Cut to the Chase by Lisa Girolami

was refreshing, and she was miles above her ex in class and decorum. Jessica Wiley was a wild ride, all right, generating more press-covered stories than even she had. There had been instant sparks between them but no lasting fire. She knew that thought seemed silly, but it was like their relationship just materialized overnight. She was pushed onto a roller coaster that she hadn’t even asked to board.
    Her nerves were always a bit on edge with Jessica, which surprised Avalon because she knew she had her own untamed and spontaneous streak. However, the pairing had seemed so contrived and taken for granted by not only Jessica, but her friends, the press, and just about everyone else.
    Paige was a breath of crisp, clean mountain air in a town more noted for its belching car exhaust of a dating pool. The photographer had no pretenses and seemed so…normal.
    Sure, Paige had been timid when they first met, a bit nervous even. That reaction wasn’t new to Avalon, who’d seen her share of faint-hearted fans and even more jumpy, excitable ones. But Paige seemed to be cut from a different cloth. There was something about her that, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint it, was definitely intriguing and worth discovering.
    “And?” Tawnya interrupted her musings.
    “What?”
    “And…what about her, beyond her being cute?”
    “I’m just saying that she’s cute, that’s all.”
    “I know what that means.”
    Avalon started to turn around to face her but Tawnya pulled her hair, forcing her back around with a wince. “Ouch. So what’s it supposed to mean?”
    “Jessica will soon be but a distant, yet pissed-off, memory.”
    “She’s already a memory. Who cares if Jessica’s got a stick up her ass? She has no right to my business anymore.”
    Tawnya brushed the last few tendrils of hair and lightly sprayed them. “If I know anything about her, you’ll care.”
    “Well, I don’t.”
    “I’m not saying you should. She didn’t treat you well. I’m just telling you to be careful. She doesn’t take rejection too well.”
    Avalon stood and assessed her image in the mirror. “In this town, who does?”
     
    *
     
    The one action scene they were filming that day involved a reshoot of yesterday’s fistfight. Paige positioned herself close to the same spot she’d been yesterday when Brent Hastings had hit Avalon.
    “Ready for more?” Brent said to Paige.
    “Yes, as long as more doesn’t mean actual contact.”
    Brent grimaced. “I still feel so bad about that. She’s a trouper, but it had to have been painful.”
    Avalon arrived as the director stepped from behind the camera.
    “Same positions,” he said, and turned to Avalon. “Are you feeling up to doing this again?”
    She raised her arm, wrapping it around Brent’s neck. As she pulled him down and locked him in a playful chokehold, she said, “Absolutely, but let’s try to get this right. I don’t want to injure my costar’s knuckles again.”
    Laughter erupted from the crew, and the director moved back to stand next to the director of photography.
    Paige lifted her camera to frame the shot and saw that Avalon was looking right at her. The smoldering smile weakened her knees so much she almost forgot what she was there to do.
    The director called for action, and Avalon and Brent began their scene.
    Paige’s camera clicked frames in rapid succession. She might be able to string together a series of shots of Avalon ducking from the incoming blow and then countering with an evil roundabout kick. It would be great to include in the book.
    The director yelled “cut” and Paige lowered her camera. She was excited about the batch of pictures she’d just taken, but her heart raced about something else. Avalon looked her way again and winked. Her heart rate shifted into double time, leaving no doubt about what that something else was.
     
    *
     
    The wink came so naturally that Avalon was only aware after she did it. Paige grinned and Avalon liked the