The Ruckus

Micah grinned. “Well, I was going to find a shirt to wear, but now I think I’ll stay just like this.”

“Yeah, seriously,” Axel nodded. “Too tempting sounds pretty damn promising.”

Hey, I wasn’t going to complain if they wanted to stay shirtless. The eye candy was simply a bonus, as far as I was concerned.

They started the tour closest to where we’d been standing, explaining the different sets they’d constructed and how they’d planned everything so that props and backgrounds could be shared and reused.

“Over here is going to be our craft services area where people can sit and eat.” Axel pointed to a couple of long tables lined with folding chairs. “I know it’s pretty bare at the moment, but try to picture it with tablecloths and catered food.”

I smiled because I could picture his vision coming to life with a little more time and hard work. And money, of course. Productions—even small, independent ones—always needed more funding. Always.

The fact that they’d managed to do so much was a testament to Axel’s ideas and their combined dedication to see those ideas through.

“And back there,” Micah stepped up and pointed to the side wall. “See where that tape is marked off on the floor? We’re going to put in a couple of dressing rooms there.”

“There’s also space for a third office upfront if you do decide to come on board,” Axel added with a casual shrug that was at odds with the hopeful look on his face. “You know... just saying.”

I stepped closer to him and laid my head against his chest for a moment. Their enthusiasm for the place was obvious and contagious. My mind ran away with thoughts and possibilities even while I denied I’d ever be able to help.

Suddenly, three loud bangs echoed through the studio, scaring an embarrassingly high-pitched squeak out of me as I practically leaped into Micah’s arms. “What the hell was that?” I looked around, half-expecting the roof to start caving in.

“I think someone is at the door,” Axel answered, already hurrying to collect his discarded shirt and jeans. “I’ll get it.”

Another round of knocking boomed through the place, making me cringe. “My God, tell them they don’t have to knock like that.”

“No shit,” Micah muttered. “You’d think we owed somebody some money from the way they’re about to break the door down.” He scanned the room and took a step toward his clothes before frowning. “Want me to come with you, Axel?”

“No,” he waved Micah away. “Stay here with Jasmine. I’ll call for you if I need any backup.”

Micah nodded and turned back to me. “It’s probably someone who is lost or...”

His voice trailed off, and I tried not to let my mind wander too much. Because the reality was that people didn’t just go knocking on doors in the middle of a storm unless something was wrong.

The only thing that was keeping me from completely freaking out was the thought that a burglar or someone trying to hurt us probably wouldn’t have knocked at all.

“Don’t worry, beautiful,” Micah pressed a kiss to my forehead as Axel disappeared through the door to the reception area. “He’ll be okay. He’ll take care of whoever it is, and then we can get back to what we want to do next.”

Micah sounded more confident than he looked as he watched the empty doorway intently. I strained to hear, but everything was quiet.

Too quiet.

Seconds felt like hours as they ticked by, and I heard myself laughing absently at whatever joke Micah tried to crack. He was only trying to make me feel better even though he must have also been disturbed and preoccupied wondering what the hell.

And then I heard my name.

Not by Axel, but by... Muriel. I’d recognize that woman’s voice anywhere. But what was she doing there?

“What the hell?” I murmured as I took a step toward the reception area.

“Jasmine?” Poppy appeared in the doorway in front of me like some kind of frazzled, frantic mirage. “Thank God you’re here. We’ve been worried sick!”

I looked back at Micah, who scrambled to cover himself in the clingy long johns as he dashed toward his still-wet clothes.

Well... I guess it was pretty obvious what we’d been doing. Although perhaps not, judging by Poppy’s confused look.

“Why were you worried?” I smoothed my hoop skirt and walked over to her. “You and Muriel were both busy all night, and I didn’t want to ride out the storm alone.” I shrugged. “So when Axel and Micah told me about the Civil War project they have in development, I jumped at the chance to come here and check it out for myself. We’ve been catching up.”

Which was basically the truth. We’d been naked for most of the catching up, but oh, well.

Muriel popped up next to her as if I’d somehow summoned her by saying her name, and she had Nolan Reed and Cooper Price in tow.