“Cut!” cries the director. “That was fucking perfect, Molly!”
The camera crew, screenwriter, director, producer, and my fellow actors present all erupt into applause for me. It’s enough to almost make me blush. Almost.
“Thanks, guys,” I tell everyone, grinning as my chest heaves. My costar, a startlingly handsome man named Hayden, claps me on the shoulder as I pass by. “Great work,” he says.
I give him a nod and walk off set, stretching and yawning. I’ve been filming since five this morning, nonstop action scenes punctuated only by a brief breakfast and a couple scenes of tense dialogue. This is the first epic action movie I’ve been a part of since The World Enders, and while I’m overjoyed to be involved with this project, it has been exhausting. My life is considerably different from how it was years ago. I’m busier now.
The producer, a short, rather manic, balding man comes skittering up to me as I walk toward the craft services table, my stomach growling. I already know what he’s going to say.
“You’re doing a bang-up job out there, Molly, but you know you don’t have to do all your own stunts. You’re valuable to us, babe. The last thing we want is for you to break a leg or something. Not the figurative way, of course,” he says quickly.
“I know, I know,” I tell him as I pick up an apple and take a big bite. “But I like to be in control of the scenes I’m in. Doing my own stunts helps me stay connected with the character.”
“Okay, babe. But if you change your mind, just you say the word, and we’ll hire you a double. Alright?” he says.
“Got it,” I answer absentmindedly. I’m not paying him any attention, looking at the time on my cell phone screen instead. It’s very close to my most favorite time of day. The hour I look forward to most of all.
Just as I’m thinking about it, I hear, “Mommy!”
I look up, grinning, to see Wes walking over to me with our toddler daughter in his arms. She’s wiggling excitedly and squirming as she reaches out to me. “Hello, my little angel,” I coo as I scoop her into my arms. I lean forward to give Wes a kiss.
“How was work today?” I ask him as we walk out of the building and across the parking lot to my trailer.
“Great. We landed a new gig for the gala. The one we were angling for,” he says, winking. Wes has become the owner of the security firm he used to work for when he was my bodyguard. He rarely has to get involved with the physical action of the job anymore. I know he misses it sometimes, but with Katie around, it’s important that we both stay safe. For her sake. Besides, he and I still have our just-for-fun tussles every now and then. We work out together, staying in shape for our jobs. It’s an amazing bonding activity, especially since once we’re all hot and sweaty, we get to head off to shower together…
“Oh, that’s awesome!” I exclaim. “Congratulations!”
“Yeah, the new guys are all over it,” he says with a grin. “How was your day?”
I roll my eyes and sigh. “Long, long, long. These five-AM shoots are getting to be a little annoying. But the director says we’ll be done with the early-morning scenes after this week. So I’ll have more time to spend with you and this cute little muffin!” I add, tickling Katie. She giggles and swats at my hand.
Wes says to her, “Tell Mommy what you did at daycare today.”
I give him a questioning look. “Oh god, what happened?” I ask suspiciously.
He laughs. “No, no. Something good this time.”
“Oh, okay,” I say, relieved. Our daughter has inherited all our most troublesome traits. She’s stubborn, overly energetic, and fiercely independent. She’s only three, but she’s been known to backtalk her teachers already.
“I was in a movie,” Katie says, grinning. She’s very pleased with herself.
“A movie?” I repeat, raising my eyebrows.
“Yeah! I sang the ABCs,” she explains, clapping.
“Good job!” I tell her, kissing her on the cheek. Over her shoulder, I give Wes a dubious expression. He snorts.
“They said they’re making a recording of all the kids singing songs. To send the parents at the end of the year,” Wes explains. I relax a little.
“Okay. Well, that sounds fine,” I confess, relieved. Katie is precocious and loves being the center of attention, so I can tell she’s going to be begging me to let her join the industry in a few years. But that’s a problem for the future. For now, we’re keeping all that under lock and key. I want Katie to have a calm, normal childhood. Well, as normal as it can be considering how her parents are. I smile and lean over to kiss Wes again.
“Ew!” Katie cries out, burying her face in my shoulder. Wes and I laugh.
