Chapter 4

Four

Harlowe

This was bad. I fastened my seat belt across my lap even as my hands trembled and then tucked my fingers under my legs to keep Roc from seeing how much he’d unnerved me. Even though he sat across the aisle, he was facing me, and I could sense his gaze sliding to me every minute or so.

Why did it have to be him? Of all the bodyguards in the world—all the orcs in the world—why did my dad have to hire the one who’d been the stuff of my teenage fantasies? Not that my dad had known that I’d been fascinated by his part-orc friend, or that I’d eagerly anticipated the nights Roc would come over for dinner or to hang out by our pool on a sunny afternoon. It hadn’t helped that the orc had been tall and buff. With his long, dark hair and matching scruff, he’d been like catnip to a girl who liked the idea of a bad boy without any of the consequences.

So much for no consequences, I thought, as I made a point not to look his way, even though I hadn’t shed my sunglasses inside the plane. The moment I’d seen Roc, I’d turned into an idiot. My face flamed with heat as I remembered his jaw ticking when I’d told him that having him around bothered me.

That hadn’t been a lie. His presence did bother me, just not in the way that he thought. What he probably thought was that I hated him, which made me twitch in the buttery, leather seat and want to blurt out a half-assed apology.

I could do it, I thought, as I twisted my head to take in the small interior of the plane that was bathed in beige. There was no one else on board. Not even a flight attendant, since our flight was short and more people on board meant more chances for my location to be revealed.

I opened my mouth and then clamped it closed just as swiftly. What would I say? I didn’t mean that having you around bothered me in a bad way.You bother me in a good way. Sure, Harlowe, that wouldn’t be awkward to explain at all.

No way was I going to confess that to my childhood crush, not when just looking at him made my stomach do a backflip. It was one thing to see a past crush and realize that you were young and silly to ever have liked him. It was another to have all those old feelings wash over you just as powerfully as if no time had passed.

It didn’t help that Roc looked almost exactly like he had a decade ago. Maybe he wasn’t as lean anymore, but if it was possible, he looked even sexier now that he wasn’t in his twenties. It was common knowledge that orcs aged slower than humans, but Roc’s maturity only added to his appeal. Now that I’d been around him for even a short amount of time, my costar who was also twenty-three seemed like a child.

“Zander is a child,” I said under my breath as the plane rumbled down the runway.

Roc snapped his head to me, but I pretended like I hadn’t spoken as I slid my hands from under my legs to grip the armrests of my seat.

Get your shit together, Harlowe. You are going to a location shoot and Roc is your bodyguard. Nothing else. Like he said, he isn’t your friend, and he definitely isn’t interested in being anything more. Not after what you said to him.

I used the roar of takeoff to mask a groan, leaning back in the seat as the plane lifted off the ground. My stomach dropped like it always did when the plane caught air, but then we were up.

Besides, I told myself, Roc is your dad’s friend, and Jack would flip his shit if he knew you had a crush on the bodyguard he was trusting to keep you safe.

No big deal. It’s a short trip, a quick shoot, and then the hot orc would be out of my life. That thought sent a pang of sadness through me, but I flicked it away like a pesky insect. What did I really think could happen? Did I legit think that Roc would fulfill every secret fantasy I’d had about him? He’d made it clear that he was only with me as a favor to my dad. He probably still thought of me as an annoying kid anyway. Not that I hadn’t given him plenty of reason to think the worst of me.

The plane leveled out, and I glanced at the orc again. His arms might be folded over his chest and his eyes shut, but I noticed that his hands were fisted so tightly that I could see the white of his knuckles through the muddy green of his skin. Was it possible he didn’t like flying?

Just as I was about to ask him if he was okay, my phone buzzed in the pocket of my hoodie. Crap. Had I left it on?

I yanked it out and peered at the screen, releasing a breath when I saw my agent’s name. If I didn’t answer, he’d just continue to call. I wouldn’t put it past him to appear outside the plane’s window. “Hey, Grant.”

“Harlowe.” Why did he always sound out of breath? “I’m glad you answered—”

“You know I’m on the way to the shoot, right?”

“Of course, I know. I arranged it all with the studio. I wanted to grab you before you started shooting. I just negotiated a new deal for you.”

I sat up. “With…?”

“The show wants you to sign for another three seasons.” The words rushed from him like he was being charged by the second. “Isn’t that fantastic?”

“Three seasons?” I couldn’t keep the dread from my voice. Three more seasons meant I was locked into three years of awkwardness with Zander, three years of playing the same character, three years of being a villain fans loved to hate.

“It’s a lot of money, Har.”

I bristled at the nickname he’d given me without asking. I hated people who shortened everyone’s names because they thought it meant they were in some sort of inner circle. “I can’t make that kind of decision now.”

“Tick-tock, sweetie. This deal has an expiration date.”

Youhave an expiration date, I thought. I rubbed a hand over my forehead at the childish comeback I forced myself to swallow. I’d definitely spent too much time with my twelve-year-old sister, who was the queen of sassy backtalk.

“Listen, Grant. We’re heading into some turbulence. I appreciate you negotiating this deal and my answer is—” I disconnected the call, turned off my phone, and dropped it on the empty seat beside me.

When I looked up, I caught Roc eyeing me. Before he wiped his expression and turned to peer out the window, I could have sworn that he’d been grinning at me.

More delusions, I said to myself as I tore my gaze from him. The last person Roc would be smiling at was the client who was a brat to him.