by Jane Galaxy
God, had she ever been a receptionist at a crappy job? It was hard to remember some days.
Natasha came back over and set one hand on Sophie’s arm.
“Oh, God, how bad is it?”
The director gave her a reassuring smile.
“Not bad, don’t think in that direction—but I want you to melt more. Looser in the shoulders, give in and sink down when he bends you back. Mira likes him against her will, and she’s in way too deep before she realizes it. Don’t worry about giving me the negative reaction; that’s all Gina. For now, just let your boyfriend make out with you on camera.” Natasha gave her a thumbs-up.
She turned to walk away to confer with the gaffer, and Sophie watched Tristan catch her eye and make a little gesture. Then he wrapped his arm around her again, but it was to pull her closer so he could bend forward to press his forehead against hers.
“Hi.”
“Hi there.”
“What’s up? What are we doing?”
“Well, we’ve been living together a while, and things are going smoothly at the studio, so I was thinking…”
“You are aware that everyone on set is staring at us from behind me, and I can feel the prickling sensation of all their eyes on me?”
“That’s why we’re having a private conversation the way people do.”
Sophie closed her eyes and nodded.
“Got it. What were you thinking?”
“I think I want you to marry me.” Tristan’s eyes went back and forth over her. “Will you marry me, Sophie?”
She opened her eyes again.
“Like, right now?” Sophie said in a hushed voice. He bit back a laugh.
“Whenever you like. Wherever you like.”
She leaned back from their forehead communion and stared at him, trying to parse out if he was serious.
“Aren’t you supposed to get on your knees for this?”
“I could do that.”
He sank down, and reddened a little as the crew fell silent, the only sound someone’s foot scraping against the pavement nearby. Sophie pressed both of her chilly palms to his cheeks and looked delighted.
“So this is what it’s like to look you right in the face!” she cried, and there were chuckles behind them. “No wonder your fans liked asking you to pose like this.”
He started laughing.
Sophie gathered Tristan up in her arms, burying his face in the shoulder and collar of her winter coat, and murmured into his ear.
“I like you so much more than I thought I could like anybody,” she said in a small voice, and this time he wound both arms around her and pulled her so close that he could feel her heart beating through all the layers of fabric.
“Yes,” said Sophie, low and lush right into his ear. “Yes, yes, yes.” She pulled back from the embrace and ran a hand over his jaw with a lovely half-smile. “Get your take, you weirdo.”
They grinned, and he stood up to get back on his mark.
“Colder Than Ice, scene 35, take two!”
Also by Jane Galaxy
Harder Than Steel