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Seemed like a whole lot to worry about.
“Since the whole point is to get body shots, it really doesn’t matter what we say as long as it matches the movements. So I might improvise, and you can, too, okay?”
Cheyenne gave a jerky nod. Yet as he reached for her, suddenly it was all too much. Too much sensation, too much power, too much movie star. It was one thing putting your life on the line, but this… this was far more dangerous. There had to be some way she could both complete her mission and preserve her dignity. “Wait.” She moved back.
He retreated as well, but didn’t say anything. What could she do? She could refuse the role, but she’d probably get kicked off the film. Even if the police department managed to get her reinstated, the criminal could make his move in her absence. She had to continue. “I’m sorry, I just need a minute.”
Julian gave a crooked half smile. “Is acting with me that terrible?”
“Not at all.” Fire licked her skin, but it was true. Despite her apprehension, the thought was more tempting than unappealing. It signified the true problem. “I just got a little…” She searched for the right word.
“Overwhelmed?”
Precisely.
She shook her arms out. “I just need a second to get into character. I’ll be fine.”
“You know what I think?” Julian leaned back, flexing his triceps. “I don’t think you find it distasteful at all, and it’s scaring the hell out of you. You clearly don’t want the role, but for some reason you have to take it. Am I right?”
Yes. Absolutely. 110%.“Obviously I want the position. I wouldn’t have said yes if I hadn’t. I realize what a big chance this is.”
“Is that the issue?” He clasped his hands. “You feel compelled to take the role to further your career?”
“I’ve been honest about how I feel,” she lied. “This position is an opportunity, but eventually I hope for a more substantial role. It’s not a big deal.”
“I don’t think you can handle it.”
Cheyenne gave a short, sharp laugh. “You don’t think I can handle it? Think again, buddy. If anything, you can’t handle it.”
A furrow appeared between perfectly sculpted eyebrows. “Lady, this is what I do for a living. I undress women all the time.”
“I bet you do.” Something red and hot scorched through her.
He opened his mouth to retort, stopped. Speculation blazed in his eyes. “Are you jealous?”
“Jealous!?” Her voice squealed like nails against a chalkboard. “Of course, I’m not jealous. You’ve probably kissed hundreds if not thousands–”
“Millions,” he interrupted.
“Of women,” she ground out. “Everyone knows that. I don’t care how many women you give heart palpitations. I just don’t want you doing it to–”Woops.
He smiled. “To you? I give you heart palpitations?”
She glared. “Absolutely not. I was talking about vulnerable women. Women who arenotme,” she clarified. “The point is, I can handle it.”
“What if I give you an out? A way to stay on the film, but not as a body double?”
Her next words, poised, locked and loaded, froze on her tongue. She revised then, proceeded cautiously, “What do you mean?”
“It wouldn’t be a performing role,” he elaborated. “Those are already taken. However, I could talk to the director to find a job that lets you stay on the film without exposing yourself.”
That would befantastic. Not quite the anonymity of an extra, but close. The conmen had approached both cast and crew in past crimes, thus she’d still have a chance of being a target. Plus, she’d be able to return to speaking with the extras, working to ferret out the criminal in their midst. She couldn’t possibly be this lucky. Except…
Suddenly changing jobs may put off the criminal. He – and others – may wonder why an aspiring actress would go from a position in front of the cameras to an administrative one. Unless she had a logical reason. Something like her new boytoy didn’t want her publicly disrobing?
If she hinted she was dating Julian, just a low-key casual fling, it would provide that logical explanation. She couldn’t start a public affair, to avoid becoming tabloid fodder, but just give hints to the crew. Julian had been linked with enough costars to make it believable. Many of the victims had boyfriends, so that shouldn’t disqualify her from the criminals’ clutches.
It was the perfect plan – for the mission. And the anticipation of seeing him more, that was also because of the mission. The excitement? Because of the mission, as well. Indeed, everything was for the mission and not about any misguided, totally inappropriate attraction.