Okay, what the fuck was that? She had to have felt that, right? This is not something I'm imagining, what was that electric- pins and needles sort of feeling I got after merely shaking hands with her? I can still feel it on my fingertips. Her soft fingers slowly slip out of my hold and cause an odd sensation in my chest, maybe it's just heartburn? Such a piddling thing to make me feel suddenly so empty but that's exactly what I feel. Empty. Her eyes look up and I quickly school my expression and quirk up the corner of my lip in a smile.

We spend a few more moments chatting with the rest of the group and then John begins to pass around our new "schedules" basically a paper outlining the times in-between shoots when I'll have to prep my face a bit in makeup and stay in front of another camera – with Alisha, who'll ask me a couple of questions each day. It's not a big role or anything but it does frustrate me that the only times I can actually get some rest is when I'll be busy with the vlog. I look over to where she's focusing on Tommy's directives, her mouth pursed in concentration, but hey, on the plus I get to hang out with the beautiful writer.

***

" Do you promise Uncle Jack?" the squeaky voice calls out from the screen of my phone and a tiny round face with blond pigtails and big doe eyed green eyes focuses on my face.

"Yes Kylie, I promise to be at your birthday party," I stifle a laugh, it's a month away but this kid needs to "prepare her guest list" I smile at my niece's adorably serious face.

She's got that 'this means business' look etched on her brows and then I hear another voice call out, "Alright monkey, it's my turn now!" there's a slight disturbance and in a second my sister comes into focus.

"Jackson" she says in her talk show host voice, which is always a hilariously over the top impression of Oprah's it makes me cackle, "What's up Heather?" I smile.

Where I have red hair and blue eyes like my Scottish dad – Heather Teller is without a doubt the reincarnation of our mother, she has a slender face, high cheekbones and a sharp nose, her green eyes have a little brown in them and her hair is naturally blonde, not the bottle crap you find moving around Hollywood these days.

While I struggle to stay relevant among the most sought after actors, my sister is a kindergarten teacher at Sacred Heart's School for Girls. Her douchebag boyfriend left her high and dry after "accidentally" knocking her up – I'd have loved to have accidentally put his head up his ass but being the bad ass Goddess that she is – she manages to keep her full time job and look after her six year old daughter.

I couldn't have been more proud of her, I've offered to help her out but she's too proud and chooses not to accept our help, not that she really needs it, she's doing pretty well right now but my offer still stands, for whenever.

"Did you hear what I said?" oops, guess I sort of spaced out – I focus at my sister's furrowed expression and clear my throat, "of course, and yes, okay", no idea what I'm agreeing to but it seems to ease her eyebrows from their knitted expression and she beams.

"Oh that's great Jack! Mom will be so happy!" Mom, why would she be happy? I just give her a smile, "okay, so I expect you and your date the week before Kylie's birthday."

Somewhere in my mind a record scratches, wait – a date? I guess my sister figured I wasn't really paying attention and just rolls her eyes,

"God pay attention next time" she mutters before repeating herself, "Mom and Dad worry that you've been on the DL since your split for Teddy" , I shudder, Teddy Farrow, my Ex Fiancée, is the woman I saw bent on our kitchen counter while she got it good by my Ex Manager Robert Stone.

"I'm fine Heather- there's no need to worry," my expression suddenly sombre.

"They just need to feel they shouldn't have to. One dinner Jack, that's all I'm asking – you've literally got half of New York and the other half of Hollywood on speed dial, find someone and bring her." I can see the desperation in her tone and heave a sigh.

"Okay, I'll be there", I say in a huff, it's just one dinner and it's a month away for all I know – they could all probably forget. We talk for another half an hour or so and then I get a WhatsApp from Tommy Davis reminding me that I've got the first vlog to film in an hour's time.

I bid my sister and the munchkin a goodbye and then stretch –I've been sitting in the exact same position throughout the entire conversation. A quick shower and a hot cup of coffee later, I'm making my way over to Jennifer, the makeup artist at studio 1- the smallest of the film studios here at Dynasty. She preps my face and lines the bottom of my eyes and I abso-fucking-lutely hate it.

