack of platinum hair, or long fingernails, or silicone rack. Maybe she stars in the girl-next-door type scenes. All startling blue eyes and pink lips...
Sir, you want to put that where?
I shake my head, dislodging the inappropriateness again.
‘There’s nothing wrong with sex,’ she says, her spine straightening again. And the front of her dress pulling a little too tight...
Unless you’re not getting any, I don’t say. And I’d know because I’m not. Getting any, that is. And I haven’t for a while.A conscious decision, I remind myself.
‘True,’ I answer, uncrossing my arms. ‘But I’m not likely to be starring in porn at this time.’
‘Yes, well, I’m sorry for the confusion,’ she replies as I stand, tilting her head to indicate the offending tablet on the table between us. Next to it is an empty cappuccino cup plus a dainty plate with a dollop of cream and a slice of strawberry abandoned on it. ‘Apologies for the, er... ’
‘Full frontal nude?’ I supply. She nods her head rapidly, big blue eyes blinking back at me. ‘Well, here’s to hoping he rocks your world when he does arrive.’ At odds with the tightness in my belly, I offer a bawdy wink as I pull myself away.
‘What are you smiling about?’ Flynn, my assistant, asks as I walk back into the office.
‘What? Am I not allowed to smile now?’
‘Doesn’t happen fucking often,’ he says, his Aussie accent as thick as the peanut butter he has spread on his toast.
