Alpha Love (California Bears #4) by Rachel Real

Chapter One
    “ God , I hope I’m not late!” Aubrey panicked rushing onto the set. She nibbled on a gooey cinnamon bun and sipped coffee before scrambling off to wardrobe. After weeks of a dry spell, she finally got a walk on role in one of the biggest most anticipated action movies in Hollywood. Although she hated the early hours, she loved being an extra on film sets.
    Easy money?
    Check!
    Oodles of free food?
    Check!
    Working with hunky actor Tatum Strong?
    Check! Check!
    Truth be told, she was especially giddy about getting this part because she had the slightest chance of hobnobbing with A-list actor and infamous bad boy Tatum Strong.
    “Where the hell is the extra for the scene? She was supposed to be here over an hour ago!” The director, Logan Lochlan, hollered across the set.
    Aubrey gulped, knowing that the director meant her.
    “Hi, sorry I’m late. I had really bad cramps this morning... Or, traffic... Or, something...” Aubrey muttered as she failed to think up a believable excuse.
    Aubrey glanced over briefly, and Tatum Strong stood tall and stout just across the way.
    Oh my God! He’s right friggin’ there! Aubrey squealed in her head like a giddy schoolgirl.
    He was dressed in his costume, a ripped white tank with fake blood splatter all over his glistening rock hard abs. In his big hands, he clutched onto a ginormous plastic prop gun. The director was filming a zombie popcorn movie, and Aubrey played one of the victims who had gotten badly bitten on the neck. She fought tooth and nail for this part, because Tatum Strong actually talks to her in the scene.
    The director glowered at her. “Just go stand over there please...”
    Aubrey stepped lightly onto the set. Her heart started racing when Tatum spotted her with his dangerous dark red eyes. She only had one line and didn’t want to panic and muck it up. Her heart thrummed like a bird when Tatum winked at her.
    “You nervous?” He asked in a rough brutish voice.
    Aubrey grinned like an idiot just overwhelmed with his savage and sexy presence. Her eyes fixed upon Tatum’s lean and taut body.
    Tatum raised a brow, not a hundred percent sure that Aubrey was even breathing...
    “ Relax , you’re gonna do fine. Listen, for what it’s worth, I’m kinda on edge too,” he reassured her, caressing Aubrey’s lower back.
    Eek! Tatum Strong is actually touching me!
    The director reclined back in his chair. “ACTION!”
    And then everyone on the set waited for Aubrey to speak. Aubrey’s whole body stiffened and her palms started to sweat. She swallowed hard trying to think of what to say.
    Ooooh! What was my line... She pondered, biting her lower lip.
    Aubrey could hear the sound of Logan Lochlan drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair. Tatum grunted out of the corner of his mouth.
    “So, uh, did you forget your line?” He growled in a low whisper.
    Aubrey only nodded. She didn’t know what felt worse, her mind going blank or looking like a total bumbling airhead in front of one of the sexiest actors alive...
    The director did not want to waste a moment longer.
    “Get Angela on the phone. Call her right now. Tell her to stop hiring these brain-dead amateurs... Oh, by the way, honey— you’re fired, ” Logan snapped.
    Fired?
    Aubrey’s face blanched. There was no way she could get fired, she needed this gig more than ever to pay for her gas and rent. She was terrified about being evicted with no place to go.
    “Okay, yeah, I flubbed my lines... But please give me another chance. I promise I will get it right next time,” Aubrey begged almost groveling on her knees.
    Logan shot her a look. “This is show business, sweet cheeks. It’s one strike and you’re out,” he sneered.
    “ You have to understand ...” Aubrey pleaded.
    “Look, man. If you cut her loose, I’ll walk off this set right now. I don’t give a
    damn who’s watching...Without me, you got nothing,” Tatum growled, folding his arms and glaring at the director