Gradually, it came back into focus. The cold breeze on her skin, even as John had wrapped his arms around her. They had to get back to the hotel. They had to grab what sleep they could. For the next two weeks, they had to pretend like nothing had happened.

“What happens tomorrow?” she asked, propping her chin on his chest.

“More of this, I hope.”

She swatted his chest.

“Gah, always with the violence.”

“John, no one can know.” She hesitated. “I like you.”

“I gathered that.”

“I just—we work together, and there’s two more weeks, and—”

“I get it.” He sighed. “I won’t say anything, but I’m not embarrassed. You’re hot.”

“Shut up.” She buried her face in his arms as they cradled her. He was going to be the death of her. “You’re the worst.”

“That wasn’t what you said earlier.”

She could feel the laughter in his chest. She wished she could stay like this with him. “We have to go back to the hotel.”

“Too bad,” he said. “I’d like to sleep here.”

“Why would we sleep outside?”

John laughed and didn’t stop, even when she moved off his body.

He helped her down from the truck. They scrambled for their clothes on the ground. She crawled into the truck bed to get her bra. She laughed when she caught him staring at her ass then laughed harder when he couldn’t get his jeans on. They tossed their boots into the truck bed instead of bothering to put them on. John grabbed the sandwiches from the crate, and they ate on the drive back to the hotel, arguing about the best Godfather movie.

They tiptoed up the stairs of the hotel, giggling as he stumbled at the top step. Anna gestured to her room, and he nodded. He tapped his wrist as if there was a watch there and mimed sleeping.

How is he so cute? She leaned up and whispered in his ear, “I had fun.”

“I had fun too.”

“You go first.” She waved at him.

He winked at her before entering his room.

Anna unlocked her door and got ready for sleep. She climbed into bed, feeling better than she had in a long time, but she felt like she was missing something. She had her boots and her sweater. She had her messenger bag. She was just about to fall asleep when her mind fixed on what was missing.

There were no awkward glances. No strange pauses. She knew that when she saw him tomorrow morning, he would be professional on set, as always, then when they had a moment alone, he would say something ridiculous and filthy under his breath to make her laugh.

What was missing? Regret. She felt no regret.

Chapter Twenty-Four