“I quit The Town,” she answered, pinching another piece of sushi between her chopsticks.
“We heard you the first time,” Ember said. “We’re not sure why. You love that show. I’m concerned that you might have made a rash decision, that’s all.”
“Oh, but I didn’t.” Sparx gave her sisters a play-by-play of her meeting with the executives. Once Cinder and Ember were caught up, both women were fuming. They could have cooked one of Ember’s cupcakes with the heat radiating off their faces.
“I can’t believe you up and left. That takes such balls.” There was wonder in Cinder’s tone. “What are you going to do now? Focus on the movie role?”
Sparx’s cheeks heated. “I will, as soon as I get it.”
“What do you mean, as soon as you get it? Are you telling me you left a job without having another one lined up?” Ember, ever the little old lady, leaned in, cupping her own face in concern.
“See? Balls. The woman has them in spades,” Cinder beamed with pride.
“Well, I’m confident that it will all work out for me. I’ve been granted a conditional audition,” Sparx explained.
“What the hell does that even mean?” Ember asked.
“Well, the director, Shawna McNamara, will let me audition, but only if I succeed in this survival course.” She waved it off like it was nothing, but if she was honest, the thought of the survivalist crash course made her more nervous than filming The Town ever had. It was a welcome change. For the first time in years, Sparx felt alive. Like a real person.
“A survival course?” Ember paled. “What? Like, living in the woods?”
“Yes,” Sparx answered. “It’s given by this renowned survivalist in the mountains. If I go through the week’s course and pass the final test, Shawna will let me audition.”
“What’s the final test?” Cinder wondered while Ember asked, “Why are you doing this?”
“Answer her, then me,” Cinder instructed, crossing her arms.
“The final test is forty-eight hours alone in the woods. And I’m doing this to play Mary-Ann Lewis in a movie.”
“Mary-Ann Lewis? Isn’t that the woman who was kidnapped by a serial killer and survived two weeks in the wilderness with a severed hand?” Ember’s horror was echoed on Cinder’s face.
“Yes. The movie is called Stronger Than.” Just talking about the plot gave Sparx shivers. She wanted to tell this woman’s story so badly. She knew she could do it justice, pouring everything she could into the role to demonstrate just how strong women could be. Both for Mary-Ann Lewis and every other survivor out there.
“You want to play this role?” Ember questioned.
“More than anything else, yes.”
“Well, sure, but the question is why?” Her sister inquired.
“I am grateful for what my role on The Town has done for me, but I’m done with soaps. I want to have a meatier role in a serious movie. I want to grow as an actress, but I can’t do that where I am. The execs are always giving me the same storylines. I need to be challenged. I need a change, or I’ll go out of my mind. I’m excited about this.”
“Even if you have to spend a week in the woods?”
Fuck, would Ember keep on throwing concerned looks her way? It was seriously messing with her confidence level. Cinder, at least, was supportive. Her head was bent over her phone.
“You sure this is about the role and not the man giving the class?”
“What do you mean?” Sparx asked, confused.
She had called the survivalist and booked the week-long ordeal on the director’s suggestion. She hadn’t done much research about it yet. That was on her list of things to do before she left in a few days. She’d already stopped by the bookstore and bought multiple books on survival and had created a list of sites she was going to read on the internet.
“Dash Jones, the man you will be in the mountains with? He’s a snack.” Cinder turned her phone over.
The small screen was filled with the picture of the hottest man Sparx had ever seen. He didn’t have any of the polish and primping men she knew had. He was all man. Rugged and chiseled. He was scowling at the camera as if it had been rudely snapped without his permission. His hazel eyes glowed wildly, only heightening his mountain man look. The thick chocolate brown scruff on his face looked soft, and she had the insane desire to run her hand across it. Her heart was beating hard and fast.
Spending a week alone in the woods with the most attractive man she’d ever seen wouldn’t be difficult at all. She was a professional. She was going up to the mountains to learn skills, not flirt.
“I think I am pregnant from this picture alone. This man drips sex appeal. Make sure you bring condoms,” Cinder teased.
“This is strictly professional,” Sparx snapped, handing the phone over with a frown.
As Sparx packed for her trip up to the mountains the next day, she picked all of her best yoga pants. Not because they did wonderful things to her ass. Nope. They were soft and comfortable.
Her clothing choices had nothing to do with Dash Jones and his sexy scruff. Not one thing.
Read the rest of Chasing Sparx here
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Hi! I’m Milly Taiden. I love to write sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. My books are a great way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romance with action, humor, suspense and happily ever afters.
I live in Florida with my hubby, our son, and our fur babies: Speedy, Stormy and Teddy. I have a serious addiction to chocolate and cake.
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You can find a complete list of all my books by series and reading order at my website: millytaiden.com