“It’s about a cursed werewolf and the witch who helps him.” Her lips twitched with a smile, but I could see the apprehension in her eyes. She was sharing something she loved and expected people to make fun of. I’d die before betraying what he was giving me.

“Sounds intense.”

“Oh, it is,” she said, in a self-mocking voice, clearly fully expecting me to tease her.

“So does she like have to cure him with sex?” That made her spit out her juice all over the counter.

“Theo! What the fuck?”

“What?” I threw my hands up, biting back a smile. “I want to know if he makes it. I’m invested.” She laughed, snatching the paper towel I handed her.

“Don’t book shame me, jackass!” she cried as she dabbed a little dot of juice from her denim shirt.

“I’m not, I swear, and I agree with you. Happiness is serious business. In books and outside of them.” She shot me a skeptical “uh-huh” but kept her attention on cleaning up. I indulged myself by taking her in.

We generally got clothes to wear from the stylist on set, but Alba showed up every morning looking like she was expecting the cameras to be on her the moment she stepped out of the car. She’d gone for the full Southwest theme today, including silver-and-turquoise earrings shaped like little cacti.

“Are those cowboy boots?”

Her head shot up at that, eyes sparkling with delight. She was shameless when it came to compliments, and I loved giving them to her. “You bet your ass they are!” She preened, and I fell a little harder for her when she giddily hiked up her flowy white skirt and lifted her legs to show me.

“They look good on you.” I wasn’t being polite either, she looked good enough to eat in her Texan fashion. I poured her some more coffee, leaving space for the creamer. “Here.” I slid it her way and took a sip of my own much saner choice of a double espresso.

“Wow, orgasms, compliments and coffee. I like Texas Theo much better than the Manhattan one.” I knew she was teasing, testing the waters. But what she said burrowed deep into me.

I liked Texas Theo better too.

Tonight I’d be meeting with Giordan and Ivan for drinks. I’d woken up that morning to a text from Dani confirming it and a couple of emails from their foundation with more information for me to review. The more I learned about their project the more I wanted in. I was starting to think I wouldn’t be done with Texas when the show ended. I wanted more time with Alba here too.

We sipped our coffees for a stretch, both lost in our thoughts until she leaped off the stool and closed her laptop.