Chapter Nine
“I’m glad you finally came to your senses,” Gates said.
He sauntered into her bedroom in a tuxedo. His dark hair was perfectly tousled, and he was sporting some well-groomed scruff that he claimed was necessary since he had to be clean-shaven on set.
“Just because I’m going to this party with you does not mean I’ve come to my senses,” Bryna said, rolling her eyes. She was going because Jude still hadn’t fucking called, and being around Gates was so easy.
“Whatever you have to tell yourself.”
She ignored him and twirled in place. “Well, how do I look?” She had picked out a floor-length white lace gown with a plunge neckline and a slit that ran up to her upper thigh on one side.
“Perfect,” he murmured. “It’s just…”
“What?”
He sent her a bemused smile. “Virginal white?”
“Well, I am so pure.” Bryna slid her hand up her exposed thigh.
His eyes followed the movement, and he stepped toward her.
“I could remind you just how pure you are,” he said, backing her up into the trifold mirror.
Bryna held her head high and gave him a detached look. “Maybe later.”
“I’m taking you up on that. I’ve been back for two weeks. This cat-and-mouse game has gone on long enough.”
She batted her eyes lashes. “I’ve no idea what you mean.”
She brushed past him and then dropped her seductive smile. She had been conflicted about things with Gates since he got back. They had slept together that first day, and even though they had been together a handful of times since then, she was still holding him back and making him work for it.
She just couldn’t stop thinking about Jude. She knew it was ridiculous. He’d never called, which meant he wasn’t interested. Still, she felt like there had been a connection, one she was lacking with Gates. And she didn’t want to lead Gates on. She would always care about him, but she was starting to see more and more that the breakup hadn’t been just because she wanted to sleep with someone else.
“I’m sure you don’t,” Gates said, grabbing her ass, before they walked through the door.
Gates had rented a limo for the occasion, and they sipped champagne on the way into the city. Bryna was pleasantly buzzed by the time they reached the venue. Once they pulled up to the entrance, she stepped out of the limo and into a world of glitz and glamour.
The club was a known celebrity hotspot, so paparazzi always staked out the entrance. A velvet rope held back a line full to bursting. Gates slid out of the car behind her, casually draping his arm around her waist. At a glance, the ushers opened the doors, and they were whisked inside.
The lights were low, the music served as a seductive backbeat, and the people were more beautiful than ever.
Gates guided her over to the bar where he ordered her a dirty martini and got himself a beer. She let her eyes wander the crowd. She knew the cast of Gates’s latest film, Broken Road, was planning to meet up here now that they were all back in Los Angeles. She had heard that, when they had completed the filming in Savannah, the production team had thrown an insane wrap party. She was surprised that Gates had returned so soon afterward. By the way he’d told the story, he should have had a three-day hangover.
Her eyes landed on a brunette in the midst of an adoring crowd. Bryna smiled and pulled Gates over to toward his costar, Chloe Avana.
“Chloe!” Bryna cried, wrapping her arms around the small girl.
She was even shorter than Bryna with long luscious hair and big brown eyes. She had started acting at a young age, and after a successful stint on Disney, she had landed the lead across from Gates. Not only was she already a good actress, she could also belt out songs like Christina Aguilera.
Bryna didn’t get along with many girls, so she had been shocked to find that she actually liked Chloe. They had hung out a bunch when she came into town to visit Gates and lounge around set.
“Bri! It’s so good to see you,” Chloe said. “When did you get here?”
“We just showed up.”
“Good. I’m glad he got you to come out tonight.”
Bryna shrugged. “Of course I came out. Why wouldn’t I?”
No need for Chloe to know anything was different between her and Gates. She could put on a front for anyone.
“Just glad you’re here. Let’s go somewhere, so we can catch up.” Chloe looped their arms together, and they walked into a private sitting room. “Tell me everything. How is life? How is Harmony? Sometimes, I wish I had stayed in school. I hate tutors.”
“Life is great, and Harmony is even better,” Bryna lied. She doubted Chloe really wanted to hear about high school drama. She might wish she was in high school, but it wasn’t as if she didn’t already have her dream job. “What about you? How was filming?”
Chloe sighed happily. “Grueling but the most amazing experience. I can’t wait to see the final cut. You should come with me to look at dresses for the premiere,” Chloe said eagerly. “By the way, your gown is so fabulous.”
“Thank you. Are you going to model an original?”
Chloe nodded. “I’m supposed to be getting samples in soon, so the designer can finalize the product based on my measurements, and then Gates and I will go on the first wave of the promotion tour.”
Bryna’s gaze drifted to Gates questioningly. She hadn’t heard anything about a promotional tour. Of course, she knew that actors typically went on one, but still he hadn’t said anything.
Gates shrugged. “We just got the itinerary today.”
Right.
Bryna’s phone buzzing in her clutch kept her from offering up some fake response. She doubted he had just gotten it in today, but she didn’t have the time at the moment to figure out why if he was being all lovey dovey that he hadn’t told her when he was leaving town again.
She pulled it out of her bag. She didn’t recognize the number, but she didn’t want to think about Gates leaving again. Even if they were in a weird place, it was still Gates.
She held it up for Chloe to see. “I have to take this. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Bri,” Gates said, grabbing her arm.
“I’ll talk to you when I get off the phone.”
“I just got the itinerary,” he repeated.
She arched an eyebrow. “You said as much. Can I take my call now?”
“Fine.” He took a step back, but still looked disgruntled.
Bryna stepped out of the room and found a corner near the restrooms where it was relatively quiet. “Hello?”
“Hey, gorgeous. Did you miss me?”
Bryna’s heart stopped. “Jude?”