Second Chance

Chapter 9

Nathan

* * *

She’s a mistake. A sweet mistake I can’t say no to.

Years and years of telling women no, letting them down gently or being blunt when I had to. Yet she walks in, and I can’t turn her away.

It’s got to be the guilt, or our past together. Both are synonymous.

How can you look into the eyes of the love of your life, and tell her to fuck off?

“Let’s take it from the top,” Stevens yells out and instinctively my feet rock, preparing for the scene, but this one’s not for me. I crack my neck and let out a tense sigh as I cross my arms and stare at the set from off the stage.

Hally’s gorgeous in that getup. It’s just black leggings and a cream silk blouse. Simple, but utterly gorgeous.

She’s a friend of Miranda’s in the scene and an instigator. It’s the same set from my last scene. The one I failed miserably to put into action.

“Spread the papers out when you go looking for a file,” Stevens yells down from his high chair to the right of me. He’s only a few feet away from me, but even I have a hard time hearing him. He refuses to use a bullhorn, but Hally nods diligently, ready to do her part. I love the way her mouth parts open and she licks her lips as she prepares herself.

I can see her bending over the desk just like Julie was doing yesterday. Even in that blouse, without an inch of cleavage showing, I could slip my finger down the center and pop the buttons open one by one. She’d crawl on top, well she would try to, but I …

“Action!” Stevens yells out, distracting me from my thoughts. A low grunt of frustration leaves me as I shift from side to side, ignoring the growing erection in my pants.

“Where is it?” Hally mumbles under her breath and I already know Stevens is going to call out and interrupt her.

“Louder. Start from the top!” he yells.

I don’t like the tension that runs through me as Hally stops only seconds after starting and heads back to the door. She stands just inside, her hand on the knob and waits for him to call out action for her to shut it as though she’s just entered and walk quickly to the other side.

“Take two. Action!”

She may be new and the subtleties hard to grasp, but the way she looks back over her shoulder as if she’s checking to make sure no one followed her and how light she is on her feet so her heels don’t make much noise, are tells she’s really into the part. She’s going to do damn well, I can feel it.

She chews on her bottom lip as she runs her fingers over the edge of the desk and tries to open the drawers. It’s nearly soap opera material, but the scene itself calls for that. The sound of the drawers, locked and unwilling to give her access is the only sound I can hear. There are at least a dozen.

“I want you to play Miranda’s part; Nate, get on set.” Stevens isn’t light with his words. He’s demanding and I know I can’t go against what he’s suggesting. I clear my throat and stride to the chair at the desk, avoiding looking at everyone else who’s watching. There’s not as large a crowd as there usually is.

“Miranda’s?” Hally’s voice is quiet, disbelieving and unsure.

“You know her part, don’t you?” Stevens asks.

“Yes, yes, I know it,” Haley answers him but she doesn’t look up. She’s nervous as fuck and I know she has to be feeling less than confident. If Julie were here, she’d have a fit that anyone else was playing her part, especially given the circumstances.

“Makeup?” one of the production assistants asks, but Stevens waves her away.

“It’s just to see something,” he answers her and I close my eyes as I grip the arms of the chair.

“Can I have a minute?” Hally asks hesitantly.

I answer at the same time as Stevens, “No.”

I don’t bother to look at him or anyone else. Only at Hally.

“You need to be closer,” I tell her. “Start here,” I pat the edge of the desk, right where she’s supposed to stand before trying to tempt me. I already know what’s on Stevens’ mind and he’s right. His instinct is correct.

Hally swallows thickly and lets out an unsteady breath as she shakes out her hands.

“It’s alright, Hally,” I whisper and give her a smile that’s just for her. “All you have to do is not take no for an answer.”

She smiles back at me, this sweet tempting look. Her blue eyes shine clear and brightly back at me. Like it’s a game. She likes games and high stakes. She always has. “Push me, Hally,” I whisper and it’s then that the murmurs get louder.