Page 25 of Role Play

Chapter Twenty-One

Aidan

I had just finished lacingup my steel-toed boots when a rapid knock hit my door. I even knew the sound of her knuckles.

I swung open the door. Jane squealed with excitement as she pointed at her phone, apparently trying to let me know that she'd had a good conversation with someone.

"You're never going to believe this. Oh my gosh, I can't believe it, so why would you believe it?" The words were spurting from her lips so fast I could barely catch what she was saying.

I took hold of her hand and pulled her inside. "Deep breath, Jane. What's happening?"

"It's down to me and one other actress." She waved her hand dismissively. "Yes, she has a bigger resume than me, but I don't think she's right for the part at all. But they might think so. I don't know." She jumped around like a kid who just won a pony at the carnival. "But I have a fifty-fifty chance to get the part. Maybe even better because Russell has an in with one of the casting crew. That's how he got me in for the audition in the first place."

She hopped up on tiptoes and threw her arms around my neck. "Can you believe it?"

"Yes, I can. I've told you, you are perfect for the big screen. And you're by far my favorite leading lady."

That comment earned me a long kiss. Then a number of questions swirled through my head.

She dropped back to her feet. "I smell coffee. I haven't made any yet. I was so excited I couldn't even do that simple task." She walked into my kitchen and grabbed a cup.

I followed and sat at the counter as she poured herself a cup. "If this happens, my first question would be who is the leading man because I already hate him."

Jane smiled over the brim of her cup. "You don't have to hate him because he's nothing compared to my giant honey bear of a man who always knows exactly what to say without a script. It's Nick Sutter, and he's not all that great. I'll be meeting him this afternoon. The third reading is with him. They want to assess how much chemistry the two leads have together."

"Great. That's the guy all the women fantasize about."

Jane walked around to me and took hold of my hand. "Not all the women because I only fantasize about you."

It felt like I had swallowed balls of lead instead of cereal for breakfast. I hadn't thought enough about what Jane's life would be like if her acting career took off. A movie like this would definitely be a huge start. As badly as I wanted it for her, I knew it wasn't going to be great for our new relationship.

"Would you have to travel? You'll probably be away for a long time on some faraway movie set. Moscow, right?"

"Most of it will be filmed right here in the studio, but there will be some traveling to Europe." She pressed her hand against my face and kissed me lightly on the mouth. "It'll be fine. Besides, I don't have the part yet."

I hugged her against me. "You'll get it. They would be nuts to let someone like you slip away." I was one part happy for her and one part sad. But that part was mostly for me. Now I knew how Chase, Zane and Trey felt. I'd laughed off their steady love interests, convinced that I'd never want to settle down with one woman. But that was before I met Jane.

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