Page 33 of Love On and Off Set

“Well, good.” Seamus clapped his hands. “Hallstein, this is Myles. Myles, this is Hallstein.”

“Hey.” The woman glanced up from the lamp and glared. “I’m Sally.”

“Right.” Seamus grinned. “Sally’s the best props apprentice we could possibly ask for. And she’s bossy. But in a good way. Bye.”

Before anyone could respond, he vanished.

Myles placed an old-fashioned clock radio on the table. He turned to Sally. “I plugged it in and it didn’t work. Can you ask Jerry to see if he can do something with it?”

She gazed back and forth between the two of us, her hazel eyes assessing. “I never get to have any fun.” She snagged the radio and, just as she passed me, gave me the once-over. “I suppose I have to keep my hands off you.”

“That would be appreciated.” I kept my voice level.

“Too bad. We could’ve had fun.” She sighed, winked, and left the room.

My gaze shot back to Myles and he grinned. “She’s not your type, is she?”

I swallowed. Hard. “I don’t have a type. I’m here to work.” I continued to clutch the box. “Do you need this now, or should I sit in the corner—”

“Oh, no one puts Baby in the corner.”

I blinked.

He waved me off. “Never mind. Uh…” He checked his watch. “We’re supposed to start shooting in about twenty minutes. I was just about to go over the set to make certain everything’s where it needs to be. Coco’s doing continuity today, so I need to coordinate with her as well. Let’s go.”

Without waiting for me to respond, he swept past me and out of the room.

I pivoted and followed him, lengthening my stride so I soon caught up to him.

He glanced at me, gave me another once-over, then kept walking quickly.

Fuck my life.

Chapter Four

Myles

Men like Hallstein were my kryptonite. Tall, dark, handsome, mysterious, and untouchable.

I always went for the guys who wouldn’t pick me. My own stupidity.

Hallstein’s black, slightly shaggy hair reminded me of Cole Hamilton’s—except Cole’s swept down to his shoulders while Hallstein’s was shorter at the back. His dark-brown eyes—that I could easily sink into—were nothing like Cole’s dark-blue. Still, with their height and stance, the similarities were unmistakable. I’d secretly crushed on Cole since he first started appearing on television and in movies. Knowing he was a hometown boy only deepened that longing. Then I met him, and although my admiration increased, my crush diminished again. Although he was only ever spotted with women, the rumors were that he was bi. Recently confirmed.

And he was totally off the market.

I glanced at the bodyguard again. Seriously? He was…such a cliché, with his black suit, black shirt, and black tie. "Oh, darling—you need some color in your wardrobe. You can have a serious job without impersonating a black hole."

He blinked and then stared, unspeaking.

Well, okay then. “This is the set.” I guided him into the space that was Montgomery Daley’s office. Then I surreptitiously watched his reaction.

The set designers had created a space that truly felt like a penthouse office in downtown Vancouver. All chrome, glass, oak, and a touch of leather.

Hallstein stepped into the space with apparent trepidation.

“It’s okay.” I walked right onto the set and up to Montgomery’s desk. I took a slow survey of the desk with the phone and laptop. Often, though, he’d use a remote controller to activate a massive screen hidden in a wood cabinet. All high tech and shit. My job wasn’t to understand, but to ensure everything Cole might need would be within reach.

“Where does this go?” Hallstein continued to clutch the box that was about sixteen inches in length.