Chapter 7
Maya fought the urge to roll her eyes into another dimension.
Carina, on the other hand, didn’t react. She simply adjusted her bag on her shoulder, giving Robert Sullivan a polite but distant nod. “Buongiorno, Robert.”
Robert barely acknowledged Maya before he turned the full force of his charm on Carina. “Ciao, bella,” he purred, his voice dropping into something grossly suggestive. “You look incredible today. As always.”
Maya actually gagged.
Carina, to her credit, remained as neutral as ever. “Grazie,” she said flatly, brushing past him like she couldn’t be bothered.
Robert followed her like a lost but not very cute puppy. “So, tell me, Carina,” he continued, ignoring Maya’s existence entirely. “When are you going to finally let me take you out? I know this little Italian place that—”
Carina cut him off without breaking stride. “Sono Italiana. Why would I go to an ‘Italian place’ with you?”
Maya snorted at that, covering her mouth.
Robert, undeterred, let out a charming chuckle. “Come on, don’t break my heart like that.”
Maya was this close to shoving him into the nearest bush.
Carina, however, still seemed unbothered. She didn’t even roll her eyes. She just walked, ignoring Robert completely as he continued to follow her.
Maya clenched her jaw.
She didn’t know why this was bothering her so much. It wasn’t like Carina was actually interested in Robert. Hell, she wasn’t even giving him the time of day.
And yet—Maya’s stomach burned with something annoyingly close to jealousy.
Robert kept talking, still throwing out line after line, and Carina just kept walking, indifferent as ever.
Maya felt her fists clench.
Oh, hell no.
She was not going to let this man keep talking like Carina was some prize to be won.
Maya took a step forward, ready to insert herself into the conversation—
But before she could say anything, Carina stopped walking.
And then—without so much as a glance at Robert—she turned to Maya instead.
“Bella,” Carina said smoothly, placing a hand on Maya’s arm like it was the most natural thing in the world, “let’s go. We have work to do.”
Maya froze.
Robert blinked.
And just like that, Carina turned, leading Maya away, leaving Robert standing there like a total idiot.
Maya gawked as Carina walked, completely composed, completely unaffected.
She leaned in slightly, whispering, “Did you just use me as an excuse to escape?”
Carina smirked, voice low and teasing. “You were going to explode if I didn’t.”
Maya groaned. “Oh my God.”
Carina just chuckled. “Come on, Maya. Let’s work.”
And just like that—Maya decided she was definitely in love.
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Maya Bishop had been through a lot in the past twenty-four hours.
She had spent the night at Carina’s house. She had been stitched up by Carina. She had made disgusting coffee for Carina. And this morning, she had watched Robert Sullivan shamelessly flirt with Carina while Carina barely acknowledged his existence.
It had been a lot.
But nothing—nothing—could have prepared her for this.
Because right now, standing on set, Maya was experiencing actual hell.
Carina’s character, Dr. Russo, was about to kiss Robert freaking Sullivan’s character, Dr. Hayes.
And not just a peck on the lips kind of kiss.
No.
This was a steamy, passionate, throw-you-against-the-wall kind of kiss.
And Maya had to stand there and watch it happen.
She clenched her jaw, arms crossed so tightly over her chest that she was pretty sure she was cutting off circulation.
It was just acting. It was fake.
But then—
“Action!” the director called out.
And Carina freaking DeLuca—who had been closed-off and distant all morning—suddenly flipped a switch.
Maya watched in horror as Carina turned to Robert, her expression filled with nothing but desire.
Then, without hesitation, Carina grabbed the front of Robert’s white coat and pulled him in for a kiss.
A deep kiss.
A kiss that was—Maya hated to admit it—convincing as hell.
Maya felt actual, physical pain.
Carina’s hands slid behind Robert’s neck. She tilted her head, deepening the kiss like she meant it. Like she wanted it.
Robert moaned into the kiss.
Maya almost threw up on the spot.
How the hell was she supposed to just stand here and watch this?!
It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t normal. No one should have to witness this kind of emotional destruction firsthand.
And the worst part?
Carina looked completely in the moment.
Like she enjoyed it.
Like she wasn’t thinking about how she had spent last night cooking lasagna with Maya.
Like she wasn’t thinking about Maya at all.
Maya clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. She needed to get out of here. She needed to—
“Cut!” Andy Herrera shouted.
Maya inhaled sharply, realizing she had been holding her breath.
Carina pulled away from Robert, giving him a little satisfied smirk as she wiped a bit of lipstick off his mouth. “Not bad,” she murmured, patting his chest.
