Page 4 of Max

“Girl, I wish I had this hair.” Jay sighed as he curled her dark brown locks. Shay thought about highlights, but she didn’t want to damage her hair. Besides, it glinted red in the sunlight. That was enough for her.

“You wouldn’t when you had to try to tame it all by yourself.” She had thick, thick hair with a tendency to kink up and get frizzy in the heat. Her hair could be a nightmare to deal with.

“Bitch, please.” Jay waved the curling iron at her. “I’d deal.”

Jay was one of her favorite people. The gay man loved feminine things, but he’d throw down if necessary. She’d seen him knock out an asshole who’d called him some not-so-nice things and tried to lay hands on him. The man had serious muscles. A lot of idiots ignored that he was gay. Jay told her he worked out to deal with said idiots.

“I’ve been thinking of cutting it.” She laughed at his gasp of horror.

“You do and we will no longer be BFFs,” he warned as he finished with the curling iron.

“You’d still love me.” Shay shook her head so the loose curls cascaded around her.

“You keep telling yourself that.” Jay glanced at the notes the director had given him for Shay’s appearance. She was to be maid of honor for her on-screen sister today.

She glanced at her watch. Kevin should be back any minute with Desiree’s brother. She was nervous as a cat whose tail was in close proximity to a rocking chair when it came to meeting him. She’d seen him in pictures, and her best friend talked about him all the time. So much so that Shay felt like she knew him already. Which was probably why she’d agreed to talk to him about her stalker.

Something she’d been trying not to focus on.

But after yesterday, there was no other option. The man had gotten into her apartment and her house back in Virginia.Her home!

A fact no one but the police knew about, thankfully. Soap opera stars didn’t garner the same type of press Hollywood stars did.

“So, who is this man you’ve got coming to see you that has you so nervous you’re biting your lip?” Jay started pulling her hair up as he talked.

“I’m not nervous.”

“Girl, please. You can lie to everyone but me. I’ve known you too long.”

Shewasnervous, a fact she’d already admitted to herself. Shay had a bit of a crush on Max Sheridan, even though she’d never met him. He was a gorgeous man, and Desi constantly talked him up. His little sister probably had him on a pedestal, but still, she made him sound like the best thing since TikTok.

The door to the makeup trailer opened, and Kevin came in, followed by the man she’d only ever seen in pictures. Emerald green eyes swept the trailer and came to rest on her. His hair brushed the collar of his flannel shirt. A cowboy hat rested rakishly on his dirty blond hair. The dark scruff he wore made him all the more rugged. She swallowed. Several times, barely keeping from wetting her lips. He was just as beautiful in person as he was in pictures.

“Oh, my,” Jay whispered, a little bit of awe in his voice. Jay saw actors and models all day long, living in New York, but there was something different about Max. He had sex appeal coming out of his pores without trying. Something some models would sell a body part to attain.

He looked rumpled and grouchy, but still hot as hell.

She got all tingly in places that hadn’t tingled for almost two years.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

“Shay.” Kevin handed her a cup, and she took it, sipping the coffee for lack of something better to do. She didn’t want to be caught drooling.

At least none of her coworkers were here to see this. When Desi called to say Max would be there, Shay contacted the head of production and requested a private trailer so they could talk. Laura, the girl who did her makeup most days, had already come and gone. She’d hoped Jay would be gone by now too, but he’d been chatty this morning.

“Mr. Sheridan, this is Shayna Moore.” Kevin moved away from her, so Max’s piercing gaze hit her full force once again.

Oh, myjust didn’t reflect the way her hormones ramped up and nearly burst an ovary.

“Miss Moore.” Max nodded toward her, his hat firmly in place.

“Jay, you’ll need to finish this after I speak with Mr. Sheridan.” Her voice had a huskier tone than she wanted, but the live and in person Maxwell Sheridan put his photos to shame.

“Honey bear, if you don’t pounce on that, I will.” Jay’s exaggerated whisper was as loud as it was intended to be, and Shay glanced at Max, worried. A lot of men didn’t take Jay’s flirting well. Max surprised her by laughing.

“I’m Jay.” Jay held out his hand, and Max shook it. “You don’t bat for the same team, do you?”

“No, sugar, I don’t, but tell you what. You find me somewhere I can get some decent coffee, you can flirt all day long.”

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