by Harlow Layne
The tiny girl we’d been following looked over her shoulder at Luke with worry etched on her face. I was sure she was worried that Luke was going to cause a commotion about her trying to get me to stay behind.
Indicating the door with the words Hair and Makeup on it, she opened it and looked down at her feet. “Right here, Mr. Sandström.”
Luke nodded, but said nothing. It seemed she’d put him in a bit of a grumpy mood. I hoped that didn’t follow him throughout the day.
“Mr. Sandström, please take a seat and I’ll be right with you.” A woman with beautiful purple hair said as she looked through what looked like a toolbox filled with makeup. “If you’d like to take a seat too that should be fine. I’ve already finished with Lana.”
“Thank you,” I murmured as I looked around the small room that was brightly lit, and sat in the seat next to Luke’s. “Is it always so bright in the rooms?”
“Yeah and it makes it hard to sleep when you have a lot of makeup that has to be done early in the morning.”
Turning in my chair, I faced Luke. I was ready to watch what she did to him. “I can see that. I can’t imagine trying to sleep with this much light.”
“Eventually you get used it and take the time to get a much-needed nap. Especially on the set of Night Shadows, they have to put makeup on any skin that shows. That can be a lengthy process depending on the scenes being shot that day.”
“Really?” I asked waggling my eyebrows up and down. “I’d like to be there for that.”
Luke shook his head at me and chuckled. “One day you will be.”
“Okay Mr. Sandström, today won’t take nearly as long as you’re used to so lean back and I’ll get this over as quickly as I can. By the way, my name is Elise.”
“Nice to meet you, Elise. You can call me Luke and this beautiful woman is my girlfriend, Alex.”
Even a month later my heart sped up each time Luke introduced me as his girlfriend.
Luke sat with his eyes closed, as comfortable as could be, while I watched in fascination as Elise put a heavy foundation all over Luke’s face, and then contoured it until he was even more rugged and handsome than normal. It made me wonder what she could do for me if I ever sat in her chair. Next, she styled his hair with a lot of products to help it stay in place when they used a wind machine.
Only once she was done did he open his eyes and smile over at me. “What do you think?”
“You look beyond handsome. You’re gorgeous, but then again you always are. Elise did a great job with you. It was really cool to see her add in the contours that make you look so devastatingly handsome.” A slight blush tinted his cheeks at my compliment. “Any woman who sees this commercial is going to buy whatever it is you’re selling. Shit, I don’t even know what this commercial is about.”
Elise and Luke laughed as she fixed an out-of-place hair. “It’s for a Scandinavian cologne. A buddy of mine asked if I’d help him out at the last minute. It was one of the things I was working on yesterday.” He answered as he stood and shook hands with Elise. I noticed her cheeks redden as he smiled down at her. I was happy to know that it wasn’t only me he had that effect on.
She had made Luke look the best that he could look, and all I wanted to do was get him alone in a room and do very bad things to him until they were ready.
I mentally shook my head to bring me out of my hormone induced haze. “That’s very sweet of you.”
“I do what I can for my friends. They were all supportive of me while I struggled. Now’s my chance to help them out.” He stood and waited until I was out of my chair before he ushered me to the door.
“Even sweeter.” I hugged him for only a moment before I remembered his makeup and hoped I hadn’t ruined it. I gasped with my hand over my mouth, looking up at him for smears on his shirt.
“No worries, shorty.”
“I guess there are times when it's good to be short.”
“I think you’re the perfect height. The perfect fit.” Luke leaned down to growl in my ear. “If you need me to show you later I can.”
“Yes, please.” My answer was breathy and unlike anything that had ever come from me before.
“I’ll show you to wardrobe.” Elise led us out of the room and down the hallway. The house we were in was huge and if we tried to find our own way we were sure to get lost. Luke had informed me on the way that it was common to rent a house to shoot commercials, music videos, and even magazine shoots.
