Page 27 of Touch Me

Chapter Ten

“This isn’t what I signed on for,” Raine says. “We’re goingto have to revise huge chunks of the script to accommodate all that.” He saysthe last with a wave to me, as if I’ve morphed into nothing more than a babyincubator.

“Maybe a few minor adjustments,” Carson says. “But mostlywe’ll cheat some angles and go in with CGI.”

He looks at me, and I nod.

I hadn’t been at all surprised when Matthew had called me infor this meeting. After all, we’re going to have to deal with the pregnancysomehow. But I hadn’t been prepared for Raine to be so deep into asshole-mode.

Thankfully, I have both Evelyn and Ryan with me. Consideringthe way my hormones are hopping, I’m just as likely to burst into tears as I amto stab a letter opener through Raine’s asshole-infused heart, and Ryan maywell have to hold me back.

“It’s bullshit,” he says. “This is a long shoot. She’s goingto be ready to pop by the end.”

“It’s under control,” Matthew says, his voice stern.

“What about pushing the shoot until after the baby’s born?”Evelyn asks.

“Come on, Evelyn,” Matthew says. “You know better. We’vealready locked in the international locations. Not to mention schedulingconflicts among the cast members and any number of other problems.”

“Hell, yeah, that would be a conflict,” Raine says. “I’vegot a prestigious little erotic thriller I lined up after this with Annalise.”

“Annalise?”

Raine turns to Ryan, his expression like an exterminatorfacing a scorpion. “My co-star. The chemistry that’s going to be in that moviewill be off the charts.”

“His girlfriend,” I add. “I’m sure you two will have funfilming that. After we wrap Dead Certain.”

Raine shrugs. “We will. And you’ll be changing diapers.”

My stomach does a flip-flop, and I squeeze Ryan’s hand. Theasshole’s not wrong. And I tell myself that’s the way I want it.

“But, hey,” Raine says, suddenly jovial, “like you all said,we can work with this. I mean it’s a big deal having a baby. So, you know.Congrats.”

“Thanks,” I say, though I’m quite sure there wasn’t an ounceof sincerity in the nicety.

“And it’s been a while, but folks remember. They’ll be keenon seeing you and I cozy up on the screen. And,” he adds with a glance towardRyan, “considering our past, there’s going to be a lot of folks who wonder ifthe baby is mine. Sorry, Rye.” He leans back in his chair, his expression smug.“That’ll be good for buzz, and buzz gets folks in theaters.”

To his credit, Ryan doesn’t respond or move a muscle.Better, his expression suggests that Raine isn’t even worth noticing. And that,I think, is absolutely true.

As for me, I force myself to say nothing, but I’m squeezingboth Evelyn and Ryan’s hands so hard I might be crushing bone.

Raine stands. “Good meeting,” he says, then sweeps out ofthe office.

The moment the door closes, the air seems clearer. I let goof my support team and lean back with a sigh.

Matthew moves to the chair Raine vacated, and Carson leansagainst the wall.

“I’m assuming you still want to do the movie,” Matthew says.

“Are you kidding? You know that I do. Though I am trulysorry for the machinations it’s going to put you through.”

“He’s an asshole,” Carson says. “But he’s right about thescript. We’re going to have to tweak some of the action scenes. Your actionscenes.”

“I don’t think so,” Evelyn says. “Just use her double.”

Carson nods slowly. “I’ll give it a fresh read tonight. Letyou know what I think. Bottom line,” he says, looking straight at me, “is thatwe want you. You’re perfect for the role. You were our gal long before Raine.And we will make this work.”

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