He wondered if she felt it too, that unceasing pull. Whatever happened between them, he would leave it up to her. He knew what he wanted. He wanted to laugh with her and drink beers with her and argue about movies with her. He wanted more too. Now that he had a taste of what she felt like in his arms, all breathless and starry-eyed, he wanted that too. He wasn’t a fool—he knew she was attracted to him. He was determined to respect the boundaries she had set on this shoot, though. Still, he wondered, Why didn’t you roll the dice on us? What are you so afraid of?

“Anna,” John began, not exactly sure how to articulate his feelings, but knowing he had to try.

“Here you are,” Cole said as he slammed the door open. “Well, isn’t this cozy.”

“What do you need, Cole?” Anna asked. She wiped her hands on the towel, like a fighter before a bout.

“So, this is why you two haven’t been available,” Cole said, sneering. He glanced between the two of them.

John knew Anna was worried about her professional reputation, but he also knew her personal life was none of Cole’s goddamn business. John gestured to the pot behind them. “Yes, we’re involved in a great conspiracy to get this movie made.”

“You’ll make a lot of enemies if you work with her.”

John turned to Anna. “Why does everyone in this business talk like they’re in a mob movie?”

Anna smiled.

“I’m serious,” Cole said in a confiding tone, as if they were two bros out for a beer. “You’ll lose a lot of opportunities.”

“You just don’t like the fact that she’s doing a better job than your idiot friend. I would be lucky to work with her on any set.”

“Lucky, huh?” Cole asked with a sneer and an attempt at an eyebrow waggle.

John hadn’t liked this guy since the beginning, but he’d been concerned he hadn’t given Cole a chance. But no. He’d been right the first time.

“Say that again, asshole.” John stepped forward, standing next to Anna. Although tossing this idiot’s head into a pot of fake blood would have been gratifying, John wasn’t childish enough to throw a punch. Still, he wasn’t going to allow anyone to insult Anna. Cole looked like the kind of guy who didn’t know how to back up anything he dished out.

“Did you have a reason for looking for me, or was it just to spew insults?” Anna crossed her arms over her chest.

Cole spluttered, still not responding to John’s statement. “We need to talk about the blocking for tomorrow’s shoot at the castle.”

“We haven’t prepped shots before getting on set before, and I thought our conversation yesterday on the exteriors was fairly clear.”