lips brushed her temple and were close to one ear.
“Later,” he murmured. “I’m thinking tonight, that is, if you aren’t working too late and aren’t exhausted afterward.”
Her eyes gleamed and pink dusted her glossy cheeks, made so by the light perspiration of her workout.
“I can assure you I won’t be so exhausted that I can’t hold up my end of the bargain,” she murmured.
CHAPTER 17
SWANNY’S respect for Eden’s profession increased all the more as he stood back, watching the shoot for the commercials. It had to be exhausting for her but she worked steadily, took instructions from the director and responded perfectly, each and every time.
He didn’t see what the problems were when the director yelled “Cut!” and then demanded a reshoot. She looked fucking perfect to him. But the director seemed like a real dick.
He’d thrown a fit when Eden had arrived accompanied by him and his team. He’d complained loudly about having so many people underfoot, and even though Eden’s agent had arrived and pulled him to the side to explain the situation, it was obvious the director still wasn’t happy.
He barked orders in a loud, obnoxious voice that made Swanny grit his teeth. The way the director talked to Eden made him want to plant his fist right in the fucker’s face.
After several hours of shooting, the director called a halt and then barked for hair and makeup to go in and do touch-ups.
“She looks like shit,” the director complained loudly. “I need perfect, goddamn it. Give me perfect.”
“What a dick,” Skylar muttered next to Swanny, perfectly echoing his own assessment of the asshole. “She looks amazing. The woman couldn’t look like shit even on her worst day. What the hell does he want?”
Swanny growled his agreement, his stance rigid as he watched people rush in to touch up Eden’s hair and makeup. How the hell did she work under these kinds of conditions? And further, how on earth could she keep that thousand-megawatt smile in place when some asshole was constantly criticizing her?
He knew this deal was important to Eden. She’d said it was the biggest break of her career. But hell, nothing seemed worth signing up for this kind of abuse.
Eden’s agent came to stand beside Swanny and Skylar, watching the goings-on with a bored expression. As if nothing was out of the ordinary and this was just another day on the job.
“Is it always like this?” Swanny bit out.
Her agent looked surprised that Swanny was talking to him and then he blinked, clear confusion on his face.
“What do you mean?”
“Does she always have complete dickheads barking at her, telling her she looks like shit and complaining about every goddamn thing she does?”
Her agent actually took a step back, his expression wary, but then Swanny was sure he bristled with anger and his expression was probably not exactly pleasant.
“This director is one of the best in the business,” her agent defended. “He may sound overly critical to you, but the end result certainly can’t be argued with. He’ll shoot until he’s satisfied that it’s not just good but perfect. This is too big an account to accept anything less than the best.”
“He’s still a dick,” Skylar muttered.
Eden’s agent laughed nervously. “I suppose it seems that way to someone not in the business, but Eden takes it with grace, just as she always does. She realizes the importance of having a flawless product and she’ll work until she achieves that. It’s what she does, and she’s very good at what she does. It’s why she landed this deal.”
He glanced at Skylar and then Swanny before hesitantly extending his hand, first to Skylar. “I’m Nigel Blackstone, Eden’s agent.”
“I’m Skylar, part of Eden’s security detail.”
He was more reserved when he offered his hand to Swanny.
“I’m Swanny, also part of Eden’s security detail,” Swanny said shortly.
“Is she really in that much danger?” Nigel asked, concern flaring in his eyes. “I mean, I know the shooting turned into a random thing and they apprehended the man responsible. But is there something more I should know?”
“We’re just taking extra precautions,” Swanny said in a neutral tone. “With her name splashed all over the news, there’s no guarantee some idiot won’t get an idea in his head and take a shot at her. This shoot was important to her, and one she couldn’t miss, so we’ve just tightened security around her for the time being.”
He grudgingly gave Nigel credit. He did seem to be concerned for Eden and he hadn’t uttered a