Page 21 of Sex Symbol

“Hey,” Micahsaid.

“Hey.” She didn’t meet his eyes, didn’t ask him to hold her measure, but instead put it on the ground at his feet. She felt rather than saw him pick up the end. “Thanks,” she muttered. She walked the steps back to the camera and wrote down the new measurements then pushed the button to pull the length in, but it didn’t budge. She glanced back at Micah who still held tightly to the end. Seriously?

She trudged back to him. “Can I have it back, please?”

He crossed his arms, burying the edge against his chest. “Will you talk tome?”

Heather broke into a laugh a few feet away, pulling Maddie’s attention. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at the actress flirting with Joe, still bristling from having just watched Heather make out with her man. Whoops! Not her man. Definitely not herman.

Micah studied Maddie. “What’s with you and Heather? That look could shoot daggers.”

She bent her head, hoping to hide her irrational envy. “Nothing. Can I have my measure?”

“No, that wasn’t a nothing look. That was most certainly something.” He pursed his lips. “Hmm. Anger? No. Jealousy.”

Her cheeks went warm. “My measure, please.”

“Maddie, you’re blushing. You are jealous.” He peered over at Heather and the crew. “You can’t be into any of those guys. At least, I hope not, because you’re way out of their league. Is it…” His face broke into an electric smile. “Are you jealous of her andme?”

She burned with irritation. “Oh my God, you’re so full of yourself.” It was true, but that he thought it was true was downright narcissistic.

“I’m right.” He uncrossed his arms and stroked her chin, the end of the measure held tightly in his other hand. Goosebumps rose on her arms as his finger moved across her skin. “No need to be jealous, Maddie. That was acting. Not like ourkiss.”

She couldn’t help herself. She moved her eyes to his crotch where his hard-on was evident. “Looked like it had the same effect.” She meant to insult him with her words, but after she said them she realized she’d just confirmed his accusation. Man, she was so much better with dialogue when she had a chance to write and rewrite. Spitting it out in real time was incredibly more challenging.

Micah chuckled. “You’re adorable when you’re jealous. And this,” he removed his hand from her face and waved it over his pelvis, “is still from you, baby.”

Her insides twisted at his endearment. “I can’t believe I blue-balled you again,” she muttered, mostly to herself.

“Again? Oh, yeah. That night…” His brow rose. “Now if you’re interested in paying me back...” His eyes glimmered with his tease.

They stared at each other for several heated seconds. Then he let go of the end of the measure. It snapped back into the metal compact Maddie held in her hand, but her eyes never left his. Softly, he said, “Talk tome?”

She clipped the measure on her belt and chewed on her chapped lip, dry from the Colorado environment and the intense assault it had undergone earlier. She did owe him for leaving him unfulfilled the night they met. Of course she wasn’t expected to pay him back, but that evening with him…she’d had a really good time. She’d let loose in a way she never did, and though she couldn’t get involved with Micah Preston, she did appreciate the bold, sexy girl he’d found in her backthen.

Maybe she could relive it just once more and return the favor at the same time. It might prompt him to leave her alone. An idea formed in herhead.

“Okay.” She couldn’t believe she was doing this—should she actually be doing this? “A bunch of the crew is going to the bar next to our hotel after wrap tonight. You’re welcome to join. Maybe we can talk there?”

“I’d like that.” He moved his mouth near her ear, his breath on her skin raising all the hairs on her arms. “Don’t be jealous,” he whispered. “If it’s convincing, it’s because I’m thinking ofyou.”

Her pulse spedup.

“Places!” Joe called.

Maddie started toward the camera, surprised that his words had relaxed her. Not enough to make him and her a possibility, but enough to get through the work day. “Just remember, Micah,” she said over her shoulder. “Paybacks are a bitch.”

She ignored his puzzled look as she rubbed ChapStick over her lips, smacking them deliberately for his benefit. Tonight, he’d understand. Tonight, she was paying back what sheowed.