“You ready to go spend the weekend with Grandma Wanda?” I ask her. She bounces up and down on my lap, overjoyed.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah! Yay!” she bursts out, hardly able to contain herself.
We spend as much time together as a family that we can manage between our demanding careers, but sometimes Wes and I just need some time to ourselves. So this weekend, while I don’t have any scenes to film, we’re dropping Katie off at Wes’s mother’s house and spending those two days together… probably in bed. Between my parents, Wanda, and Andie, Katie has a lot of different people helping to raise her. She’s an only child for now, but it’s important to us both that she gain a strong appreciation for family. It does take a village, after all.
And after what happened to Andie and me, we’re even closer than ever. After I finally got back with my parents and explained in detail what Eddie did, they were so apologetic about not instantly believing me. They begged for my forgiveness, explaining that it wasn’t that they were choosing Eddie’s side, they were just in shock and feeling so guilty that the man they allowed into their daughters’ lives could have done such a thing. Dealing with Eddie in court, being hounded by paparazzi and reporters in the wake of the scandal breaking news in the media, it was all a lot to handle. But I leaned on my family and on Wes to get through that difficult time, and now we are all closer and happier than ever.
In fact, my experience has opened up another door for me. I’ve become an activist of sorts, visiting schools, giving speeches and spreading awareness about the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment in the entertainment industry. I speak out because I want to give a voice to those who are still afraid to speak for themselves. I want young women and girls coming into Hollywood to protect themselves and for them to have someone to turn to if something bad happens, so they don’t feel so isolated and trapped in a bad situation. I’ve made a lot of good friends through this activism, and even though some people have criticized me for it, I can handle that. I know what I’m doing is right, and my family and the love of my life support me through every step of the way.
“I’ve just got a few more scenes and then I can head home. Are you gonna wait around for me?” I ask Wes. He nods.
“Of course. Katie’s been begging me all week to let her watch you work,” he says, grinning. “She’s very interested in watching you do your own stunts, apparently.”
“Mommy jump!” she squeals happily. I kiss her on the forehead.
“Yep,” Wes says. “Your mom is a very talented lady.”
“Thanks, love,” I tell him. The three of us get up and walk back to the building so I can finish out my work day. As excited as I am to work again, my priorities have shifted a little bit. I work my ass off, but I no longer keep my heart so guarded. I know what truly matters to me now is my family, my happiness. Love is the most important thing in this world. Love anchors me and keeps me smiling through the rough patches, sustains me during long days of filming, and gives me something so beautiful to look forward to when I leave the set every day.
As I film my action scenes this evening, it’s all I can do to keep from looking out into the little crowd to find Wes and Katie watching me, both so proud. There was a time when I thought I could never have it all, but I know now that I was wrong. I can have it all, and now I do. An
d while I do love my job, no script I ever read will be as beautiful as my reality.
Also by the Author
Romantic Suspense:
Alexis Abbott’s Bound to the Bad Boy Series:
Book 1: Bound for Life
Book 2: Bound to the Mafia
Book 3: Bound in Love
Alexis Abbott’s Hitmen Series:
Owned by the Hitman
Sold to the Hitman
Saved by the Hitman
Captive of the Hitman
Stolen from the Hitman
Hostage of the Hitman
Taken by the Hitman
The Hitman’s Masquerade (Short Story)
Other:
Criminal
Ruthless
Innocence For Sale: Jane
Redeeming Viktor
Rock Hard Bodyguard
Romance:
Falling for her Boss (Novella)
Most Wanted: Lilly (Novella)
Erotic Thriller:
The Dangerous Men Series:
The Narrow Path
Strayed from the Path
Path to Ruin
About the Author
Alexis Abbott is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author who writes about bad boys protecting their girls! Pick up her books today and find yourself transported with super steamy sex, gritty suspense, and lots of romance.
She also writes as Alex Abbott for her erotic thrillers and contemporary romance.
She lives in beautiful St. John's, NL, Canada with her amazing husband.
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Rock Hard Bodyguard: A Hollywood Bodyguard Romance Page 17