Page 14 of Keeping Zita

Fuck. This woman. She was relentless.

“Carmen!” one of the producers yelled from across the set. “Ten minutes and you’re up!”

“Looks like I’ve got to go. I need to stop by makeup once more and make sure I’m good. I’m not going to give up, Obi-Wan. When I want something, I get it. I haven’t gotten to where I am in Hollywood by backing down from anything. And I want us to be friends. Very good friends.”

Then she leaned into him, grabbed the back of his neck, and kissed his cheek, right next to his lips.

Obi-Wan felt trapped. The firm hold on his neck kept him from stepping back, unless he wanted Carmen stumbling into him. And his hands were full of hot coffee. Not that he would’ve shoved her away even if they weren’t; that simply wasn’t the kind of man he was.

His gut churned at the unwelcome kiss. And her long fingernails dug into the skin of his nape, making him shiver—but not in a good way.

The satisfaction in her gaze when she pulled back and smiled didn’t bode well for Obi-Wan. As she sauntered away from him, shaking her ass suggestively, he vowed to do everything in his power to avoid being alone with her ever again. He wasn’t sure if her words were a threat, or simply those of a spoiled actress used to getting her way.

Instinctively, his gaze swept the room. He was used to scoping out his surroundings. It had saved his life more than once while on the job. He wasn’t on an op right now. Wasn’t in the middle of a hostile situation. But habits were habits, and this was one he couldn’t break.

Instead of finding anyone staring back with nefarious intent, Obi-Wan met the gaze of the one person he definitely wouldn’t have wanted witnessing Carmen’s little game.

Zita.

He couldn’t read her expression—that was another way they were alike. But for a split second, he could’ve sworn he saw disappointment in her gaze. And that killed him. He didn’t want her to think he’d encouraged Carmen in any way. That the kiss she’d given him had been something he wanted.

He took a few steps toward her, but someone called her name and she abruptly turned and walked in the opposite direction.

Obi-Wan was left holding two cups of coffee while people milled around him. He felt like he’d somehow let Zita down, even though he hadn’t intentionally done anything.

Fucking hell. The day that had started out rough wasn’t getting any better.

For the next two hours, he watched the current scenes being filmed, approved the military uniform Logan would be wearing when he shot various scenes later in the schedule, went over the timetable for the mountain shoot in a couple weeks, and even got a sneak peek of some of the footage that had been shot the first day he was on set.

He should’ve been getting more and more excited about the trip to the western part of the state. Instead, all he could think about was what Zita must think of him after what she’d witnessed earlier that morning. How she probably thought everything he’d told her about not wanting a relationship was bullshit. Maybe even thought he’d played her to make Carmen jealous or something.

It wasn’t like Obi-Wan to let his feelings get the better of him. But by the time he was free of his obligations on the set, he was almost desperate to find Zita and explain what she’d seen that morning. Desperate for her to know that he in no way, shape, or form wanted to be with Carmen.

That it was Zita he was interested in getting to know better.

If nothing else, this morning had served as a wake-up call. She’d completely avoided him on set, and the odd feeling that he was losing Zita before they’d even had any kind of real relationship was a punch to the gut.

He might not have wanted to date anyone when he’d started this job a week ago, but now Obi-Wan was willing to entertain the idea. But only with Zita.

It was still highly possible they’d get to know each other better and find out they were no more compatible than a bird and a fish…but he wanted to find out.

However, it was obvious she was still trying to avoid him, because she ducked out a side door as soon as he started walking toward her. But Obi-Wan was determined to talk to her before he left today. He didn’t want to have any misunderstandings between them. Wanted to explain what she really saw that morning between him and Carmen.

Spinning around, Obi-Wan jogged toward the nearest door. He shoved it open and ran around the building toward where Zita had exited. As he hoped, she hadn’t gone far. Had probably just left in the hopes that when she went back inside, he’d have gone for the day, as usual.

Thankfully, she was also alone. She was sitting in the area the smokers used when they came outside, staring into space.

“Hey,” Obi-Wan said quietly as he approached.

He hadn’t meant to scare her, but she jerked all the same and whipped her head around to stare at him.

He held his hands up. “Sorry, sorry, sorry. I thought you heard me coming.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t. But it’s okay. Shouldn’t you be heading back to the base?”

Obi-Wan winced, not liking that she was obviously trying to dismiss him. He sat next to her, leaving plenty of space between them on the bench. The last thing he wanted to do was crowd her, but he needed her to hear him out.

He decided not to beat around the bush.