Page 125 of At the Heart of It
Jonah frowned. “Seriously?”
“You don’t have to take any clothes off or anything.” Chase waved a hand like that was the furthest thing from his mind, though Kate didn’t doubt the thought had occurred to him. The whole thing gave her a sour taste in her mouth.
Chase leaned close to Viv, easing into his role as her BFF. “Just being together on the bed, maybe offering a few tips about how you might go about?—”
“Stop!”
Kate felt her throat vibrate and her mouth form the word, so she must have been the one to say it. Everyone turned to look at her, and she could hear blood pounding in her head.
She stepped forward, heavy with the sensation of making her way through a swimming pool while wearing snowshoes. “Enough,” she said.
The second she said the word, she knew it was the right one. She kept going, directing her attention at Chase so she wouldn’t have to look at Jonah.
“You can’t keep doing this,” she said.
Chase stared at her. “Doing what?”
There was a challenge in his voice, something daring her to take it a step further. Kate stared back, telegraphing her own message.
I know you’re trying to get Jonah and Viv in bed together. I know what you’re doing, and I won’t let you.
Chase didn’t blink.
Kate took another step forward. “People aren’t playthings,” she said. “You can’t stand here pulling puppet strings while the two people who have the most to lose just flail their arms and legs around with every tug of the handle.”
It wasn’t the most artful metaphor, but it made Chase scowl. “Be careful, Kate.” His voice was low, the threat implied.
A few feet away, Roger and Abby glanced at each other. Viv was frowning, and Kate wondered if she had any idea what this was about. If she still thought Chase had her best interest at heart. That he wanted to help her win back her ex-husband.
Kate didn’t dare glance at Jonah, but she knew he was confused, too. God, he still had no idea. Not a clue that Viv wanted to win him back, or that Chase planned to make a spectacle of him all over again.
Taking a shaky breath, Kate took another step closer. “I can’t let this happen, Chase.”
Chase shook his head and folded his arms over his chest. “You’re treading awfully close to the edges of your contract.”
“Fuck the contract,” Kate snapped. She turned to face Viv, steeling herself for what needed to be said. “Vivienne, he’s not on your side. The things you’ve confessed—the feelings?” She shook her head, trying to convey her message without humiliating Viv. “It’s not going to pan out. They’re playing you, but this won’t go down the way you want it to.”
She stopped there, wondering if she was starting down the wrong path. Why would Viv believe her anyway? The woman who’d confessed to sleeping with the object of Viv’s affection. Viv probably saw her as a jealous rival.
But she had to try. She had to warn Viv, to warn Jonah?—
“Jonah, I know you hate me right now.” Kate swallowed hard and met his eyes. Those mossy amber orbs speared through her, taking her breath away. She knew he wouldn’t argue about hating her, but she needed to keep going anyway. “I know how much you hate blindsides,” she said softly. “And there’s another one coming.”
Behind her, Chase growled. “Stop this right now, Kate,” he said. “Or there will be consequences.”
She looked back at him and knew he damn well meant it. Ten million dollars, she thought, staring into those steely eyes. Kate stared back, unblinking.
My soul is worth more than that, asshole.
She turned back to Jonah and Viv.
“Go,” she said. “Both of you need to leave the set right now and find a private place to talk.” She shot a warning look at Pete, who nodded once.
“No cameras,” she said to Viv and Jonah. “And no coming out until the two of you have had the conversation you need to have without anyone else standing to gain from it. Do you understand?”
Viv pressed her palms together and looked at her. A small, serene expression was painted on her face. Kate couldn’t tell if it was a smile or a frown. The studio lights were so bright.
“Are you finished, Kate?” Viv asked.
