Free Thrill Me by Susan Mallery

might not need to hear the words, but they needed to be said.
    * * *
    â€œA CTION !”
    Del looked at the camera, knowing that while he might be uncomfortable staring directly at the lens, looking somewhere else didn’t translate well. His job was to engage with the viewer and that meant making eye contact.
    â€œIn Fool’s Gold, you can taste wine,” he said, then raised a glass of local merlot. Despite the fact that it was only a few minutes after sunrise, he pretended to take a sip. When this was done, he was so getting more coffee.
    Day one of shooting had started at an ungodly hour and would go until sunset. They were starting with the tourist videos—showing all sides of the town. He and Maya had an aggressive filming schedule that would take them over much of Fool’s Gold. This morning they were focused on the wineries, followed by a couple of shots in town. The afternoon, with the harshest light of the day, would be spent by the wind turbines outside of town. If the sunset was cooperative, they would end with a view of the sun setting behind the town.
    â€œAgain,” Maya said. “Wait a second.”
    She moved from behind the camera and got one of the equipment boxes, then dragged it toward him. When he started to move to help, she held up a hand.
    â€œStay where you are. You’re framed perfectly. I don’t want to have to start over.” She pushed the trunk in front of him, then stared at him. “Okay, put your left foot on the trunk, like you’re doing a lunge. I want you leaning forward. The wine goes in your right hand.”
    He did as she asked. “This feels awkward.”
    â€œNo one cares,” she said as she returned to her spot behind the tripod. “It looks great. Really great. The camera loves you. Love it back.”
    She turned and adjusted one of the lights, then stepped back to the camera. “Okay, leaning forward. You love the wine. You’re going to have sex with Scarlett Johansson later.”
    He shook his head. “I’m not a big fan of Scarlett.”
    Maya glared at him. “Del, it’s early days yet, but I can be forced into killing you. Just so we’re clear.”
    â€œYou’re crabby.”
    â€œYes. It would help to remember that. Wine and sex and action.”
    She picked up the clapperboard, changed take one to take two, then positioned it in front of the camera and snapped it shut.
    â€œSound speeding,” she said. “And we have action.” She pointed at him.
    Del hesitated a second, feeling ridiculous, then obligingly thought about wine followed by sex. Only instead of the very pretty Ms. Johansson, he remembered what it had been like to kiss Maya.
    Her mouth had been soft. The kind of soft that gentled a man, despite how much he wanted the woman in question. Because a mouth that soft deserved attention. Slow attention and careful nurturing.
    Even though he and Maya had become lovers that summer, he’d made sure to spend a lot of time just kissing her. Because that had been its own reward. And if he’d known how rare a mouth like hers was, he would have done it even more.
    â€œDel?”
    He swore silently and pushed the memories away. “In Fool’s Gold, you can taste wine.”
    She motioned for him to do it again.
    He said the line three more times, using different inflections, sometimes smiling, sometimes not. When they were done, he glanced at the sunrise.
    â€œWe should have that over my shoulder,” he said. “It would be a great shot.”
    She glanced to where he pointed, then shook her head. “Too much light. I can’t control it with the equipment I have with me. Plus, the way the sun is angled will mean shifting the picture so the eye line will be off.”
    â€œIt’s a great shot,” he repeated. “We should try it.” When she didn’t answer, he added, “I’ve done some shooting of my own, Maya. I know what