Her eyes dilated, making him feel better and less… rejected, which was ridiculous. He understood how things worked on set. “I need to go downstairs. Will you be watching?”

He nodded. “You’ve got this. Go get ’em, sunshine.”

She smiled and he escorted her downstairs, stepping aside as she strode into the spotlight. He noted that Jared was downstairs as well, not calling attention to himself but there if she needed him.

For anyone who thought shooting a movie was exciting, they were wrong. Normally it was dead-ass boring. The same scene, shot over and over, and just when they got everything they needed from one angle, they started again with the camera from a wholly different perspective. Hours passed until they took a legitimate long break and Sasha disappeared with her makeup artist for a touch-up.

When the director finally called cut, Xander turned and realized Sasha’s agent stood beside him. “Rebecca,” he said, recognizing the curt sound in his voice. Fact was, he’d never liked her.

“Xander. Like what you see?” She tipped her head toward the set.

“I do.” He’d been damned impressed. Despite the hurt during Sasha’s rise to stardom, he’d watched her earlier films. But to view her acting now, with her increased maturity and wisdom, was a thing of beauty.

“She’s going far. As long as you don’t try and pin her down again,” Rebecca said.

And there was the agent he despised. “The only one who controls Sasha’s life is Sasha.”

Rebecca pulled her phone from her purse and glanced at her screen before meeting Xander’s gaze. “The parts I will be able to offer her will outshine living out of the spotlight and behind the scenes with you.” She patted his arm. “Just giving you a friendly warning,” she said and walked away, already making a call.

Bitch.

But as much as he despised the woman, she did have a point. Sasha deserved her career and however far she wanted to go. He couldn’t and wouldn’t stand in her way.

***

After a long day on set, Sasha was exhausted. All she wanted to do was change out of her wardrobe, go home to Xander’s, eat something, and crawl into bed. With him. She needed the warmth and security of his big body wrapped around hers, and she wasn’t embarrassed to admit it. She’d been glad he was on set, and during her breaks, she always sought him out.

She stepped off to the side and slid out of her heels, holding them in one hand.

“You were brilliant today.” Cassidy approached, her eyes beaming.

“Thank you. It’s a fun movie. Fast-paced, easy dialogue. We’ll have some action sequences. I like it.” She glanced around and saw people wrapping up for the day. “Where’s Xander?” she asked.

Cassidy laughed. “Somewhere close by, I’m sure.”