Behind the Scenes

Chapter 16

HARRY

The moment she looked my way, I threw her a grin that I knew would get a reaction. It was a teasing, suggestive look, and even from this distance I could see it having the desired effect I wanted. She looked away quickly, casting her eyes down to the ground, a lovely color filling her cheeks. Even from where I stood, I could see the hint of a smile overtake her face, and had to fight my own inclination to break into a shit eating grin.

The last week on set had been drastically different than those previous. Now when I looked her way, Kate didn't look away with an expression of irritation. Now when I approached her, she didn't immediately appear to be trying to find the best means of escape. Now, when we spoke to each other, the innuendos and flirty looks were reciprocated rather than rejected.

I couldn't seem to grasp what had come over me, but now whenever I was near her, I couldn't stop myself from touching her. Whether a hesitant, subtle graze of our fingers when standing close together, or fighting the urge to full out grab her and pull her against a wall, my lips crashing to hers, I was addicted to her in a way I had never felt before. I had become the type of guy I had always hated, the one who was obviously under the spell of a girl, seeking her out and wanting to be near her. She had bewitched me, when it was supposed to be me enticing her.

I kept my focus on the scene at hand, my teasing interaction with Kate unbeknownst to the rest of the crew. To anyone watching, it was probably nothing more than a well timed smolder to add to the connection of the moment we were capturing on film. I recited my lines, going through the motions of what was expected of me, all the while my mind was complete captivated by the tiny brunette hiding in the corner.

I had spoken to Markus a couple of times, since things between Kate and I shifted, but whenever he asked me of my progress, I immediately brushed it off. I would tell him it was a work in progress, that she was warming up to me, but told him nothing of our encounters and how I couldn't get the damn girl out of my head. I didn't want to lose to him, especially over something so stupid and that would in turn put my masculinity and sexual prowess in question, but at the same time I held my tongue against admitting that I had thawed the ice queen's heart.

"And, cut!" Steven called, immediately allowing me to relax back into my natural state. I worked the kink out of my neck, before my eyes again turned to her. She was smiling at me now, her eyes locked on mine and for once, not looking away. A current passed between us like electricity, a hum overtaking me and blocking out all the bustle of the reset. The longer we stared at each other, the more her cheeks colored, and I had to fight the urge to storm across the set and take her against the wall, my lips devouring every inch of her skin.

She turned then, a voice catching her attention, our moment broke like the snap of a fragile string stretched too tightly. I felt a sense of emptiness, a disappointment, and immediately wanted to smack myself in the face. I was never this person. What the hell had this girl done to me?

I felt someone at my side, breaking away from Kate to find Hunter standing there. He gave me his typical smile, all friendly and charming, and my lips turned down. I knew I had no real reason to dislike the guy, other than the fact that Kate had taken so well to him. But at the same time, that was the main reason I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

His eyes flickered to her, before turning back to me with his smile widening. He must have caught us staring at each other.

"So, what are you getting her?"

"Excuse me?"

He looked at me like I was a moron, that I should have known what the hell he was talking about with such limited information.