Firstly because I start to tear up, I mean, how do women stand having someone poking shit directly into their eyes? Secondly, the feeling of all that cream and powder leaves my face feeling twice as heavy as my body and my body is pretty heavy. The pixie haired cutie gives her work a bright smile and then sends me off to the propped up corner POP's Tommy has ready for me.

I take my seat and run over today's line up of questions from a previous email on my phone- they're pretty basic, what drew me into the industry, what would I have done if I hadn't become an actor yada yada...I'm thinking up some clever responses when all of a sudden a shadow falls on my sheet of paper, I look up to find Alisha staring at herself in the full length mirror by a makeshift makeup studio, her back towards me, my reflection isn't caught so she has no idea I'm here and I take this moment to really look at her.

Her big brown curls are clipped at the top in some sort of '70s hair do but they tumble down her slim back. She's in a white satin blouse and charcoal gray pants. Pants that hug her fine round derriere, I have never envied a piece of clothing as I do this very moment. She slips a slim hand into her back pocket and takes a step back while checking herself out, I' give anything to be that back pocket.

Her long legs are accentuated in a pair of bright yellow stilettos but it's when she turns around that my entire being is set on fire.

Her brown eyes are emphasized with thin winged eyeliner and her round lips are a glossy nude. I like her makeup, she never over does it and I bet she's one of those women who manages to do it all by herself instead of hiring some ridiculously expensive makeup artist. Her button up blouse leaves very little to imagination from the front and my mouth immediately begins to water. A Pavlovian reaction since after all, I'm a breasts man.

Her glorious mounds are accentuated just right in that blouse and she has on a triple layer chain, probably to distract the abundant cleavage she's got on display. Yeah, that's most definitely not fooling me. Placing her hands on those wide hips she looks around and then spots me. I sit up straighter, praying to all the Gods under the sun that she did not catch me checking her out.

Her hands fall to her side and she slumps her shoulders, she's shy. With a quick turn, she slowly begins her walk over and for some ridiculous reason my heart refuses to stop its incessant hammering. Breathe, just breathe dude- she's a person.

"Hey" I give her a nod, good lets go with a casual greeting, nothing weird about that, I gesture to the chair in front of me, "please, sit down" she smiles and takes her seat, her fingers weave together and she sits up straight, the air around us is stuffy and I'm sweating, peering over to her, I see her look anywhere but at me, she's chewing on her lower lip and it's driving me crazy. We need to talk, it needs to feel natural or this whole thing would be a bust. I clear my throat and give it another shot.

"How you liking it so far?" I asked with a smile, she lifts an eyebrow as if I'm asking her and I raise both of mine, no I was talking to the cushion next to you.

" It's been great- It's my first time to the States- I've been to Canada but this would be my first time in New York," she replies with a smile – her reply is automatic and her smile seems forced and it leaves my shoulders tense. I don't want her to feel uncomfortable, since when have you cared how a reporter feels? She's looking down at her nails again, so I go or a joke,

"You know, we do have to talk during the vlog" she looks back up a bit startled.

"I know" she quickly responds then wipes her palms over her thighs, " I guess I'm just a little nervous, I thought if I came in earlier than you, I could get the feel of the whole place and settle in a bit" she speaks, lowering her gaze to the floor and I'm left looking at her long brown lashes.

Pointing towards the door at the back I add, "I could come back once you feel a bit more relaxed," and just as I begin to lift up off my seat she quickly tugs my arm, "No, please, stay." She quickly lets go, and I already miss the heat of her touch, "I'm sorry," she mutters with her hands up in surrender. I opened my mouth to speak but the crew and Tommy are already walking in.

"Alright guys let's get this show on the road," Tommy's voice booms when he walks on over to where Alisha and I are now standing, "We get Jackson's attention for the next two hours- so let's make these shots count" he adds a coy smile when his eyes fall on Alisha, she looks down again, clearly feeling uncomfortable and for some reason that pisses me off. My jaw ticks but with a quick nod we settle into our positions and soon begin rolling.

