Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Jackson's face clouded over. He leaned back, subtly putting some space between them.

She caught every detail, noticing right away-he was pulling back, even if just for a second. She knew he'd always been a bit of a neat freak, especially back when he was dating his ex. That girl had been the picture of sweet and innocent.

Kaitlyn pressed her foot on the gas, rolling through a couple of stores and picking up groceries, stalling for nearly an hour.

Jackson finally lost patience. "Do you realize how valuable my time is?"

She figured by now everything should be set, so she headed straight for her own place.

Alan had set up a house for her, but she hardly ever went there-it was way too big. Maybe one day, if she got a pet or something. Instead, she'd bought herself a big flat near her studio-about three thousand square feet, and it was just her most nights.

Jackson glanced up at the building, one eyebrow raised. "This place is barely ten minutes from your studio. Did you just take me on a joyride?"

She shrugged as she parked. "My husband asked me to pick up some things. Jackson doesn't come home much, but that's married life, right?”

Jackson shifted, looking vaguely unsettled. "Your husband's actually home?"

She strode ahead like it was nothing, pressing the elevator button. "Yep. If you're too chicken to come up, I'll go down and get the marriage certificate for you."

Jackson didn't scare easily-maybe not at all.

He stepped into the elevator, lips curling into a cold smile. "You're the one sneaking around. If anyone should be nervous, it's you."

The elevator dinged at the eighth floor. The apartment took up the whole landing. She slipped off her shoes at the door. Just then, it opened from the inside, and a man in his thirties stood there-broad, square jaw, the honest, reliable type. Jackson's smirk faded. He'd imagined a hundred versions of her husband, but never pictured someone so completely... ordinary.

The man looked at Jackson, confused. "And you are...?"

Kaitlyn changed out of her shoes, casual as ever. "He's an investor in a couple movies we're working on. He was passing by, so I invited him up for a minute. Honey, here's what you asked for."

The man took the groceries and fruit, totally unfazed. "Come in, have a seat. Thanks for picking these up."

Jackson studied him, surprised by how calm he was no suspicion, just polite acceptance.

Kaitlyn turned back, eyebrow raised. "Jackson, you coming in or what?"noveldrama

For the first time, Jackson felt a weird twinge of guilt. Standing here like some cliché cheater, about to meet the real husband face to face.

He took a slow breath. He didn't have Kaitlyn's nerves of steel, that was for sure.

This woman... honestly. He had no idea what to say.

He turned, hit the elevator button, and stepped inside without another word.

Kaitlyn watched him go, then rubbed her temples. Behind her, the man still held the groceries, looking uncertain. "Miss Kaitlyn, should I put these in the fridge?”

She switched gears in a heartbeat, all business. Yes, thanks. Like I said on the phone, my assistant will send over the contract soon. For the next six months, there'll be times I need you to act as my husband. No one can suspect a thing-especially the guy you just saw. That shouldn't be a problem for you, right? Acting's your specialty."

The man nodded, standing in the living room. "Alright, I'll wait for the contract."

He'd just gotten out of his old management deal and needed this job. Kaitlyn might not have the most powerful connections, but her

relationships with key directo

were

solid. Even rookie actors under her wing landed roles in major films.

Movies and TV were two different worlds. Plenty of TV stars crashed and burned when they tried to break into film, no matter how big their shows had been.

Some top directors were famously eccentric and proud. The fact that Kaitlyn could work with them at all meant she had real skills.

Kaitlyn collapsed onto the couch, too drained from the whole Jackson mess to think about anything else. She called her assistant and told her to prep the contract immediately.

Jackson drove home, the weird feeling in his chest refusing to leave.

He dialed Richard. “Let me ask you something. If you slept with a woman and then found out she was married, what would you do?"

Richard was flipping through some paperwork, cigarette between his fingers. He paused, then replied, "That's not a situation I'd be in."

Jackson rubbed his forehead. “Okay, let's say you're me and you found out you hooked up with a married woman. What then?"

"I wouldn't have slept with her in the first place."

Jackson shot up from the couch, frustrated "Colin, are you trying to piss me off? If Dylan wasn't off at home doing his wellness thing and Nicholas wasn't a total moron, you think I'd be calling you?"

Richard laughed softly. "If you really wanted to walk away, you wouldn't have

called me at all."