Page 42 of The Boss I Can't Stand

“You were running late this morning,” he said, shrugging. “I figured you didn’t actually have time to eat breakfast.”

My stomach flip-flopped, though not just with hunger.

“Okay, are we ready to do this?” Ro called, walking in behind us along with the camera operator. Because apparently we needed to be able to watch the footage back to analyze later. I tried not to grimace at the thought of watching myself.

“Ground rules,” Ro called. “Remember, for this date, we want it to be all smiles and laughs and then turn a little flirty toward the end. Finn’s going to reach out and tuck a piece of your hair back behind your ear, and Sierra, that’ll be your cue to lean into the touch.”

My chest tightened uncomfortably.

“Places!” Ro said.

Dammit, this was really happening. I looked toward the exit sign gauging whether I could sprint fast enough out the door and back to my office where I could barricade myself inside.

“You won’t make it,” Finn said and my eyes snapped to his.

“What?”

He tilted his head toward the door. “I run faster than you and will catch you before you make it halfway.”

I stared at him for a beat hoping he couldn’t tell that I liked the idea of being chased and captured by him as if I was some sort of princess running from the evil prince. Hot damn, who knew I had a capture kink?

“Fine.”

“Fine?”

I nodded. “Yep, let’s get this over with.”

I tried to push that fantasy out of my mind knowing full well that I’d be revisiting it later when I didn’t have a camera capturing my every expression for all to see.

16

SIERRA

Finn settled in his seat. “She really is a director in the making, huh?”

“Yeah,” I muttered, looking at the perfectly cooked French toast in front of me.

“Action!” Ro called.

Finn caught my eye, his face broke into a smile, and I resisted the urge to groan at how fake and dazzling it was. I didn’t know how it was possible to miss the grumpy jerk who barked orders from the side of the set, but I did. At least he wasreal.

“Enjoying your food?” Finn asked, cutting into his pancake stack.

“Uh…” I hadn’t even taken a bite yet. I picked up my fork and knife, realizing I’d missed my cue. I cut into my food, the knife screeching across the plate. “Sorry.” I glanced at Ro behind the camera. “Can we start again?”

“Reset!” she called. “Action!”

I shook off the sudden bout of nerves and stuffed a bite of French toast into my mouth.

“Enjoying your food?” Finn repeated.

I nodded, half choking on it as I rushed to answer. Finn shoved a glass of water into my hand.

“Cut! Okay, Sierra,” Ro called. “Try not to choke to death. You don’t actually have to eat the food. Just push it around the plate like they do on TV! Let’s try to get past the first page of the script!” We reset again.

“Enjoying your food?” Finn asked for the third time.

“It’s great,” I said woodenly, reading off the script. “I love this place.”