Page 32 of Love: Take Two

"He was such a dick," she says with a shudder.

"Michael Aldo called you the wrong name when you slept with him, and you showed up to work the next day like it never happened."

"Yeah, well, that whole mistake lasted about five minutes total, so…" She trails off, and I press my lips together to keep from laughing. Michael earned the nickname Minute Man that night and became the butt of countless inside jokes, especially when news broke about his upcoming film, "Racing Against Time".

"My point still stands," I continue after clearing my throat. "What is it about Yong-rae that has you acting so crazy? Your chemistry was amazing at the final call-backs."

She whispers something that I don't quite catch.

"What?"

"I said, that's the problem!" she nearly shouts. "Our chemistry is so good, sometimes I forget I'm acting. Like," she grasps for the right word, "when he's on, we lock in, and the scene suddenly feels too real. Too personal."

"I would think that would be a good thing," I reply carefully.

"You would think so," she says bitterly, "unless those feelings don't stop when the cameras do. I'm a fucking professional, dammit! I should be past an on-set crush."

She raises her hands to stop me from voicing my disapproval.

"I already know what you're going to say," she insists. "And I agree. It's a dumb move."

"Arookiemove," I correct. "And he's the only one who should be making those."

"I'm not makinganymoves," she glares at me. "You wanted to know why he irks me? That's why. He's crazy talented, he's ridiculously hot, and it's making me feel things for a guy I know is going to be gone in a few months. OK?"

"Try a fewweeks," I grumble under my breath, and her eyes snap to mine.

"What?!" she almost screeches. "Are you telling me Pinnacle is trying to get this movie done in a fewweeksnow?"

"No, no," I shake my head, but she's ignoring me now.

"My schedule is booked through July, but if this finishes early, maybe I can still do the guest spot on—"

I gently place my hands on her shoulders to stop her spiraling.

"Please forget what I said. I was talking about something else."

She tilts her head to the side, considering me. Her uncanny ability to read people is part of why she's such an amazing actor, but when her gaze sharpens, I know she's seen behind my carefully constructed veneer.Why couldn't I keep my mouth shut?

"Are you sure you weren't talking about someoneelse?" she says, her smile mischievous. I wave her off.

"I'm very sure."

Her smile gets even bigger.

"You know I'm not going to forget this, right? I'm going to keep asking until you give up and tell me what asshole wastalented, hot, and then fucked up and left you after only a few weeks."

She may be a low-maintenance client, but she gossips as much as any other actor. I roll my eyes with a smile.

"Yes, I know. But you won't get it out of me today."Hopefully not ever.

"That's fine," she grins. "I can wait."

Before I can accidentally spill any more secrets, my phone rings.

Gehrig & Associates

I step outside to answer the call. Tabitha has already had the displeasure of overhearing Conrad Gehrig and Emmitt Wilson'sharmless jokesabout her, and I don't need another fiasco today.