Maya saw red.
Robert, the asshole, grinned smugly. “We make a good team, huh?”
Carina hummed in amusement, stepping back as the crew adjusted lighting.
Meanwhile, Maya was about two seconds away from losing her mind.
She spun around, storming over to a nearby table, grabbing the first bottle of water she could find and chugging it like her life depended on it.
She needed distraction. She needed oxygen. She needed therapy.
And then—because the universe hated her—Carina suddenly appeared beside her, looking cool as hell, like she hadn’t just shattered Maya’s soul into a million pieces.
“That was intense, huh?” Carina teased, sipping her own water.
Maya nearly choked.
She wiped her mouth, staring at Carina in disbelief. “Intense?” she repeated. “Yeah, I’d say watching you devour Robert Sullivan was pretty intense.”
Carina raised an amused eyebrow. “Devour?”
Maya groaned, tossing her empty water bottle onto the table. “You kissed him like you meant it.”
Carina shrugged. “I was just acting.”
Maya narrowed her eyes. “You sure about that? Because damn, Carina, that looked real. You shoved your tongue down his throat!”
Carina smirked, leaning in slightly. “That’s because I’m good at my job, Ma-ya.”
Maya clenched her jaw. She hated how smug she sounded.
“So, what?” Maya shot back. “You just kiss people like that for fun?”
Carina tilted her head, eyes sparkling with amusement. “I kissed you... Ricordi? Wait a second: Are you jealous?”
Maya scoffed. “What?! No! Of Robert? Please.”
Carina hummed. “Mmhmm.”
Maya crossed her arms. “I just think maybe you enjoyed that a little too much.”
Carina grinned, sipping her water. “What can I say? He’s a good kisser.”
Maya gasped.
Carina just laughed, patting Maya’s shoulder before sauntering away, leaving Maya standing there, absolutely wrecked.
Maya groaned, running a hand down her face.
She was so screwed.
Maya was still recovering from the emotional destruction of watching Carina kiss Robert when the man himself made his way back over to Carina, looking like a freaking peacock ready to flaunt his feathers.
"Carina," Robert said smoothly, flashing his best leading man smile. "That scene was electric. I mean, we have insane chemistry, don’t you think?"
Maya almost gagged again.
Carina, meanwhile, barely looked up from her phone, casually scrolling as if Robert wasn’t even worth her full attention.
"Insane," she murmured dryly.
Robert, completely missing the sarcasm, grinned. "Exactly! So I was thinking… What if we test out that chemistry off set? Come on, say yes to dinner tonight?"
Maya nearly choked on her own spit.
Did Robert Sullivan have a death wish?
Carina finally lifted her gaze, her brown eyes twinkling with amusement. Maya knew that look. That was Carina’s I’m about to destroy you with my words and enjoy every second of it look.
Carina sighed, putting her phone away dramatically. "Ah, Robert…" she said sweetly.
Maya braced herself.
"You are very… charming," Carina continued, her voice dripping with something that was definitely not sincerity. "And I’m sure many women find your confidence irresistible."
Robert smirked. "Well, I do alright."
Maya internally cringed.
"But," Carina went on, tilting her head, "how do I put this… Preferirei farmi la mia stessa devitalizzazione piuttosto che passare la serata ad ascoltarti parlare di te stesso mentre bevi vino rosso scadente in un ristorante troppo caro.”
(“I would rather perform my own root canal than spend my evening listening to you talk about yourself over cheap red wine at an overpriced restaurant.”)
Maya nearly died on the spot.
Robert blinked. "Uh—"
Carina gave him an apologetic smile. "No offense, of course."
Robert opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but Carina just patted his cheek twice before smoothly stepping around him and walking away, humming to herself.
Maya was in awe.
Robert turned to her, looking utterly confused. "Did she just—"
"Yes," Maya said, trying very hard not to laugh.
"In Italian?"
"Oh yeah," Maya confirmed. "It sounded brutal."
Robert frowned, watching Carina disappear around the corner. "You think she was serious?"
Maya patted his shoulder. "Oh, buddy."
Robert sighed, rubbing his face. "I still have a shot, though, right?"
Maya couldn’t help herself. She burst out laughing.
Robert glared at her. "What?"
Maya just shook her head, wiping a tear from her eye. "Nothing. Nothing at all."
Because there was no way in hell Carina was ever going on a date with Robert Sullivan.
Maya had no idea why that thought made her so insanely happy, but it just did.