A bit of a language barrier. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “He didn’t show me anything. It sounds completely stupid and made up, doesn’t it?”
Adolfo smiled sadly, as if she was a poor, young, imbecile. “This . . . this man and his lies and his wild sayings hurt your heart,” he said kindly.
“Oh no,” she lied. “Not really. It was a long time ago. But this time, I wasn’t that into him.”
“He is not worth the dirt on your feet,” Adolfo said strongly.
“I think you mean beneath,” Leah said with a smile.
“Beneath. He does not deserve to have the same air you breathe,” he added with a grand flick of his wrist, and then he leaned forward, pressed his finger to thumb and said, “He does not deserve to live on the same earth.”
Leah shrugged.
“If I had you, beautiful woman, for my woman, I would treat you like a princess, shower you with gifts and flowers and kisses. And I would never allow this worry to be in your eyes, no? I would kiss it all away.”
“Oh,” Leah said, moved a little by the passionate way he made his case.
“And if my woman ever look at this bastard or another man, I cut her,” he said with a snap of his fingers and jerk of his hand.
She instantly reared back. She had the distinct impression that he really meant it.
But Adolfo smiled sexily and reached for her hand, taking it into his palm and then stroking her knuckles with his thumb. “Ah, mi amor, you look very sad.”
“I’m fine.”
“Allow me to make you happy—”
“Thanks, Adolfo, but we’re just having a guava juice.”
“Yes, but I can give you more than juice,” he purred.
Leah pulled her hand from his and pushed back. “I have to go.”
“No, no, do not go away from me,” he pouted.
“I’ve had a long day and I have to be back very early in the morning.”
“Here!” he proclaimed, gesturing to the table and the seat. “You will find me still sitting here, still thinking of you.”
“I’ll be sure and wake you up,” she said with a wink, grabbed her backpack, and walked away.
“Do not dream of this bastard, Leah!” Adolfo called after her as she walked away. “Dream sweet dreams. Dream of Adolfo.”
She smiled at him over her shoulder, but she had no hope of sweet dreams.
MICHAEL scoured the lot, looking for Leah, and finally gave up. He was walking to his car when he saw Nicole Redding coming out of the production offices. She instantly lit up when she saw him and started strutting toward him.
Not now, he thought miserably.
“Well, International Man of Mystery, you’re still here,” she said.
“So are you.”
“I’m actually in the movie. What’s your excuse?”
He smiled, thrust a hand through his hair. Nicole put her hands on her hips and tipped her head back to look up at him, the smirk still on her lips.
He casually touched her shoulder and pulled a loose strand of hair from her shirt. “What is it now, Nicki?”
“I was just thinking that I never realized how much you got around. You’re really quite the ladies’ man, aren’t you?”
“Am I?”
“Don’t be coy, Michael. It really pisses me off.”
She looked as if she was on the verge of a major pout. Michael smiled, touched her chin. “I’d bet not as much as an inquisition generally pisses me off,” he responded cheerfully.
Her eyes narrowed, and she pursed her lips, which really was not a good look for her—it definitely made her look like an old hag. “Does it even matter to you that I have a public profile? I don’t like being made a fool of in public.”
A number of retorts flashed across his mind, but Michael was a gentleman, and he shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled. “How am I making you seem a fool, sweetheart?”
“People still think we’re an item—”
“Only because you keep perpetuating the idea. But we’re not, and we haven’t been in a long time.”
“It hasn’t been that long. But here’s the deal, Michael. You bring your skank girlfriend on the set—after you try and get in the pants of that soccer mom.”
“First of all, Nicki, I didn’t bring a girlfriend on set. I’ve only met the woman a couple of times and can hardly remember her name. Secondly, I wasn’t trying to get in the pants of a soccer mom. I was trying to mend some old fences with the only woman I have ever loved. And still, Nicki, I’m trying to figure out how exactly any of that impacts you—unless, maybe, you’ve got some idea that by hanging around here and dogging me, you might convince me to get together again?”
He thought that would make her mad, make her turn on her heel and walk away—but it had the exact opposite effect. Nicole suddenly moved toward him, put her hand on his chest and batted her lashes. “Would that really be so bad?” she murmured. “We were so good together, Mike. You thought so, too.”
“Nicole,” he started, but she grabbed his shirt before he could step away.