Page 58 of Between Takes
“Like new builds or trailers are actually any better?”
He busied himself opening cupboards rather than finding a way to counter my point.
“When could I move in?” I asked again.
The agent smiled. “It’s currently available, so we would just need to do the checks and file paperwork. A week at most.”
Shaun sighed. “If I signed on as her guarantor, any chance you could make that tomorrow?”
“He doesn’t mean that. Ignore him.” I shoved Shaun towards the door. “Why don’t you wait outside while the adults talk!”
He dug in his heels and resisted with ease.
“A generous offer, but I’m afraid we would still need to run references,” my new favourite agent said.
Grinning, I stopped pushing Shaun towards the door. He stumbled at the sudden loss of my hands, but with all that muscle, he recovered fast. Finally, someone Shaun couldn’t bribe with his celebrity status.
“I’ll think about it and let you know.”
“Why do you need to think about it?” Shaun asked.
“I’ve still got the room with Tilly as an option.”
Shaun frowned and crossed his arms. “If I can’t get you in a flat with security, then this is at least better than sharing a room in someone else’s house.”
It was my turn to cross my arms and growl. What was this man doing to me? “And I already said if I can save money, I will. Besides don’t you think it would be lonely for me living here alone and maybe I’d like someone to talk to?”
Whatever protest he had prepared stalled on his tongue. He stared at the double bed with heated eyes. I didn’t want to dissect the meaning behind that look.
“I’ll let you know,” I promised the agent and skipped out the door.
Freedom was in reach. I’d done as promised, I’d seen the flat, and now I’d have the rest of the day to myself.
“Why are you frowning at me?” Shaun asked, holding a spoonful of mint ice cream out to me. “It’s just a spoonful. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat any more.”
My escape hadn’t gone according to plan. In my haste to get away, I’d failed to notice Shaun’s waiting car on the street. The moment I’d stepped out the door, he’d ushered me into the car under the guise of a mob of fans. There were three. Two of them were under the age of five. He posed for selfies while I cursed his name to the soundtrack of Tom’s laughter. At least his driver listened.
Don’t get me wrong. Lunch was amazing. He’d scored a table at a super-exclusive rooftop restaurant overlooking the city. The food was delicious, and people left him alone, which was a nice perk. The servers were even discreet, which was even nicer.
“You shouldn’t eat that,” I said without my usual force. I’d been wined and dined, and the only thing missing was a nap in the sun.
“Are you going to tell on me?” Shaun pouted, but his eyes laughed at me, ruining his concerned facade.
He had yet to realise that I’d never grassed him up to his trainer. I hoped he never realised, or he’d start breaking his own rules just to test me.
Shaun finished his ice cream, the spoon scraping against the side of the glass.
“I think you got it all.”
He smiled, that easy twinkle in his eye setting butterflies loose in my stomach. While I stared, transfixed by his lips, he stood and held out his hand. “Shall we sit on the terrace and finish our drinks in the sun?”
Was he a mind reader now?
I nodded and gathered my bag and soft drink. Shaun led the way to a plush pair of loveseats at the edge of the glass balcony. He took a seat next to me, spreading his arms along the back of the loveseat. I became hyper aware of his fingers, rubbing at the fabric directly behind my shoulders.
“So, you moved down pretty fast.” Shaun leaned towards me with an expectant look on his face. “Most people would have to give notice.”
Was he asking if I’d skipped out on a job? That was an obvious yes. Not that my boss had really cared. All that talk of blacklisting was meaningless. For one, I’d be glad to never see another marketing company for as long as I lived. Even with adequate notice, I couldn’t believe he would have given me a good reference.