“Have fun today. It was good to meet you both.” Elise said as she left us.
“You too.” We both answered at the same time.
“Excuse me, Mr. Sandström? We’re ready when you are.” A skinny man with red framed glasses peaked out into the hallway at us. He had brown hair that was in a mohawk, large brown eyes, and thin lips. We followed him into the room to a rack full of men’s clothing. I watched as he started pulling clothes off a rack and holding them up to Luke dismissing them all.
“Bring in the next rack,” he shouted causing me to jump.
Slowly, I started to walk backwards until the back of my legs hit a chair. “Are you okay?” Luke asked, one brow cocked.
“Yeah, I just wanted to get out of the way.”
“I think we can make this work.” The guy shook his head as he walked over to a bag. “Lars didn’t mention your size. It’s not easy to dress a man as large as you are.”
My thought was that he was lucky to get to dress Luke and he should be grateful that he got to put his hands on him.
Luke’s head turned to look at the man who I assumed was in charge of wardrobe. “It was last minute. Um… if you need me to I have my suitcase in the car. Did you have an idea on what you wanted me to wear?”
“Robbie.” A tan man with bright blue eyes and pale blond hair sneered as he walked in. “Are you still bitching? Luke here shouldn’t be offering up his own clothes to make your life easier.”
“Lars, it’s not a problem.” Luke strode over and hugged him. Lars wrapped him in a big bear hug and then clapped him on the back.
“Hey, buddy. I’ve fucking missed you, and I only get you for a few hours? Not fucking fair.” He turned toward the wardrobe man with a piercing look. “I want him in a suit for the first half and then some tight as shit jeans with a t-shirt and a button down over it for the other. I plan for the button down to come off at some point. Can you manage that and do it in a timely fashion?”
“Yes, Mr. Olsen,” Robbie stammered out before turning back to the rack of clothes.
“I know you’ve got a plane to catch so we’ll try to do this as fast as possible. Lana is a bit dramatic, but I’ve informed her we have to do everything in one take so hopefully that will keep the drama to a minimum. Let’s sit while we wait. Where did you say you’re going again? I haven’t been able to keep anything straight trying to get this commercial taped by the end of the year.”
“Not a problem. We’re headed to Mexico with some friends.” Luke started toward me as Lars went to the other side of the room to sit on what looked to be the most uncomfortable couch on the planet. It was all hard edges and not one spot looked to be cushioned. “Lars, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Alex. Alex, as you already know, this is Lars, my friend from back home in Sweden.”
“Girlfriend?” Lars stood and came over to us. “You’ve been holding out on me! God, she’s gorgeous.” His hands wrapped around my upper arms, and he stood back eying me. “You did always get the best-looking girls.”
I said nothing as I watched him appraise me. His eyes traveled from head to toe more than once until Luke cleared his throat.
“Lars, don’t make her uncomfortable.” The slight growl in his voice was filled with a possession that caused butterflies to take flight in my stomach.
He made a dismissive sound in the back of his throat. “She’s not uncomfortable. Every woman likes to hear that they look good. Let’s hear what she has to say.”
Two sets of eyes locked on me. One with concern and
the other amusement. I didn’t know what to say. Anything I said in that moment would seem inconsequential.
Luke’s hand slipped in mine, lacing our fingers together. “Seriously, man, let’s get the show on the road, or don’t you remember that we’ve got a flight to catch later this afternoon?”
“Chill. What’s up your ass?” Turning to look down at me, Lars asked. “Has he been this way all morning?”
Squeezing Luke’s hand, I smiled. “No, you seem to bring it out in him.”
“Very well. Robbie get this man dressed so Mr. Sandström can get to Mexico!” Lars stalked out of the room without looking back.
Turning quickly, I looked up at Luke. “Shit! Is he mad?”
His eyes went to the door before coming back to mine, he let out a sigh. “No, he’s just being melodramatic. Don’t worry about him, he’s stressed about trying to get the filming done today. Normally we’d shoot for two or three days and knowing it all has to be done today is making him cranky.”
