Hot tears of shame filled her eyes before snaking down her cheeks, embarrassingly obvious under the harsh lighting of the set.
“Cut,” the director called irritably, followed by an annoyed sigh.
Abbi wished the floor would swallow her up. At least that would be a distraction from the situation she was in now, naked but for the tassels, a sequin-embossed thong and the shoes she could no longer bear to look at. The over-the-top headdress lay on the ground beside her.
“Here. Hold on to me.”
The voice came from nowhere, rich and warm, and Abbi gladly reached out to clasp the hand that was being offered her. The palm was large, smothering hers tightly as its owner effortlessly hoisted her back onto her feet. With the stupidly tall heels she was now the same height as the man, their eyes level.
And what a man he was. His dark blonde hair was brushed off his face into a sleek and deliberate peak, emphasising the faint crinkles which marked his forehead, and his light brown eyes were sprinkled with flecks of gold. His face was ruggedly attractive, and although he probably wasn’t much over thirty, there was an appealing maturity in his look; as though a hint of wisdom was hidden away. All this was offset by a cheeky, impish grin. There was no denying he was incredibly handsome. Then there were his clothes, smart and well cut, which encased his perfect body. Tanned skin, defined muscles.
He was striking. Perfect.
And as recognition crashed into her like a double decker bus at speed, Abbi realised who it was.
Aaron Halliday.
The Aaron Halliday.
Global movie star, household name.
The leading man in this motion picture.
Abbi couldn’t stop the blood rushing to her tearstained cheeks. She was standing, almost butt-naked, in front of one of the biggest names in the industry.
Shit.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concerned. “That was quite a spectacular fall you took there.”
Abbi looked at the floor, her gaze resting on the stupidly tall heels that had betrayed her. “Oh, erm…yeah. I’m fine, honestly. Nothing’s broken. I’m just mortified to have made such an idiot of myself in front of everyone.”
As she looked up, Aaron ran his hands through his hair.