Double Take: A Leading Man Romance by Harley Rayne Read Free Book Online Page A

straw to push around the ice in her glass. “Who’s the girl?”
    “No one,” I mutter under my breath, as though that will make any real difference in hiding what I’m feeling. I’m as bare-ass naked as fucking baby here. I’ve never been a good enough actor to hide my emotions; there’s only adding onto them and hoping it works for the scene. Luckily, in porn, there’s usually just one steadfast emotion: horny .
    Melanie knows she’s hit the nail on the head because she gets excited and shifts forward in her seat, grabbing my phone. I watch her with bemusement as she lights it up and slides the image over to the unlock screen. “What’s your passcode?”
    “Guess.”
    “No, seriously, what is it?”
    “ No, seriously , I’m not telling you my passcode.”
    She pulls out her own phone, opens up a search engine, and types something in. My picture shows up on the screen and I add, “It’s not my birthday.”
    “Shhhh.” She types it in anyway, and it gives her an error message. She’s just starting to pout when it sounds with a beep, and she leaps to life again, squealing. “It’s from Kylie. She’s the one who passed out today, right?”
    I betray myself completely. In an instant, I’m out of my chair, leaning forward. I snatch the phone from her hand before she can react. Her mouth drops open and she scoffs once in mock offense.
    “Rude,” she says. “Never come between a man and his girlfriend.”
    “She’s not my...” I mumble, and unlock my phone with my thumbprint -- God forbid she see my actual password.
    The text is longer than I expect.
    Thanks for your message & for explaining you got my number for the contact sheet. Would have been weird. :) I’m okay. Don’t worry. I’ll be back in a few days . Maybe tomorrow depending on how I feel. I can’t stay away for too long. I had a little to eat and it helped, and I’ve been downing Gatorade. Electrolytes for the win! Means a lot that you reached out. Thank you again.
    I write her back immediately.
    Glad you’re feeling better. I heard Rob took good care of you.
    My thumbs are poised over the keypad as I see a bubble pop up, indicating she’s typing. I’ve never been this anxious for a response before. A couple of seconds later, she sends me back a text.
    Yeah, he’s still over so I better go. Just wanted you to know I was okay. Thanks again, BB, and I’ll see you on set.
    I’m stuck somewhere among amusement from the nickname, relief that she’s okay, and complete and utter jealousy that he’s there when I’m not. I consider my response for a few long moments, before I finally type in my response.
    It’s BS, unfortunately. Brett Steinberg. Buckhurst is the street I grew up on .
    Melanie is ordering another vodka cranberry when Kylie responds.
    Oh my god. You’re an actual porn archetype.
    I shoot back a text, almost immediately.
    Get some rest, beautiful. You deserve it .
    I lock my phone and stuff it into my pocket so I’m not tempted to look at it again. I’m a grown fucking man, and I’m better than petty jealousy and stupid text messages.
    I fully turn my attention to the woman in front of me, and I smile. “Sorry about that. Where were we?”
     

Chapter Twelve: Brett
    Melanie is completely fucking trashed. I had to carry her bag and her shoes out to the Uber, and halfway carry her. She somehow manages to type her address into the app, and we’re off. I’m not always one for chivalry, but I need to make sure this woman gets home safely.
    Except once we’re in the backseat, she’s all over me.
    I’m tipsy, but she’s hammered. My reflexes are slow, but hers are reemerging at that golden hourof inebriation. “Whassit like?” she’s slurring, and her hand is suddenly at my thigh.
    “Dunno,” I say, not caring what she’s talking about. I pluck her hand from my leg, give it a quick kiss to still her, and put it back on her side of the car.
    The driver is catching glances from his rearview mirror. I can tell