“If you’re sure. I feel like I got off on the wrong foot with him.”
Leaning down he brushed his lips against mine before pulling back enough to look into my eyes. “I’m sure. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“I know,” I whispered against his lips.
“Alright then let’s get you dressed per Lars orders,” Robbie said, clapping his hands obnoxiously.
We separated, and I quietly sat back in a chair and watched as Robbie fitted Luke first in jeans that were so tight you could literally see everything. I wasn’t sure how Luke could stand to wear them, but he never said a word or showed any discomfort. Robbie moved almost franticly as he made adjustments and flitted around the room.
“All done,” he sing-songed as he placed the jeans back on the rack for Luke to wear later. “I’ll let Mr. Olsen know that you’re ready. He’ll send someone to come get you in a moment.”
“Thanks,” Luke murmured before he made his way toward me looking mouth wateringly delicious in a black suit with a dark gray shirt underneath.
The moment he was in reach my hands were on him. I couldn’t help myself. “You look hot.” My eyes roamed over every inch as my hands got their fill until we could be alone.
“I’m glad you approve.” Grabbing my hands in his, he stopped me from getting too frisky. “I won’t be able to live it down if I walk out of here and I’m hard.”
“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t hide my smile as I looked up at him making him arch his brows. “Okay, I’m not sorry. You’re in trouble. I simply can’t get enough of you.”
“That’s one problem that I don’t think I’ll mind having.” He winked, his mouth close to caressing mine until a high-pitched squeak filled our ears and he pulled back.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Olsen is ready for you.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He called out loudly as he smirked down at me. Then for only me to hear, he spoke with his lips brushing against the shell of my ear. “Later.”
Following behind and keeping my hands to myself, I tried to keep my mouth from hanging open at the lavishness of the house as we passed by room after room. It was opulent on top of posh. I’d never seen anything like it on TV nor in any magazine, but I tried the best I could to hide my awe and not look like the small-town girl I was and embarrass Luke.
My awe was instantly gone the moment I saw who Luke would be working with for the day. Even from afar it was obvious that she was a model with her willowy frame, confident stance, and graceful movements. She was everything I was not.
Elise came out to do a little retouching on both Luke and the model before Lars introduced them to each other. She hadn’t even looked at either one of us when we walked into the room with her superior attitude, but once she caught sight of Luke, she couldn’t stop touching him. It was little touches to his arm, chest or hand. Her smile was blinding, and her laugh was fake. I hated her, and it was only the beginning of the day.
“Alright, everyone quiet. Okay guys, here’s what I want from you for this scene. Lana, you’re going to be at the mirror applying your lipstick and looking like you’re getting ready, and Luke, I want you sitting in this chair watching her.” Lars turned to Luke, giving him a knowing look. “Look sexy as fuck while you gaze at her then when I give you the signal, I want you to get up and strut into the bathroom where you’ll then push up against her and run your hands across her body.”
Did Luke know about this? Did he think I’d want to watch him put his hands all over another woman?
“Places everyone!” Lars shouted as he moved off the set to stand behind a monitor.
Luke moved to the chair he was supposed to sit in. I watched Lana, the supermodel, take off her robe where she was only wearing a pair of barely there black lace panties and bra.
Her body was perfect.
Mine was not.
Why the fuck was Luke with me when he could have someone like her?
“I’m going to turn on some music to get you in the mood. Move with the beat. Got it?” Lars looked first to Lana who nodded her head, that sat on her long elegant neck, and then to Luke, who gave him a thumbs up.
“Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons started to play over the speaker system that ran throughout the house.
Music filled the air as Lana stood in front of the mirror. Even though I hated to admit it, she knew what she was doing as she primped in front of the mirror while somehow looking provocative at the same time.
Lars signaled for Luke to move in and I held my breath as he moved toward her, each step was met by the beat of the song in perfect harmony. When his hands started to slip up her thighs, I closed my eyes.
