The Christmas Contract by Evie Mitchell

Author:Evie Mitchell [Mitchell, Evie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780648968733
Publisher: Thunder Thighs Publishing

Chapter Seven

Robbie

This was a huge mistake.

I watched Astrid stare at the blank whiteboard, the marker turning over and over in her hand as she worried her lip, a frown marring her forehead.

We'd been at this for forty-minutes and no one work has been written, not one scene discussed. She'd arrived at the doorstep of my rental at the crack of dawn, whiteboard tucked under one arm, a bag overflowing with props and stationery thrown over the other.

I'd welcomed her into the condo with a smile, offering coffee and pastries. She'd accepted the coffee, waving off the breakfast sweets in order to get started.

Only, we'd hit a block. And that block was named Astrid Larsson.

At least she's a cute block. Would it be weird to tell her that?

She wore a red Christmas sweater today, the fabric so plush and soft that I wanted to reach out and compare its feel to that of Astrid's skin.

Wait. You want to what?

I frowned into my cooling coffee.

You're not into Astrid. You can't be. You're work colleagues now. Remember?

Besides, I'd been on a celibacy pledge for close to ten years, ever since I'd started getting decent parts. I didn't have time for romance, and hook-ups had never been my style.

And yet….

I shoved any thoughts of romance aside, downing the dregs of my cold coffee with a grimace.

"Okay, let's talk. What's the issue, Astrid?"

She glanced at me, a slight blush dusting her cheeks. "You'll laugh if I tell you."

I raised an eyebrow. "Try me."

She hesitated then handed me the whiteboard marker, digging through her prop bag to pull out a set of reindeer antlers.

"I need to wear these."

Don't laugh. Don't laugh. Don't laugh.

I nodded, swallowing my amusement and forcing what I hoped was a blank expression on my face. "Okay, sure. I've seen weirder things than that. Whatever you need."

She blew out a breath, a small grin beginning to tug at her lips. "You think I'm weird."

"No more… eccentric maybe? I mean you write gruesome thrillers and yet look like a kindergarten teacher. It's an amusing dichotomy."

"Great," she laughed, rolling her eyes as she settled the antlers on her head. "I'm weird."

I opened my mouth to defend eccentricity but hesitated, aware of the risk of revealing too much of myself. I'd long ago learnt that people often took that information and sold it to the highest bidder.

You have to trust someone.

I swallowed, decided to take a chance.

"When I first started in the industry, I wore fake glasses."

Astrid laughed, her eyes twinkling. "Are you serious?"

"Completely." I leaned in, lowering my voice. "You can't tell anyone because I just brushed it off later as having reading glasses. But sometimes, when I'm particularly nervous about an audition or attending a gala or interview or whatever, I'll dig them out and wear them around."

"You didn't wear them yesterday."

I grinned, pushed up from the table, and went to the coat rack by the door. For a moment I dug through the pockets of my jacket before pulling the glasses free. I held them up, enjoying Astrid's surprised giggles.

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