She nods her head, swallowing thickly and then glancing at the door before sitting on the edge of the bed. “Nathan, I want you to know,” she starts to speak before I can sit and it’s unexpected.
She sucks in a breath and then clears her throat before looking up at me. “I understand that I’m invading your territory a bit,” she says her words carefully, squaring her shoulders and being as professional as possible. The confidence and even arrogance that I had when she first opened the door threatens to leave me, but I hold on to the way she felt as she squirmed underneath me on set. She wants me, I know that much and it’s all I need. She can pretend this is something else if she wants to. It wouldn’t be the first time.
I grip the top of the chair at the vanity as I take a seat, giving her the floor to get whatever it is that’s on her mind off her chest.
“I was going to come see you sooner. I just …”
“Couldn’t find me?” I ask her sarcastically.
“I didn’t search you out or even know you were here when I was asked if I wanted the part. I didn’t do this on purpose, I promise you.”
“You couldn’t have; no one knew I’d signed on,” I tell her to let her know I believe her and ease the strained tension.
“I’m not here to threaten you or say anything at all, or bring up anything that happened,” she says and every word seems to come out faster, rushed and stealing her breath. It makes my blood run cold. If Hally wanted to hurt me, she could have long ago. If she wanted to threaten me or hold something over my head, or even blackmail me, she would have already.
I never thought she would, but I have to admit more than a few times, the thought came to mind. It was fleeting, but it was there. Part of me even wanted it.
“You’re a really good actress,” I tell her, my voice low in my throat. She questions the intention of my words. As if I’m questioning the authenticity of what she’s saying. Making her defensive and on edge as she licks her lips and crosses her arms.
I shouldn’t push her like this. I shouldn’t instigate a fight. I know that I shouldn’t, but the thought of her pushing me right back is making me hard as steel.
“Thank you,” Hally responds, although her words hold an edge to them and her eyes narrow slightly. She purses her lips and then her tongue slips out, wetting her bottom lip and forcing me to remember how she tasted, how good it felt to kiss her again.
I sit back in my seat and tilt my head as I speak to her, ignoring her confession and the tension regarding our past. “I mean it.” I rest my elbow on the vanity and place my chin in my hand. “I wasn’t expecting you to fall into the role so easily.”
She huffs the smallest of laughs, but it’s genuine and it brings a lightness to the air and a blush to her cheeks. She shrugs off the compliment, so like herself, but I know it affected her just by the relaxed position she takes when her eyes finally reach mine again. Her movements are slow as she leans back on the bed, the soft creaking filling the room.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” she says easily and flirtatiously.
A noise from behind me forces me to turn around. I left the damn door open, mostly for Hally’s sake but also to keep me from being stupid. Although that’s exactly what this is.
Nancy Welsh knocks on the open door, peeking in hesitantly as she does. I’d recognize her anywhere with her salt and pepper hair that looks like she dyed it to be that way. She’s well known in the industry and has a solid reputation. She looks into the room, glancing between the two of us from behind her thin-framed glasses. “I just wanted a word if you have the time?” she asks Hally.
“Of course,” Hally answers and practically jumps from the bed. Her hands are folded in front of her as though she’s a child who’s been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Half of me is pissed by it, but the other half of me loves it and begs me to make myself even more comfortable in her room.
“Actually, I think tomorrow would be better?” Nancy says and looks pointedly at me. Hally isn’t catching on in the least. Her brow furrows and she shakes her head.
“Now is fine,” she says and a rough chuckle vibrates up my chest, catching the attention of both women.
I clear my throat and slide my hands across my worn jeans as I lean forward and ask Nancy, “Could I just have a few minutes?”
She gives me a tight smile and looks back at Hally, waiting for her to catch on, but she doesn’t. Hally never was the best at reading the subtle intentions of others, which is ironic, considering how well she’s able to portray them herself. “You can have all night,” she says easily and then waves goodbye, ignoring the gasp of a plea from Hally.
Nancy closes the door behind her and leaves the two of us alone, with Hally left standing awkwardly and staring at the closed door.
“She thinks we’re going to fuck,” I tell her.
That gets her eyes on me with her mouth opened in disbelief. “She knows I’m not like that,” Hally answers and I never would have thought those words could make me so hard.
“Not like what?” I ask her, although I already know. Mark provided me with a list of her former boy toys. It’s a short list and I’m grateful for that. More importantly, she’s currently single and “too busy working her ass off” to date.
Which is just perfect for me.
Hally waves off my question, retaking her seat and looking at me and then the closed door before asking, “Are we okay?”
Her face is etched with genuine concern. I hate it.
“Yeah, we’re okay,” I tell her, crossing my arms and leaning back. She’s wounded and scared and I’d bet anything she’d fall into my arms if I let her. And I want her so badly, but maybe I shouldn’t. A small voice whispers to let her be. That I don’t have to do this.