***

Once the cameras and lights come on, something switches inside of her and she is a completely different woman. She's confident and funny and when she cocks her head to a side and pouts those big round lips to contemplate my answer before a follow up question I can't help but wonder what it would feel like to run my thumb over those lush lips. I shake the thought and focus on the beautiful vixen in front of me.

One hour, the entire shoot for the day's episode is over in an hour. We gather ourselves and slowly make our way back to the exit. I'm typing out a text to my co-star Liam Hilton asking him to join me for a beer at Ace – a watering hole just outside the studios because God forbid, our director can't find us in the evening for a quick reshoot or something or the other.

I'm making my way to one of POP's black trailers and eventually hear a bunch of voices. They're pretty much discussing meeting up for drinks at the same bar I'm about to head over to when my nosy ears pick up on another conversation.

"C'mon Alisha, nobody likes a Party Pooper, it'll only be for a couple of hours, hang back and relax – I won't be driving so you really don't have to worry," its Tommy, I move past the group until I'm safely out of sight behind a trailer, their backs are faced towards me so they don't notice me. Alisha's hunched over her phone but even from her I catch her head shake a "no"

"It's fine Tommy, I can get an UBER, I can't stay back I'm sorry – I told you I need to get back to my daughter." Daughter, she's married? Something in my chest tightens –what is your problem, she didn't do anything wrong. I exhale a deep breath. I should probably go but something about Tommy makes me rethink my actions, I'm stuck watching, listening and in general being a nosy son of a bitch.

He waves her off, "Let your man hold on to her for a few more hours, stay and get to know the team", she's still shaking her head.

"Tommy, I'm sorry but I think you've got it all wrong –there is no man, it's me and my daughter and right now, she's alone with my aunt and I need to get back." Her voice is firm, the "no bullshit" kind. No man huh? My chest swells up again, what the fuck is wrong with me?

Tommy lets out a cackle, "Really?" he all but shouts out excited and my shoulders strain. "Oh hell, all the more reason to come out tonight babe", babe? Oh hell no. my fists begin to ball at my sides but I still don't make any move.

She takes a step back and is about to turn when he reaches for her and grabs her hand,

"C'mon Ali, there's no one available to drop you – you've been staring at the UBER screen for the past ten minutes. Stay, have a drink, I'll see that you get home. "

She pulls her hand out of his grip and backs away, "its fine, I'll go stay by the guards' station until I can find one, you guys go ahead." She tries to turn again and once more he reaches forward to grab her. Enough is enough. I move past from behind the trailer and make my way over to pair.

"Alisha, there you are" I shout out, making a quick sprint towards them. She's watching me with a terrified look in her eyes and I hate to see her that way. My jaw clenches while take in the sight in front of me, Tommy quickly lets go of her hand and raises his own in surrender.

"Was just asking her out to some drinks but her wants to go home and well, the crew's kind of already buzzed" he gives me a sly smile.

I shake my head and look right at her hoping to God she gets the hint, "I told you I could drop you", her eyes widen and I gulp, I lift a brow, please tell me you get it. She straightens herself a bit and her eyes focus.

"Right, "she slaps her hand on her forehead, "I forgot, you'd already told me you could drop me."

I nod and wave her over and she briskly makes her way to my side, she turns to face Tommy and gives him a brief but polite smile, fucker doesn't even deserve it. "I'll just see you tomorrow Tommy, okay" she gives him a wave and we both turn and begin to walk.

We make our way out to the car park and I quickly shoot a text back to Liam telling him I don't think I'd be making it and then call my assistant, "I'm going out for a bit – need to get out of this studio funk, I'll be back in an hour", I quickly hang up before she can ask any further questions and then we're in front of my jeep.

I open her door and she slides in, I walk around and get into the driver's seat and look up at her, the sun is setting just behind her, the dull afterglow is a halo behind her head of curls and when the light hits her eyes, they shine like bright embers. Beautiful. My mouth goes dry but I notice that she's just staring at me too; its oddly comforting knowing there's something in me worth a second glance from her. Keys in the ignition the jeep roars to life, I look back at her and with a smile ask, "Where to?"