Page 192 of My Five Daddies

I manage to get through the scene on my own and the rest of the day passes without any issues. We do a few minor shots that go smoothly, and Holly basically pretends like I don’t exist, which is better than her actively hating me. Finally, when the set is wrapped and we’re done for the day, I head over to my locker to put away thescript.

“How was it outthere?”

I turn to find Jackson leaning against the wall, smiling atme.

“Not bad,” I say to him, getting my things set up. I can’t help but smile back. I shiver, remembering the feeling of his body againstmine.

He’s wearing a tight white shirt and he’s a little sweaty, which makes my heart start to race in my chest. Clearly he’s been working hard today with the stunt guys, and he looks amazing. I totally understand why he’s becoming such a big action star. Women want to sleep with him and men want to behim.

“How was my favorite fake girlfriend?” he asksme.

I hesitate a second. “Actually, something weirdhappened.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Tell me aboutit.”

I turn to face him, chewing my lip. “I don’t want to gossip. It could be nothing,honestly.”

“Tara,” he says. “Tell me whathappened.”

“Well, we had some trouble on a scene. Afterward, I was going over the footage for continuity, and I asked Holly to help meout.”

“Sure,” he says. “Standardstuff.”

“Well, she blew me off. Actually, she acted like I was the most awful person she’s ever met for even askingher.”

He looks surprised. “I thought you gotalong.”

“We did… until today,apparently.”

“Shit,” he sayssoftly.

“What?” I askhim.

“I mean, it’s probably nothing.” He crosses his arms, lookingworried.

“Jackson, tellme.”

“Well, I had to… I had to tell her aboutyou.”

I take a sharp breath. “About yesterday?” I ask him softly, afraid someone mightoverhear.

“No,” he says. “But that I’m not doing this relationship with her forreal.”

“She came on toyou?”

He nods. “And I told her I’m not interested. Because ofyou.”

My heart starts to race faster. I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel in thismoment.

“Shit, Jackson,” I say softly. “Why did you dothat?”

“I had to say something.” He steps toward me, but I moveaway.

“Now she hates me,” I say, realizing how bad this is. “She thinks I’m her enemy or something. Holy shit, this is going to be sobad.”

“Tara, I didn’t meanto—“

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “God, I knew it was a mistake to do this with you. We work together. We can’t getinvolved.”

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