Page 43 of Sunny Goes Cold Turkey
Oh?
Oh.
Wow, I’m slow tonight.
Blood rushes to my cheeks as his meaning finally registers. I’m embarrassed that it took me so long to catch up, but it’s just so unbelievable that Anders would need to get his head on straight around me. This can’t be real.
I slide my glasses back into place, “Okay. Let’s do it right here, then.” I hate how breathy my voice sounds.
Anders growls and gently covers my mouth with his hand. “Just… please. Don’t say anything else. Give me a second.” He wrestles his phone out of his pocket and types a bunch of things. “Okay. Look at this.”
He passes his phone to me and the screen is open to a website for a huge… hotel? “What am I looking at?”
“This is your other birthday gift. There’s a short—super short—break in filming the weekend after next and I thought it would be fun for you to try out this place. It’s supposed to be good. I booked a two-night stay for you and a friend.” He scrubs his hand through his hair. “You deserve it after everything you’ve done for Immy and me.”
“Um… this is way too much, Anders.” I scan the screen. “Wait. It’s in Minnesota? I have work to do here, and a resort to run. I can’t go to Minnesota.”
He chuckles. “Of course you can. I’ll have Immy. You have the weekend off. And the best part? I’m flying you there. I have a plane,” he announces with a waggle of his eyebrows, like he’s a little boy bragging about his bike.
A plane ride, a weekend away when we have a resort full of influential people, traveling with Anders Beck. My mind is a whirlwind of worries and happy possibilities. I’m tryingnotto think of the worst-case-scenario reasons why I shouldn’t galavant to Minnesota with this man.
Ultimately, his pride and excitement over this gift is contagious. The reality that I get to fly for the first time in my life, and with Anders, sinks in. I practically dive into the passenger seat and throw my arms around his neck before I think about what I’m doing.
“Oof,” he says into my hair. “Is this a yes?”
“Uh-huh,” I say into the fabric of his shirt, with a long, greedy inhale of his cologne. “Thank you, Anders. You kind of overdid it.”
His warm arms tighten around my back. “It’s not close to enough for the woman taking care of my children.”
“Child.”
“Don’t forget Hairy.” His hand rubs a line from my shoulders to my waist, where his fingers stop and press into my t-shirt.
“For Hairy, you owe me a month in Bora Bora.” I shift closer. I’m dying to feel his beard scratch the soft skin on my neck again. I should probably get out of this Jeep.
“Done,” he murmurs, his hands still pressing tight on my back. “Now, I’m taking Imogen inside. We’re all going to get some good sleep and stay out of trouble.” His stern tone would be laughable if it wasn’t so sexy.
I sigh, disentangling myself from our hug. “Probably a good idea.”
16. Anders and His Snack
“Go,” Christopher says nonchalantly. He isn’t an “Action!” guy. When it’s time to shoot we get a simple “go” that we won’t hear if we aren’t listening. It forces everyone to pay attention, I guess. Smart man.
At Christopher’s quiet word, I pull on my metaphorical Paul Jamison mask and run. And run, and run, and run. This character is constantly running. It’s a risk you take as an actor, choosing a role in an action movie. There will be cardio. This is the four thousandth take of this shot and I’m near death. How many angles does Christopher need of us barrelling through the desert? By my count, about four thousand.
My co-star is barely breaking a sweat. I swear the guy’s a machine. We reach our marks and skid to a halt. Micah yanks my arm to drag me to a halt.
“Here!” he yells, his breath heavy in my ear.
I pause.
“Cut.” Christopher says from his place on the truck.
I’m heaving for breath, but my shoulders relax. That was it. I can feel it. It’s been a grueling day, but I think we finally have it and I can go back to my suite. I grin without thinking.
It’s Sunny time.
“That’ll do. Good work, everyone.” Everyone starts to gather their things and wrap up the day, but Christopher straightens the weathered baseball cap on his head. Uh oh. That’s a move I recognize.
