My fingers play with the back of Sophie’s hair. I love curling strands of her hair around them and watch it run over my skin before it falls onto her swanlike neck.

She sighs, and I watch her chest rise and fall. I lean forward and kiss her gently on her naked shoulder.

Lucky for me, Sophie really wanted to…ahem, hang out. And here we are now, lying naked on my trailer’s bed. But there’s an expression of concern on her face, one I don’t like.

“Something troubling you?” I’m amazed at my own question. Not that long ago, I would never have asked a chick if something was troubling her.

In fact, I doubt I’d even think to ask.

Sophie rolls onto her back and looks at me with sad eyes, maybe they’re thoughtful, but they certainly aren’t sparkling with happiness.

At first she just shrugs. Words seem to elude her.

“Oh, you know,” she mutters and grabs the white sheet scrunched around her feet to pull it toward her.

Any other time I would have stopped her or said something funny, but not this time. I sense her tension.

“The way Emma spoke and what she said has rattled me,” she confesses and plays with the sheets.

I furrow my brow. What does she mean? How could anything that low-level actress says affect her? She’s a Palmer, and the Palmers are godlike in the movie industry… surely Sophie knows this.

“Really?” I know it’s not much, but right now I can’t think of what else to say. “How can you pay any attention to her?” I try and stress the word her as much as I can.

Another shrug from Sophie.

“What if she has a point?” Now she’s gnawing on her bottom lip. “I mean, what if I really have chewed off more than I can chew, and what if I am no good at directing and acting in the movie at the same time?”

I’m sure my frown deepens.

“Sophie Palmer, earth to Sophie Palmer.” I gently shake her by the shoulders. “Are you listening to yourself?”

Sophie avoids my gaze. “Stop it,” she mumbles.

“Sophie, Sophie, Sophie,” I murmur into her hair. “I don’t know what to do. I should spank you.”

“Stop it.” Sophie’s face is stern. “I’m not joking, Todd. What if she’s right?”

“What if, what if? What if a meteorite plummets out of the sky and lands on our apartment? Or what if I get run over by a bus on my way to work tomorrow or, here is a novel thought, what if your movie cleans up at the Oscars?”

Sophie rolls her eyes, and I can’t help but take her into my arms and smother her in kisses.

I wish I could do more. But how do you tell someone they are brilliant? And why is it she’s more inclined to believe that Emma girl over me? Human nature, I suppose…we always latch onto negative comments and ignore positive ones.

Her hand reaches for her pendant. I smile.

“Come on, Sophie, you seriously can’t believe a word that comes out of that shallow bimbo?”

Before Sophie can reply, my own phone buzzes. I reach over her and pick it up. Jordan has sent a message. What does he want?

I open it and click on the “must read” link.

Sophie rolls onto her front and rests her head in her hands, elbows on the pillow.

I roll into the same position and put the phone down. As soon as I do, the swirling color wheel changes to an image of none other than Emma.

“I can’t believe I agreed to work on this second-rate film.” Her red lips tell the world as a reporter holds a microphone in front of her face.

I want to click out of the interview, but Sophie stops me.

“I knew it was an indie film,” Emma continues and stares into the camera with rather large eyes. “But we all know some of those can be really quite good. Not this one. It has Sophie Palmer direct and star the main role. I mean, how can you do both those things well? I mean really?”

Her eyes roll around her head and look as if they’re at risk of popping out. Has she smoked or taken something? To his credit, the reporter doesn’t say anything, and I wonder if his plan is to let Emma make a fool of herself without any help from anyone else.

“Everyone goes on and on about how she’s a Palmer,” Emma continues, “as if that means anything. I can assure you she’s no good at either of her jobs. If you ask me, she should be back at acting school.”

“Let’s turn it off,” I plead, knowing Sophie’s close to tears. Thankfully, before she can say anything else, it’s over.

I glare at my mobile as if it’s faulty. Why would the bitch do such a thing?

Deep within me, something stirs. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Why oh why?

And then it dawns on me. She’s paying Sophie back because I rejected her. Shit, is my ego so big I’m actually believing this? No, I’m sure I’m right.

I pull Sophie toward me and kiss her—slow, gentle, and with as much love as I can put into it.

“She’s wrong. Trust me. Actors should be professional, and even if she doesn’t like you, she should stay professional. You’d never badmouth her like that. I know.”

Her lips curl up ever so slightly.

This time I kiss the tip of her nose.

“Do you want to come to dinner at my parents’ house?”

The question blows me away. Sophie Palmer is inviting me, Todd Alexander, to have dinner with her…at her parents’ house? Her parents are both legends.

“If you don’t want to, I understand.”

“Are you kidding?” I hop out of bed and grab some clothes. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go.”

She laughs, and a little of her spark returns.

“I better have a shower first and find some clothes.” She skips past me, and I grab her.

“I don’t know,” I tease her. “You look just fine to me.”

She pulls back and pouts.

“Only fine?”

I slap her on the ass and grin. “You know I worship the ground you walk on, Ms. Palmer.”