Page 26 of Jason
“You have to admit, that’s not the way people meet their assistant at the door,” she said as she grabbed her backpack and followed him.
“My assistant was supposed to call me.That way, I could put on a shirt and come and get her off the back drive.”He picked up her suitcase and started up a wide staircase.
“Your assistant tried, but you didn’t give her even a minute to get to a place where she could pick up a signal.”
Jason led her down another wide, carpeted hallway.“My assistant is slow.”He paused at a door and looked back, smiling as he opened it.
Mallory walked into the room before him.A little gasp of wonder escaped her lips.Sothiswas how the other half lived.The room was beautiful, with an en suite bathroom, a big, four-poster bed, and most importantly, a view of the ocean and the storm raging over it.“Oh my God, Jason.This isgorgeous.Is this your room?”
“Nope.This is a guest room.”He put her suitcase on a luggage rack.“I’m going to grab a shower, too.I’ll meet you downstairs?”He smiled at her again.He’d smiled at her more tonight than he had the whole year she’d worked for him.
So Mallory smiled back, and it felt as if their smiles crossed and hung in the air between them.“Thanks, Jason.”
“Yep.”He paused at the door, his hand on the handle.“Mallory…I’m really glad you’re here.”He went out, closing the door behind him.
Mallory turned a slow circle, taking in the room, then fell onto her back on top of the bed.She felt like Elizabeth Bennet must have felt when she finally saw Pemberly inPride and Prejudice.
She was really glad she was here, too.
Chapter Seven
Cleanedand showered and properly dressed for Mallory’s sake, Jason pushed aside some files on the kitchen table, opened his laptop, and pulled up the headshots the casting agency had sent him.
Mallory appeared a few minutes later looking refreshed.She was wearing yoga pants that fit her almost too well, and a plain white T-shirt beneath a gray hoodie.Her hair, still wet, was slicked back behind her ears.She smiled sheepishly at him.“Wow, look at you.You have on a shirt.”
“Anything to make your stay more enjoyable.Come take a look.”
He’d pulled a pair of chairs around so they would view the files together.He had also refreshed her drink.If she noticed, she didn’t say anything.
Mallory took a seat next to him, picked up the drink, and sipped.“Whisky is growing on me,” she said.“Okay, what have we got?”
“A dozen headshots of actors who are currently available.I want to get a couple of them in to read for the part right away.We start shooting in a little over a week.”
He pulled up the first headshot.A young blond man stared thoughtfully back at them.“Too young,” he said instantly.
“Too pretty,” Mallory said.
The next one had potential.Mallory leaned forward a little to study him, her head near Jason’s.She smelled sweet, like flowers.Like the sort of bouquet he would send to a woman to make up for some sin.
Mallory tapped through to some different shots of the man.She wrinkled her nose.“I don’t know.He’s got a dad bod.”
“What?”Jason turned his attention away from the study of her delicate ear.“No he doesn’t.He looks good.”
“Trust me.No one wants the object of their fantasy to have even the hint of a gut.This is the lead, you know.The character all the woman should fall for, and he can’t have a dad bod.”
Jason looked down at his belly.
Without even looking at him, Mallory said, “You’re not starring in a show.And you don’t have a dad bod.”
How did she do that?He clicked on the next one.“How about this guy?”
Mallory cocked her head to one side and studied him.“He has possibilities.But he looks a little effeminate in the chin, don’t you think?”
“No.”He looked like a regular guy to Jason.
“Seriously, look at him,” she said, nodding.She picked up her whisky and sipped.“There is nothing wrong with his looks, but he doesn’t look hard enough for this role.We need someone grizzled.”
Jason laughed.“Have you ever met Darien Simmons?”he joked.“He has never looked grizzled a day in his life.He looks like he’s just finished afternoon tea.”
