Read His Rules: Ludlow Nights - Book1 (A Ludlow Nights Romance) for Free Online Page B

flew into her bangs.
    "Don't you think she's too old for him?"
    Anastacia's brow creased, thinking.
    "She's twenty-two. He's twenty-five."
    "Yep. But Lena's managed to cram four lifetimes into one."
    Anastacia's butter-wouldn't-melt smile flashed.
    "I know. She's a handful. Let's see how he handles her."
    Linda sat back to study her carefully.
    "You're testing him."
    Anastacia's cool blue eyes met hers.
    "Too bloody right I'm testing him. Let's see what Olivier Conti's made of."
    "We'll want to send him all the scene scripts well ahead of time, so that he can see what he's getting himself into," Linda reminded her.
    "I'm sure Nico's explained everything to him. However, I've no problem with Olivier being kept in the loop." Anastacia sat up in her chair to type notes on her laptop. "It's not as if he hasn't been in front of a camera before. He seems quite comfortable with his endorsements. We haven't heard a whisper that he's hard to work with."
    She looked at her PA for confirmation.
    Linda nodded. "On the contrary, all I'm hearing is how easy he is."
    "There you go. We've nothing to worry about."
    "Uh-huh. But what we want is not the same thing as him just standing there looking pretty. He'll need to act. And he might not be too happy with the bath scene in Rome."
    Anastacia just gave her big wide eyes.
    "Gimme a break. When have you ever seen a footballer shy about showing off the size of their package? Trust me, Olivier Conti will be just like the rest of them."
    Linda said nothing for a long time.
    "Well, he's thrown you, which is a first in my book. I'm just saying that we better be careful and make sure he’s clear about our needs."
    Anastacia's fingers flew over her keyboard as she glared at her assistant.
    "Fine, fine. Do what you need to do, send him the Rome script and even highlight the bathroom scene. But I bet you twenty quid he'll be more than happy to strip."
    "No need to get snarky, Ms. Cranky. Just protecting our butts."
    Now Anastacia grinned and wiggled her eyebrows in a move that reminded Linda forcibly of Nico.
    "He has a deliciously tight butt."
    "If you're a very good girl you might get to see that tight butt up close and personal."
    The remark wiped the grin from Anastacia's face.
    "Not a chance in hell."
    Linda rose, gathered her notebook, her pen, the empty coffee cups.
    "We'll see what we'll see," she said and sailed out the door.
     
    Ten minutes later, Anastacia's trusty PA sailed back into her office and plonked herself in the chair in front of the desk.
    Linda looked so pale, Anastacia broke off her chat with the TV film director, Ed Brookes.
    "What's the matter?"
    "Check your inbox, I've just sent you what's trending on twitter and Facebook." Linda stood and stalked towards a tall cupboard which held glasses and drinks in a mini fridge. "And while you're doing that, I'll get the brandy."
    Brandy?
    What on earth could have happened that needed brandy first thing in the morning?
    Wondering what the hell was going on, Anastacia did as she was told and clicked on the email link.
    Her eyes bugged out of her head.
    Omigod .
    She counted the pictures.
    Eight.
    Eight pictures of Olivier Conti and Anastacia Morgan in front of her apartment last night... snogging.
    Her pulse kicked in her throat as perspiration beaded on her top lip.
    Omigod .
    The kisses weren't just hot, they were scorching.
    Dear God, had she really tangled her fingers in his hair like that?
    And had really she pressed her whole body against his like that?
    And had he really had his hands on her butt cheeks like that?
    Bloody hell.
    Linda placed the brandy glass at her elbow.
    Anastacia grabbed it and took a swig.
    And right on cue, her cell phone rang.
    She glanced at caller i.d.
    Feck, feck, fecking hell.
    It was Nico.
    Linda looked at her with big eyes.
    And Anastacia looked at Linda right back.
    She picked up her phone, slid the screen to accept the call and closed her eyes.
    She was sooooooo screwed.
     
    "Anastacia," Nico