“We got Keith LeBlanc as the supporting actor.Lots of talent there.He’s the next Cruise.Yes?”She murmured into the mouthpiece.“Is that so?Tell Jill to talk to him.She seems to have a knack for calming him down.”Barbs turned to Lex.“Maybe not the next Cruise, but close enough.”
“Is the lead actress doing the jump with LeBlanc?”
“Margo?”Barbs chuckled.“You wouldn’t catch her doing a single stunt, which makes Keith very refreshing.She’s in her trailer resting before her scene, which starts when Jillian lands on the ground.You should meet her.She’s a very talented young lady.I stole her from Sissy.”She giggled.“Poor Sissy still hasn’t forgiven me, but I plan to change that at your mother’s party.I’m going to introduce her to a dashing middle-aged Aussie I met last week.Might be her next husband.”
Somehow, Lex doubted it.Sissy, another director and sorority sister to his mother, loved younger men.“Jillian?”
“The stuntwoman, Jillian Finnegan.She’s Margo’s double.Leslie”—Barbs waved to a tiny blonde hovering by the golf cart—“tell Margo we have a visitor she must meet.”
Lex had no interest in Margo anymore even though she had made his list.Jillian Finnegan hadn’t, but she was on it now.Stuntwoman.
The woman he’d met was no one’s double.He remembered the sparkle in her eyes, the tinkle of her laugh and its effect on him.He stared at the plane as it took off, anticipation and apprehension shooting through him.
He might have just found the woman he was searching for.
CHAPTER 2
Jillian studied the patches of green and brown visible from the window of the Cessna.They were about thirteen thousand feet above the drop zone and should be jumping soon, yet her mind was on that biker and her reaction to him.The moment he’d turned and looked her way, she’d almost chickened out.
Up close, the man packed way too much sex appeal.He had a presence most men worked hard to cultivate and failed.
Talking to him… No,flirtingwithhim had filled her with the kind of excitement and nervousness she only felt when she was about to perform a stunt.Something few men had ever achieved.And the way her body had tightened when he’d given her a once-over had completely blindsided her.
“Jill?”Chris shouted above the drone of the aircraft’s engine.
Jillian forced herself to focus.What the hell was wrong with her?Being distracted by a sexy smile would not do.Not before a stunt.She stood, braced herself against the wall of the plane, and moved to Chris’ side.He studied her with a frown.
“Are you okay?”he asked, concern in the depth of his eyes.
“Yeah.I’m good.Great.”Liar.She was rattled.She’d never reacted to a man the way she had to that biker.Damn it.She didn’t like not being in control.She nodded vigorously as though trying to convince herself more than Chris.
Scowling, Chris’ narrowed eyes stayed on her as though he didn’t like what he was seeing, or hearing.He could always read her.“Then pull yourself together or we’re scrapping the jump.”
And have Barbs get angry?No way.Her temper was legendary.So far, it had been smooth sailing on the set.But Jillian had overheard her and her husband arguing about keeping the production on schedule and on budget.
Cheeks warm, Jillian said firmly, “I’m fine.”
“Then prove it,” Chris snapped.
Why was he riding her so hard?She had this.She took a deep breath and exhaled.I’m in control.I can handle anything.
Calmer, she stared straight into Chris’ eyes and caught the flicker of concern in their depths before he went back to being her superior.“I’m good.”
Chris continued to study her intently.She sighed with relief when he nodded and glanced at Keith.“Calm him down.”
Jillian stole a glance at the Aussie.She could see why Chris was concerned.Keith’s jaw flexed, and he kept clenching and unclenching his hands.Most actors and actresses didn’t do their own stunts, but the import from Australia liked to do things his way, including his stunts.So far, he had braved scenes that would have fazed an amateur stuntman.
As if aware of Jillian’s scrutiny, he glanced at her and flashed a smile.His sweet smile often captivated female fans of all ages.Too bad it didn’t have the same effect on her.The sensual promise she’d glimpsed on the biker’s lips had packed a bigger punch.Made her wonder what kind of kisser he was.She’d never believed in instant lust, until today.
Dang it, she was thinking about him again.
She stole a glance at Chris to see if he was watching, but he was busy consulting with Packman—the first assistant director standing in for Barbs.Jillian scooted to Keith’s side.“You ready?”
“Yep.”Then he chuckled nervously and swept a lock of blond hair from his forehead.“Guess I’m a little nervous.How can you stand doing this all the time?”
Jillian shrugged.“I don’t let fear stop me.Plus, it pays the bills.”She was twenty-nine, not old enough to start worrying about retirement and not too young to believe she was invincible.Serious injuries were always a possibility and a concern.“Everything will be fine,” she reassured him.“Just follow the sequences we did during dry runs and nothing will go wrong.Remember, I have your back and Chris is the best in the field.”
“And you’re not saying that because you’re his niece?”