“Cut! Start again.” The music stopped, and my eyes snapped open at Lars directive. “Luke, you need to look like your turned on by her not like you wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole. Be sexy. Smolder for the camera. You know all that shit that you do.”
“Got it.” Luke gritted out before looking over at me with an apology in his eyes.
“Do you want to get out of here, so you can go on your little vacation with your girlfriend? If so, then get your head in the game.”
Lana’s eyes searched the room until they landed on me, her lips curling up in an ugly sneer.
Lars caught the tail end of her sneer before she could right her face into an innocent pout. He looked to Luke and said something in what I assumed was Swedish. They went back and forth for a couple of minutes until they were laughing so hard that Lars had to wipe a tear from his eye.
“Okay, okay, places everyone,” Lars said, humor still in his voice.
Over and over again, I watched as Luke put his hands on Lana and each time his hands moved across her bare flesh my hackles rose. Luke was playing his part, but each time Lana would mess up causing them to do the scene repeatedly. I wanted to scream and claw her eyes out. I had a feeling that she was doing it on purpose, but I stayed quiet and silently fumed from my spot in the back.
“Stop!” Lars called out with annoyance for what seemed like the hundredth time. “We’re done here. I told you one shot for each scene. I’ll work with what we got. We still have to do the next part with a wardrobe change. Let’s take a short break to have a quick bite to eat and get set up. Lana, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Of course,” she purred as she made her way over walking as if she was on a catwalk. She looked ridiculous.
Luke stalked over to me, grabbed my hand, and guided me out the door. I was sure he didn’t know where he was going, but I wasn’t going to say anything. He’d become highly annoyed by Lana’s antics about twenty takes ago and I wasn’t sure what would happen if I spoke.
The one thing I did know was that Decker would have railed on me and took all of his frustrations out on me, and I didn’t want to be in the same scenario with Luke.
Keeping quiet, I rubbed my thumb over the back of Luke’s hand as he stalked through the house bypassing people left and right until he found a room where we’d be alone. Instead of
talking, he grabbed me by my hips and lifted me in the air, planting my butt on the bar. Pulling a stool in front of me, Luke sat, wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face into my stomach, before he placed a soft kiss and turned his head, hugging me.
Before I’d wanted to say something about how I wasn’t sure if I could handle being in a relationship with Luke if there were more days like today, and I knew there would be many more days like this in his and my future. But when his face hit my stomach and he squeezed me tight, all thoughts of not being able to handle it flew out the window. Touching Lana had been hard for him and her continuing to fuck up must have grated on his nerves. Was it hard because I had been there and had to watch?
Running my fingers through his thick hair, I took a shuttering breath. This would be our life if Luke and I worked out. I would have to watch him touch other women for his roles and women would throw themselves at him wherever we went, especially as he became more well known. Would I be able to handle it? I knew that if I became jealous like I had today that it would drive a wedge between us. Not once had Luke acted as if he took pleasure in what he had to do.
Luke’s arms squeezed me tighter, and he turned once again to kiss my stomach. His voice was anguished when he spoke. “I know today was hard for you to watch. I could see it in your eyes, and I want you to know that was not my intention when I asked you to come with me today.”
I needed him to see my face when we talked so that he could see that I truly understood. I slid off the counter and straddled Luke’s lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I know it wasn’t. I’m not going to lie to you and say that it wasn’t hard because it was. I hated every moment that you touched her, but…”
“Tell me.” He frowned.
I blew out my cheeks. “It was more because she was enjoying my discomfort. She wanted to make me jealous, and it worked. Big time.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I think that Lars is chewing her out right now. He’s not stupid. He caught onto her game and he’ll make sure she doesn’t pull that shit anymore, or she’ll be known in the industry as a trouble maker. She wants to make the move from model to actress and this is her big chance. She’s not going to want to mess that up just so she can make you jealous.”