Zoe couldn’t hold the smile in. He was funny, even if he did have a habit of saying things he shouldn’t. He should have asked her first about taking Dominic to LA, but then maybe that was something you learned when you had kids. And Dominic really wanted to go. It would be mean of her to stop him.

She let Dominic chat to Declan as she worked through her thoughts. He had automatically included Dominic in the trip to LA. That was a positive sign wasn’t it? Or was she seeing things she hoped to see?

The bill came and he insisted on paying it. She agreed on the condition that he come for dinner at her place. She couldn’t afford to take them all out to a restaurant like this, but she could cook him something.

“That would be lovely, but I have to take a rain check.”

“Why?”

“I would love to come over for dinner but I have to go back to LA tomorrow. My agent has demanded my presence. I was supposed to go back last week, but um, I wasn’t ready to leave yet.”

Was he running away? Or did he think she was coming on too strong?

“Oh, okay.” She wasn’t sure what to say. She definitely wasn’t going to beg him to stay.

When they left the restaurant, it was obvious he’d been recognized again as there was a bevy of reporters waiting. Zoe noted he pulled Dominic close to him. He was protective of her brother, which went a long way to proving he had a good heart. But how she wished they could go somewhere without it causing such a reaction in the press.

* * *

When they got back home, Zoe invited Declan in for some coffee. Dominic ran off to meet his friends leaving them alone together.

They sat on the sofa chatting about this and that. Zoe sensed Declan wanted to say something but he didn’t seem ready. She shut up and let the silence fill the room.

“Zoe, I…I was thinking of renting somewhere nearby. I’ve been chatting to Gertie and I’d like to spend some time here in Cloudy Bay getting to know her better.”

“Just Gertie?” she asked before she could stop the words coming out of her mouth.

“I mean, you and Dominic too of course.” He colored making him look younger.

It was funny how insecure he seemed around her especially as he was the successful actor.

“I would like that. Do you think you could get rid of your press followers?”

“They will get bored and start following someone else. I have to get back to LA tomorrow for a meeting with my agent. I want to check in with Maria and Joseph too – they mind my home. But I could be back in time for the weekend. Would that suit you?”

He was staring at her, waiting for her answer.

“I would like to get to know you better but before we go any further, you have to know Dominic is part of the package. I am responsible for him.” She bit her lip, her heart beating so fast she thought it might just leap right out of her chest. This was it. He would walk away now.

“That’s cool. He’s a great kid.”

She stared at him, her heart beating even quicker at the look in his eyes. She watched frozen as he put down his coffee cup and moved closer to her, taking the cup out of her hands. Her mouth was dry and she wanted to wrench her gaze away from his but her brain wasn’t answering any of her demands.

“Zoe, I like you. A lot. Please don’t read anything about me on social media. I am not that person. There are a lot of lies written about those of us who work in Hollywood.”

He was nervous about her not liking him. Wow. She had to say something.

“I have already seen some of them. They called me old.” She clamped a hand over her mouth, before looking at him. His lips twitched as if he was trying not to laugh.

She giggled and then so did he.

“Sorry but you old? What does that make me?”

He leaned in toward her as if he was about to kiss her when the front door banged and Dominic called out he was home.

Declan sprang back to the other side of the sofa like someone caught doing something they shouldn’t.

“Oh, you’re still here. Cool. Can you stay and watch a movie?”

“I think Zoe may have other plans.”

“No, I don’t. I can make some popcorn if you want to stay.”

“Please stay. Then I can watch your movie. Zoe never lets me watch them.”

“Dominic!” Zoe said as her cheeks burned. She hoped he would shut up now. “Sorry, I don’t remember specifically banning him from your movies.”

“You said they were superficial rubbish not suitable for growing kids.”

“Dominic, please.” Zoe wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. “That was before I met you Declan. I am sure they are great.”

His lips were twitching again as his eyes danced in amusement. He was enjoying this. Which was good in a way as it meant he didn’t take himself too seriously.

“Have you watched any of my movies?”

She kept her eyes averted. “No.”

“Let’s see if they are as bad as you think. Where’s the popcorn?”

Zoe ran. She had to gather her wits. Everything he said and did was making her like him more. And she liked him enough already.

The movie wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be but still wasn’t her type. When it was over, Dominic raved about it.

“I guess I didn’t convince you my movies weren’t all bad,” Declan whispered.

“I liked the music,” she whispered back. He threw the soft cushion at her and before they knew it, all three of them were laughing on the ground. Just as if they had been hanging out for years.