ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A GARGOYLE Bonus Scene!
This is a bonus scene from the ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A GARGOYLE Collector's Edition.
I'm sharing it here for funsies.
You can buy the regular edition anywhere you buy books.
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THE TABLE READ (Max's POV)
(set 18 months prior to Chapter 1)
Two degrees Celsius was, technically, above freezing, but not enough to convince me that leaving my cozy warm bed for an oh-eight hundred table read was sensible. I managed to shuffle from my suite to the hotel conference room without running into anyone. Unfortunately, that’s where my luck ended.
The largest conference room at the resort was packed with the cast of Shattered was going over the first of the season four scripts. Swirling around them like fireflies around a mulberry were the various support teams; wardrobe minions handing out goodie bags with measuring tape and reminders, personal assistants taking behind-the-scenes photos for social media between hair touch-ups, and the hotel catering staff working desperately to make sure every surly son of a bi-
“Taeyong-a!”
“Max,” I said automatically in a perfect American accent that had cost me more money than I wanted to admit. Foreign-born Korean, fluent in English, French, Korean, and Japanese. That’s what they would remember. Lots of education and dark, dangerous looks.
Although not today, because I wasn’t changing out of my warm, black sweatpants and hoodie for anything short of an actual red carpet today.
Kim Jihun bounced beside me looking more like an over-eager puppy than the lead visual of a Kpop group and Shattered’s resident hero. Everything from his ink-black hair to his shining eyes screamed Idol. “Max,” he said, a perfect mimic, “how are you?”
“Awake before noon.” I gratefully took a mug of something warm from a passing assistant. “It’s cold. I’m out of my blankets. I’m dealing with people.” I swept the room with my signature disgruntled scowl, daring anyone to meet my eye, and clashed.
Burning bright brown eyes met mine as a stranger walked into the room. Her brown hair bounced off the collar of her olive trench coat as a wide, wool plaid skirt swirled around her ankles, and her chin lifted in defiance above the lovely bow of her cream blouse that I had an urge to untie. There was a fight in her eyes, and I was invited.
Suddenly the morning was looking very good indeed.
I let my gaze slide in lazy caresses down the length of her, wondering just how hard I’d have to work to get that bow undone. I ran my tongue along my lips, tasting the morning coffee that would never satisfy my growing hunger. Working my way back up long legs to that proud chin and high cheekbones I met her angry eyes.
One eyebrow arched up in perfect dismissal.
I smiled.
The woman’s lip curled in an unheard, “Ugh.”
“Yummy. Breakfast.”
“Where?” Jihun looked around in confusion. “Is it donuts?”
“No.”
The woman looked around, wide-eyed and furious, as the rest of the cast slowly worked their way to their spots at the table. After a moment that seemed less like hesitation and more like resignation, she took a spot by the name Iris Muhly.
“Oh!” Jihun perked up. “My new secondary love interest. She’s cute.”
“She’s delightful.” I sipped my coffee and reached down to swap cards with Hakan Gazi, their resident Turkish actor and show veteran.
“What are you doing?” Hakan muttered.
“Trading you views.” I sat down directly across from Iris, staring blatantly.
She met my gaze and held. Unafraid. Unapologetic. Untamable.
I smiled.
She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t think she likes you,” Jihun whispered.
“That’s fine.” I was the villain. I was supposed to be memorable, not lovable. “She’ll come to the dark side eventually.”
