“Clara?” Josh waved a hand in front of her. “Did you hear me?”
“Oh yes. Sorry. You did a great job describing the use of biting in the tutorial about oral nipple stimulation.” Her face heated to approximately the same temperature as the surface of the sun. Couldn’t she have picked something less explicit to comment on? Like the background music?
Josh tugged at the collar of his shirt. “Thank you. I’m . . . uh . . . glad you approve.” The air between them smoldered as her body wavered closer to his. “If you need any additional consultation on the matter, don’t hesitate to ask.”
It was all Clara could do to keep her tongue inside her mouth. “I think a practical demonstration would be helpful. For my professional understanding of the choreography. As a business leader.”
Josh lowered his voice so only Clara could hear. “I jotted down three new scene ideas while you were at work today. For some reason, I woke up particularly inspired this morning.”
Clara hid a smile behind her lips. She had some scene ideas of her own, but . . . Who was she kidding? She’d never pull off casual sex with Josh, of all men. Her only option was an honest conversation about what they meant to each other. Clara thought she’d seen hope in his eyes last night that reflected her own. It was agony, holding back from letting herself consider a future with him, and she didn’t know how much more she could take. “I actually wanted to talk to you about last night.”
“Right.” Josh turned to look around the room. “Maybe we could discuss that later?”
Oh. Perhaps he was trying to give her the brush-off after all.
He pulled two printed tickets out of his back pocket. “Don’t forget, we’ve got Rocky in two hours.”
Of course. She’d purchased the tickets weeks ago and hung them on the fridge. Josh must have snagged them on his way out this morning. Clara had been so sure then that the movie marathon would be a platonic outing. But now . . . She gulped.
“Ginger said your note about cheating her body to the camera in that last scene made a big difference.”
The compliment sent a pleasant warmth blossoming in Clara’s chest. “Everyone has been very kind. I think I’ve gotten more hugs in the past few weeks than I did in my entire childhood.”
Josh frowned.
“Wheatons typically reserve physical contact for special occasions,” she said in explanation. “Also, everyone has started calling me Connecticut. I’ve chosen to believe they mean it as an endearment.”
“Naomi shows affection in strange ways.”
“Asking her to lead the project was the right call. She’s got so many ideas. I didn’t realize that sex could involve that many hijinks.”
“Stu’s certainly not afraid to laugh at herself or her partners in the bedroom,” Josh said.
“But she also has these stories that are incredibly heartfelt. A lot of the performers do. It’s like they’ve gotten comfortable enough with sex to uncover another plane of intimacy. I’m used to worrying about how my body looks or if the guy is picturing someone else every time he closes his eyes.” Clara shook her head. All that was in the past now. In the land before Josh. “But some of the stuff Naomi’s directed, it’s amazing. I think our videos could help people see what sex is like when partners really trust each other, and the interest from the press has been tremendous. I’ve lined up all kinds of interviews for the two of you for launch next week.”
Clara had grown to appreciate putting her doctorate skills to use in new ways for Shameless, but at the end of the day, Josh and Naomi still had the most to lose. The former flames remained the only A-list names attached to the project. Their reputations had to carry the site, at least until they built a subscriber base.
“Those press releases you drafted were amazing. I guess you’re pretty good at mixing business and pleasure.”
Clara leaned toward him. What if he kissed her right now, in front of everyone?
“Excuse me.” A blonde in glasses and a tool belt stood in front of them. “Can one of you sign off on this lighting design before I start drilling the mounts?”
Josh jumped up from his chair like someone had poured hot coals in his lap. “Oh hey, Wynn. Stu mentioned you were in town visiting. I didn’t realize she’d roped you into manual labor during your vacation.”
The blonde smiled wryly in the direction of where Naomi bent over a set of test stills. “She called in a very old favor.”
“Have you met Clara? She’s the brains and the bucks behind this operation. Clara, Wynn’s a carpenter and set designer by trade and the only person alive who knows any of Stu’s secrets.”
Wynn held up a pair of callused palms. “Only because I met her almost immediately after she exited the womb.”
Clara quirked an eyebrow.
“Our mothers took the same Lamaze class and became joined at the hip,” Wynn said in response.
“Ah. Well, nice to meet you. It’s very generous of you to give up your personal time to help us out.” Clara extended her hand and Wynn took it.
“No problem. It’s refreshing to do work at a place where the people in charge don’t all look like a stock photo for white male privilege.” She turned to Josh. “No offense.”
“None taken. Clara can sign off on your designs. She’s got the better eye. I’ll head back to the edit bay and try to be useful.” Josh excused himself.
Wynn handed over the sketches for the mounts. Each image detailed the way the light and shadows would play across the set and the performers.
“Wow, these projections of the light trajectory are incredibly helpful.” Clara studied the images, looking for anything she’d change and coming up short. This design was more than practical, it was art. “I don’t suppose there’s a chance we can convince you to move to L.A. and join us as a full-time hire?”
The blonde wrinkled her nose. “Tempting, but no. My family, my job, and my boyfriend are all back in Boston. Hannah makes skipping town look easy, but I’m a hopeless homebody.”
Clara nodded. “I had to try. You’re very talented. Where did you learn all of this?”
Wynn’s face crumbled. “I didn’t grow up with brothers.”
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry, gut reaction.” Wynn winced. “Almost any time someone compliments my work they follow it up by asking if I grew up in a household full of boys. You know how girls in movies who can change a tire or throw a football are always explaining their skills away as if talent transferred through proximity to testosterone?”
“Ah, yes. Well, I’ve got a brother and I’m certain he wouldn’t have any idea what to do with your tool belt.”