Love By Design by Liz Matis

foreplay but Russ had it down to a science. No, an art.
    The crew stared at her with their mouths open. Apparently, she had a reputation to uphold. The ‘I told you so’ remark had to be addressed, otherwise the staff would get suspicious. Victoria hoped Russ would play along. “Well, if you had built it right in the first place, we wouldn’t all be standing around waiting for you to correct it.”
    His eyes narrowed in that sexy way of his. “Me?” He stalked over to where she stood as the crew pretended to look away. “I was only following your plans.”
    “You mean those quick little sketches I drew up? Neil would have re-checked my measurements.” She thought she saw a flash of jealousy cross his face. But why? He knew Neil was gay. Perhaps it was professional jealousy? She risked a wink at Russ to convey that she wasn’t seriously blaming him for the snafu.
    He tilted his head slightly, his hair falling across his face. His hand combed the strands back in place. “Oh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware Ms. Design Diva was ever wrong.”
    Even though he winked back his comment still stung. He didn’t have to give as good as he got. At least the crew would think the two hated each other. “I wasn’t wrong. I merely mis-calculated.”
    He threw back his head and laughed. “By two inches?”
    “Measure twice, and cut once.” She threw up two fingers then one for effect.
    “I know the saying,” he said tightly.
    “If Neil were here—”
    “But he’s not so until he gets back you’re stuck with me.” Russ pointed his thumb to his chest.
    “You are such a—”
    “Cut! Cut!” yelled Stephen.
    She looked around. “But we’re not even filming.”
    “Yeah, but we should be!” The director tapped on his watch. “Now both of you take ten and cool off. Victoria, go see make-up. You’re looking a bit flushed.”
    “Well, if the Neanderthal could build a simple—”
    “Neanderthal? Listen up your royal highness—”
    “Cut!”
    Victoria folded her arms and looked annoyed. Russ pointed to the door. “After you,” he said as he bowed.
    She dropped her arms to her sides and stomped off. That’s when she saw Ava in the hallway with her hand over her mouth, trying, but failing, not to laugh.
    “Did you see that? This isn’t working.”
    “I saw everything. We need to talk. Alone.”
    Victoria frowned. Did Ava know? “Upstairs.”
    Ava followed her up the steps. Upon reaching the top Ava asked, “Well?”
    “Well what? You’re the one who showed up here needing to talk.”
    “Neil called me.” Ava tapped her foot and gave her the ‘you are so busted’ look.
    Victoria should have called Neil back. “What time?”
    “Three a.m. He was such in a panic, I almost raced over here but with Neil everything is an emergency.”
    “No worries.” Whoops, she did not just say that?
    “You snake you, you did him. And you were going to keep it from ME?”
    She should just give it up. She never could keep anything from Ava. Victoria pulled her into the bathroom, closing the door. “Shhhh.”
    Ava locked the door. “Don’t you shush me! Details. Now!”
    Victoria spilled the condensed version. “You can’t tell anyone.”
    “I don’t think anyone would care. You’re co-stars. It’s not like he works for you.”
    “It doesn’t look good and add on the fact we had sex in the home we are designing, and, and he’s also filling in at the Down Under Male Revue.” She cringed, she sounded like Russ last night when he tried to defend himself.
    “As a stripper?”
    Victoria nodded. She couldn’t tell if Ava was horrified or was ready to celebrate with a round of martinis.
    “Oh, my God!”
    “Shhh, keep it down.”
    “You did a hot Aussie stripper!” said Ava in an excited whisper. “How am I going to top that?”
    “Ava, you did a prince.”
    “A minor one and I do mean minor.” She outstretched her fingers to denote about four inches. “Any smaller and he’d be a princess.”
    “Well you