***

After that episode, it became routine for Caz to drink out of her drinks, sort of a game on his part. He grinned every time she took the cup back and drank after him. Just this morning, he’d snagged her cup on her way to the makeup area.

Powder handed her a stack of application brushes and numbered sticky labels. “He’s flirting,” she said. She wore an orange sherbet dress with matching tights and she spoke with authority. “I had an ex who liked to steal my stuff. He only stole to stay near me.”

“He’s not.”

Powder nodded, and placed the numbered items on a tray. Every now and then, she’d glance at some notes or a Polaroid photo to make sure she knew which scenes they were shooting, whose makeup she’d be doing, and what that makeup looked like when they’d left off the last scene.

There were separate makeup areas set up for minor actors and extras, but Powder did all the key players except Petra. Petra had her own makeup artist, and only came by the makeup chairs for a touchup or some gossip.

Ashley loaded the next tray, fiddling with one of the face creams. “Is it creepy touching strangers?”

“Nah, I’ve dated worse than these guys.”

“Who’s the worst?” Ashley fluffed a soft brush against her palm and sat on one of the folding chairs.

“It’s all good as long as the actor’s not one of those free spirits who refuse to shower and won’t use deodorant. I’ve worked on a few of those.”

“Great,” Ashley said. “I hope I get to work on someone who’s had a shower.”

Caz came around the partition and took the seat beside her. He wore a frown and his head tilted downwards. Actors had expressive faces, and his read annoyed. Ashley wondered if he needed breakfast. Maybe she should take care of that before his makeup.

Two other actors came over. Powder pointed them into chairs and tossed a jar of face cream toward Ashley.

Ashley caught the heavy glass container and Powder gestured toward Caz. “Put that on his face and neck. I’ve got these two.”

Opening the lid, Ashley took a sniff. Not bad, a faint rose fragrance. Sticking her finger into the pink cream, she scooped some onto the back of her hand: cool, wet. She set the jar on her armrest and got up. “Hi,” she said; then she rubbed the cream between her hands. “Did you get breakfast?”

Caz ignored her question. “I took a shower. Just because I’m British doesn’t mean I don’t shower.”

Ashley tilted her head at him. What a leap. She hadn’t been talking about him. “Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. Let me see.” Leaning forward until her elbows rested on the wooden armrests of his chair, she put her face near his shoulder and neck, and made snuffling sniffs. He smelled like ocean wave soap and shampoo. “You’ll do.”

Caz shot her a little glare that made her laugh, and Powder said, “Stop sniffing him and get to work.” She’d already moved on to the next stage of makeup application.

Ashley leaned back. Using one hand, she braced against his chair and leaned forward to rub some cream into his face. Because of his height, leaning over his knees and reaching up to his face was awkward. She looked over to see Powder’s method.

Powder was tall too. There wasn’t a trick; she stood beside the actors’ chairs and behind their chairs and pretty much just got in their personal space. Ashley scooped up some more cream and looked at Caz, assessing the best angle.

Caz put his hands on her waist and pulled her forward. When her jean-clad legs hit his, he tugged one of her knees up until it rested on his chair beside his thighs.

“Thanks.” Ashley used one hand and pulled up until she straddled his legs. The fabric director’s-style chair made balancing a little difficult, so she mostly sat on his lap. “Security let me in your trailer this morning.”

Caz frowned.

“I dropped off snacks.”

His eyes flickered. “Thanks.”

She rubbed the cream onto his face, then his neck. Tucking her fingers into the neckline of his V-neck, she pressed into the top of his shoulders, kneading. He shifted toward her and put his hands on her waist to help her balance when she kneeled up to reach lower. His skin was warm and his muscles hard.

Caz’s hands held Ashley in place, and occasionally, he’d rub his thumbs over her waist. Sensation radiated out whenever his fingers moved, and her eyelids lowered, making concentrating on the makeup application difficult.

Powder said, “Uh, Ashley, that’s good enough.”

Ashley looked in Powder’s direction, her hands still in Caz’s shirt. “Hmm?”

Powder smirked. “Face and neck are fine.”

Ashley slowly removed her hands from his shirt and contracted her fingers.

Powder rolled a tray over. “Watch while we add a little street makeup, to make him look natural under the lights.” Her hand swiped quickly along Caz’s face with a brush dipped in concealer. The makeup artist concentrated on her task, but she talked to Ashley the whole time. “Do you have a boyfriend? Or like any boy back in Texas?”

“No,” Ashley said. “After my last breakup, I picked out a new guy named Kevin, but I couldn’t catch him.”

Powder added Chapstick. “I’ve never dated a Kevin.”

Ashley stayed on Caz’s lap and watched closely. They’d definitely shoot a close-up of Caz’s mouth because the shape was perfectly proportioned, not too thin, definitely one of his best features, and that was saying something. Caz had naturally dark lashes, so Powder left those untouched.

“I’ll tell you about the Kissing Pentagon,” Powder said. “Once you perfect the technique, try the pentagon on him.” Eyeliner came next. Powder applied eyeliner then lightened the line with the end of a cotton swab.

“Perfect it?”

“Pick a guy.” Powder waved toward the studio. “Use one of ’em. Those boys back in Texas won’t know what hit them.”

“I can’t randomly kiss some guy.”

“Fine, then pick a guy friend.” Last, Powder added a dusting from a compact.

Caz looked at Powder with bored expectation. Ashley caught the look and could tell he thought Powder would name him—actors and their egos.

Powder said, “Boomer would kiss you.”

Chapter 7

Boomer rolled up his sleeves to better display his arms. Once his sleeves were up, he lifted his hands overhead to hold on to the metal boom pole. The muscles in his arms bulged, huge. Ashley tilted her head to get a better look.

Caz squeezed his hands at her waist, drawing her attention back to him.

“Hmm?”

Caz didn’t respond, but his eyes focused on hers.

Powder said, “You’re done.”

At those words, Ashley hopped up and looked back at Boomer, wondering what he did at the gym to get that physique. He had to work out at least twice a day, maybe more.

Caz stood and stepped in front of her, interrupting her thoughts. He said, “I need you to get something from my trailer.”

Ashley waited two seconds with eyebrows raised, but he didn’t say anything more. “Don’t the British know the magic word?”

Caz used his rich compelling voice. “Please.”

“Ooh.” Powder made a sound of appreciation. “Or, you could try a kiss out on him.”

Ashley looked away from Caz toward the source of Powder’s awe.

Garrett stood near the entrance, looking like the cover of a highland-themed romance novel in his green kilt. He swaggered forward, heading their way, moving like a male model on the catwalk. Garrett nodded toward a female stagehand, but didn’t stop to talk. He walked and kept his flirt on at the same time.

Caz’s mouth tightened, and he crossed his arms over his chest.

Garrett stepped into the makeup station and looked at Caz. “Are you going to ever answer your phone again?”

Caz turned his back on Garrett. Garrett reached out and grabbed Caz’s shoulder. “Listen.”