Page 47 of Keeping Zita

“You too,” she said.

He dropped his hand, and she reached for the handle of the Jeep. He watched as she got out, shut the door, and walked to her motel room. He didn’t budge until she’d unlocked the door and turned to wave at him. He gave her a chin lift, wanting nothing more than to join her on the other side of that door.

Forcing himself to look behind him, Obi-Wan backed out of the parking space and headed toward base.

It was going to be a long day. A long week. But his reward at the end of it was Zita.

Tonight, and next week when they would be spending almost all day together on set. He’d never looked forward to spending hours in the woods so much in his life.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Zita had never been so horny. She hated that word. It sounded like something a teenager would use in some cheesy eighties movie. But that’s what she was. She’d spent every night but one hanging out with Sage in the last week. He’d asked her to stay in town while the crew packed up the set and moved to the other side of the state, and she’d happily agreed. They’d finished the original three Star Wars movies and moved on to the more recent ones. She had to agree with him that the older movies had a certain…something that the newer ones didn’t. But she still enjoyed the storylines and was now a total fan.

That could be because of the person she’d been watching the movies with though. Sage took the time to explain things she didn’t understand, and he didn’t give her crap when she teared up during sad or poignant scenes.

But the best part of the last week was getting to know Sage better. She enjoyed spending time in his company, and the more she was around him, the more she liked the man. She felt giddy pretty much at all times when they were together…and heated, as if her blood was hotter than it should be when they sat together in his big ol’ chair. His hand on her leg felt like a brand, and it was all she could do not to rip off her shirt and beg him to have his way with her.

But she was also enjoying the pace they’d set. She felt no pressure to sleep with him. Urgency and desire, yes. Pressure, no.

She hadn’t spent the night again, even though she kind of missed waking up in his arms in the middle of the night. She’d never had such a compulsion to sleep with another person before. She preferred her space. Liked being able to spread out in bed. To not have to worry about someone else when she rolled over in the middle of the night. But she was beginning to realize she’d only preferred that because she’d never been with someone like Sage. Someone who made her feel safe simply by being in his presence.

Now, they were leaving for the other side of the state. For a town called Fallport. It would be their home base for the next part of filming. Everything she’d read online about the town made it seem like an awesome little community. A few years ago they were made famous because a paranormal show about Bigfoot was filmed there, and someone from the cast was murdered. They now had an annual Bigfoot expo, and the gazebo in the middle of town had a permanent chainsaw carving of Bigfoot proudly displayed beside it.

They were also known for something called Pickleport, a summer festival complete with a parade and booths and everything a small-town event should have. It sounded like a Hallmark movie town come to life, and Zita couldn’t wait to see and experience it for herself.

Almost all of the crew for the movie was staying at the Mangree Motel and RV Park. It sounded hokey and cheap, but the pictures online made it seem charming and quaint. There was even a pool, though it wasn’t open yet. The production company had rented out the entire motel for the crew, but Logan Striker and Harry Grubbner would be staying at a bed and breakfast called Chestnut Street Manor. It was really the only “high end” place to stay in Fallport.

Zita didn’t feel slighted by that, however. The only other options for the crew were a couple of chain hotels out by the highway, farther away from the quaint little town. And she’d much rather stay at a local establishment that put money in the hands of small business owners than a huge corporation.

Fallport also had one of those big box stores near the main highway that led into town, as well as some chain restaurants, but she was most excited to see the town square and all the locally owned businesses. The bakery, the bar, the used bookstore. And especially the coffee shop. The diner also looked amazing; the stained-glass window in the front was a work of art, and she bet it looked even more beautiful in person.

All-in-all, she was looking forward to this shoot more than any other she’d been on. And it wasn’t just because of the location—which was much better than some warehouse where sets had been built—but because of the man she’d get to spend even more time with.

When he’d asked her to stay in town, Sage had also offered to drive her to Fallport, instead of Zita taking the bus the film company had rented. The equipment had been sent out days ago, along with most of the crew. All that was left was transporting the few employees who’d stayed behind in Norfolk, doing online prep for the upcoming on-location shoot.

She took him up on his offer without hesitation. She’d been in a car with Sage several times in the last week, but figured spending a few hours with him on the road would tell her even more about his personality. Did he speed excessively? Did he get overly pissed at other drivers around him? Did he text while driving? All things that would turn her off and might give her second thoughts about getting involved with the man.

Who was she kidding? She was already “involved.”

He was the first person she thought of when she woke up and, because of his habit of texting her to say good night, the last person she thought of before she fell asleep. And she didn’t think she had anything to worry about with him behind the wheel of his Jeep. The man was a freaking Night Stalker helicopter pilot. Of course, the two weren’t exactly the same, but she doubted he’d be so great at his job, and then be an asshole on the road.

Her bags were packed and she was waiting for him when he pulled up to the motel. She had a goofy grin on her face, but she couldn’t help it. She was so looking forward to spending much more time with him this week, since he’d be on the set full-time, rather than spending all day on the naval base.

He was also grinning as he got out of his Jeep and came toward her. He grabbed both her large and small suitcase, making them seem way lighter than she knew they were, and she shifted her backpack and purse on her shoulder as she followed him to the back of the vehicle. His duffel bag was already there. Then he moved to the passenger side and held open the door for her. He’d done that every time he’d picked her up, and it never failed to make her feel all warm and gooey inside.

It was a five-hour trip to Fallport, and everyone involved in the movie had an orientation and logistics meeting later that afternoon. All told, it took six and a half hours to make it to the small town at the base of the Appalachian mountains, after a stop for lunch and because traffic getting out of Norfolk was horrendous. But for once, Zita didn’t mind.

She and Sage talked nonstop. She felt as if she knew him even better by the time they were pulling into the Mangree Motel’s parking lot. Just as she hoped he knew her better, as well. They’d talked about everything from their childhoods, their parents, how she got interested in being an EMT and involved in the movie industry, to how difficult the training and tests were to become a Night Stalker.

She’d also learned more about Laryn and Mandy, and the awful things they’d been through. She was even more impressed with the two women than she’d been before, and that was saying something. What they’d each experienced was horrific, and Zita was so glad they had men like their boyfriends, who were there for them both during and after their ordeals.

Zita met Sage at the front of the Jeep and they walked into the small office at the Mangree together. There was an older woman behind the desk, and she greeted them with a huge smile.

“Hi, I’m Edna. My husband and I welcome you to the Mangree. We’re so happy you’re here.”

“Thanks! I’m Zita Darlington, and this is Obadiah Engle,” she said.

“Hmmm, I’ve got Zita on the list, but I’m so sorry…I’m not seeing you,” Edna replied with a frown, looking at Sage.