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Bennett had even donned his Paul Bratter scowl as he delivered his snarky lines, which nearly made me break character and laugh. He was really good.
Then I stood in front of him and those hazel eyes came up to me, watching as I eased down onto his lap, my ass on his right thigh, my legs draping over his left. Bennett placed a hand on my waist and the other on my knee to keep me in place.
I teased and taunted, leaning my chest sideways onto his so as not to give the audience my back. I plucked at his tie and gesticulated to our apartment, keeping my face in profile, feeling the intensity of his gaze on my face.
Then I glanced down at the scene, having highlighted the stage direction of kissing in pink instead of yellow to give myself a warning when it was coming up. I froze after delivering the lines that preceded the apparent stage make-out session, just staring at the script.
“Can we stop a minute?” Bennett called out to Peter.
“Is there a problem?” he asked.
“No. I need to talk to Betty about something.” He tapped my thigh, gesturing for me to get up.
So I did, watching him and wondering what was going on.
“Come see,” he said, pointing offstage.
He didn’t want everyone overhearing this convo? Now, I was nervous. Did I do something wrong?
When he turned to me backstage, concern etched his crinkled brow.
“Listen, I realize there are quite a few intimate kissing scenes in this play, but if it makes you uncomfortable, we can fake all that till the actual dress rehearsals.”
Wow. That was not what I was expecting.
He’d obviously picked up on my stress without me saying a word. Rather than tease me and watch me unravel with discomfort, he was being courteous and careful of my feelings.
“So, what do you mean?” I finally asked, my heart squeezing at the fact he was genuinely concerned about my comfort level.
“It’s easy,” he said lightly. “We can just do the cheek-to-cheek thing until later on.”
“Like that cheek mash thing they do in those old Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall movies?”
He laughed. “Just like that.”
“Yeah.” I exhaled a relieved breath. “I’d rather do that.”
“This is why our business date will help.” He brushed the pads of his fingers up my bare arm, a light caress. “So you can be more comfortable with the intimate scenes.”
Our gazes held for two heartbeats, then his winning smile was back, and my lady parts were shouting at me to shut the fuck up and do all of the kissing that was required. I blocked the voices out and followed him back on stage.
He resumed his position on the couch.
Peter stood at the edge, on the floor, worry furrowing his brow. “Is everything alright?”
“Oh, yeah,” Bennett answered for us confidently. “We decided we’re just going to fake the kissing till we get to performances.”
“Ahh! Gotcha, gotcha.” He clapped his hands. “Great! Let’s get back to blocking. Resume your position, Betty. Get back on his lap, and we’ll go from there.”
My imagination immediately conjured another image of me naked—again—with Bennett standing directly behind me, whispering,“Assume the position. Bend over my bed and spread your legs.”
Please let me make it through this rehearsal so I can get home to my battery-powered arsenal in my dresser. That’s all I needed. That’s all this heady attraction was. It had been a while since I’d tended to some self-care. Bennett was the first good-looking man I’d had close contact with in a long time, and my body was screaming for a little attention.
Once I scratched that itch, I wouldn’t have this insanely horny reaction to Mr. Perfect anymore. I was sure of it.
Chapter Six
~BENNETT~
