Chase nodded, then tried to listen to Michel. But his gaze kept finding Zahara like a magnet. His mind filled with memories of their weekend together. He had a hard time fathoming it had been over a month ago. Sometimes, at night, he swore he could still feel the slide of her hand across his abdomen, her head resting on his chest, the curve of her ass against his—
“Oh my God.” Lila’s soft words drew Chase’s gaze. Her eyes were wide, darting between Zahara and Chase. “That’s–”
“Don’t,” he cut in, his tone laced with warning. She might have been whispering, but they were surrounded by crew members. Not to mention one of Zahara’s closest friends right behind them.
His nerves felt like they floated at the surface of his skin. Lila was wearing on his patience. This situation was pushing all his buttons. He wanted to tell Lila to handle her own mess, but the last time he did that, she’d ended up in the ER. Before he’d known it, he was in this ass-deep right along with her. Now he couldn’t turn away without one hell of a nightmare in the press, which wouldn’t help anyone. Besides, it went against his morals. And with those in such short supply in Hollywood, he had to hold on to every last one.
He only wished he could do something to buffer Zahara. She didn’t deserve this.
“Normally, this part of the meeting wouldn’t be necessary,” Michel said. “But it’s important for everyone to know exactly where we stand on this important issue. We want everyone throughout the organization to know that we are taking a zero-tolerance stance on sexual harassment. To that end, we have enacted a no-dating policy.”
A round of dismay murmured through the group, but Michel continued.
“Married coworkers are exempt, but if you’re in a relationship or are entertaining a relationship with anyone you work with, table it until after the film wraps. Again, with a multimillion-dollar franchise on the line, there will be no exceptions.”
Michel wound up the meeting by asking everyone to make a point to welcome Chase to the team.
As his new teammates strolled by, offering handshakes and words of welcome, Lila wandered out of the warehouse. Wes came up beside Chase and waited for the space to clear before he said, “Sounds like I’ll be coaching you in driving techniques.”
“Any and all advice and training would be deeply appreciated. I’d like to keep my body parts intact.”
Wes crossed his arms. “Doing your own stunts means you’ll have to work with Zahara.”
“Right.”
“Any trouble there I should know about?”
So she hadn’t told them. Not exactly a surprise. Zahara was as guarded as they came. “I think you’d have to ask her that question.”
“Oh, I will. But I’d like to hear it from you.”
“I will have absolutely no problem working with Zahara,” he assured Wes.
The other man gave one nod. “But she may have a problem working with you.”
“Again, that’s a question for Zahara. I hope we won’t have any issues working together.”
A heavy sobriety filled the air between them. Finally, Wes said, “Renegades are family.”
“I understand.”
“Let me be crystal clear,” Wes told him. “You mess with Zahara, you mess with us. All of us.”
The Renegades were the premier stunt company in Hollywood, headed by an Academy Award-winning actor on the right side of everyone who mattered. Wes’s silent mess with Zahara and you’ll never see the A-list came through loud and clear.
Chase nodded again. “We’re on the same page. I want nothing but the best for Zahara.”
Wes offered his hand. “Then welcome aboard.”
Chase shook Wes’s hand, and the Renegade gave him a pat on the arm. But his gaze remained intense, sending a very clear message that this didn’t mean Chase had a clean slate. Wes had clearly taken a stand as Zahara’s protective big brother. A big brother with significant pull and power.
Walking out of the warehouse, Chase felt a hundred pounds heavier with all these new pressures and responsibilities. He had to shine in a blockbuster film or risk losing professional status, maintain this charade with Lila to keep her safe, and remain true to his own values while finding a way to work with the woman he loved, who now hated him, And he had to do it without hurting her any more than he already had.
No fucking pressure is right.
Lila stood beyond the doors off to the side with her phone at her ear. Trey stood nearby and offered a nod to Chase as he approached.
“I have to call you back,” Lila said, disconnecting before digging into Chase. “What’s going on? If you pick up where you left off with her and it leaks—”