Lana

I pulled my suitcase off the carousel, imagining the chaos on the other side of baggage claim if Matt had decided to turn up at the airport, despite the fact that we had agreed I’d take a car to his place. He’d be surrounded by screaming women, thrusting their phones and God knew what in his face. He’d never felt like a movie star to me. He was just Matt—the guy who sheltered in the bandstand in a thunderstorm, the man who could make me come again and again and again.

I set my suitcase on its wheels and headed for the exit. Nerves fluttered about in my stomach. What happened if things were different between us in LA? Our time together in Maine had been easy, but in Los Angeles, Matt was surrounded by the most beautiful women on the planet every day. Would he see me and wonder what he’d done by inviting me to come out?

After baggage claim I paused before I took the final few steps to the sliding doors out to the real world. Matt had said he was going to send his driver to collect me, so I’d look for someone holding a card with my name on it.

I took a breath and walked toward the exit. Jolting to the side, I grabbed for my suitcase handle, but went flying onto my ass.

What the hell?

No one stopped to help and as I glanced up a huge, burly security guy strode past. “Hey,” I called out as I struggled to get to my feet. The sliding doors opened and a hundred flashbulbs went off. What was happening? I brushed down my pants and strained to see what was going on. As I caught up with the security guy who’d knocked me over, a tiny woman in frighteningly high wedges slowed for the photographers. Great. I’d been pushed aside by some celebrity’s security. I couldn’t help thinking it was some kind of warning, that being with Matt would land me on my ass.

I spotted my name written on a white board and I headed toward it.

“Miss Kelly,” the man with the sign said. “Let me take your bag. I have the car right outside.”

My stomach began a full-on churn. There was no turning back now. “Thank you.”

The car was a Range Rover, less conspicuous than I’d expected and parked right by the entrance. The driver opened the door and I climbed inside.

I squealed when I realized I wasn’t alone.

“I thought I’d surprise you,” Matt said, grinning at me, and enveloped me in a hug.

“Oh, thank God.” I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his neck, grateful I wasn’t being kidnapped, and so happy to see him at the same time.

“Are you okay?” he asked, pulling me away from him and inspecting me as if I’d lost it.

“Fine. Just glad to see you.” I beamed at him.

“I couldn’t be happier to see you,” he said, holding my face and swiping his thumbs over my cheekbones. I melted into his touch. He had magic hands—all my concerns and nerves seem to fade away when we were together.

“How come you’re here? I thought I was going to meet you at home.”

His grin filled his face, and I couldn’t help enjoying the fact that I was part of the cause of his smile. “I couldn’t wait,” he said. He turned his head and reached for something on the armrest. A buzz sounded and a screen came up, separating us from the driver just as we began to set off. “I wanted to see you as soon as you touched down. If I hadn’t known you’d kick my ass, I would have been waiting for you inside.”

God, it felt good for someone—Matt—to want me so much. I couldn’t remember ever feeling so adored. “Well, I’m glad you waited. This way, I don’t have to claw a thousand women’s hands away to get to you.”

He chuckled. Then his eyelids dropped as he pressed his lips to mine.

Heat coursed through my body. I’d forgotten how when he touched me the whole world fell away, leaving only the two of us.

I pushed my hands through his hair and he moaned. Oh, how I’d missed that sound. I loved how I could make him do that.

“You smell of the ocean,” he said, breathing me in.

I turned, trying to get my body closer to his. He lifted me and placed me on his lap. As I put my hand out to steady myself, my palm grazed his erection and I gasped as my pussy pulsed. I’d missed his body, his kisses, his cock. How had I ever considered not taking this trip? No one had done the things to my body he had, as though he had some special, secret code that gave him access to a different level of my pleasure. I couldn’t give that up easily.

I pushed my hand down his thickness, but he grabbed my wrist to stop me.

“I won’t have you in the car like some disposable model, actress or whatever,” he said as he pulled back. He gripped my waist and placed me in the seat next to him, then sat back. “We gotta save it until we get back.”

“Okay,” I said, unsure of what had just happened. “You worried I was going too fast?”

His head snapped around. He reached out his hand and I took it. “I’m concerned I won’t be able to hold back if I kiss you. These two weeks have dragged like you wouldn’t believe, and I don’t want to cheapen what we have by fucking you in the car.”

I squeezed his hand.

“But don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. As soon as we close the door to my house I’m going to fuck you in every room, on every surface. I won’t stop until we’re raw and wrung out. You hear me?” He raised his eyebrows as if he really wanted me to answer him.

I smoothed my thumb across his wrist. “I like the sound of that.”

“Twenty minutes and then you’re mine,” he growled, my nipples pebbling at the promise.

The thought of being his was intoxicating. Every woman in the world wanted him and he’d picked me. A girl from Worthington, Maine, who yelled at him for being stupid the first time she’d ever met him. How had that happened?

I shook my head. I couldn’t overthink these things; I just had to enjoy it while it lasted. There was no way we had a future together. Our worlds were too different; we lived so far apart. We couldn’t last. But I was determined to savor being with him while I had him.

For now.

Matt

How I’d held myself back from yanking down those cute pants and slamming her onto my cock as soon as the car door shut, I had no idea. But somehow, I’d managed it.

Twenty minutes passed like fifteen hours—my dick threatening to explode with pent-up lust with each mile—but finally we pulled up at the gates of my Beverly Hills Spanish-style bungalow.

“Oh, this is pretty,” Lana said, dipping her head so she could see out the window. “And it’s so secluded.”

My place was on a gated street behind a high, stucco wall and a solid-wood gate. There was no way paparazzi could get a look inside. I wouldn’t risk her privacy or mine. “I like to keep the important things private,” I said.

“You have a gardener?” she asked, scanning my front yard. I barely noticed the flowers and shrubbery. I just wanted it to look nice. Beyond that I didn’t give a shit.

“What do you think?” I asked, pulling her closer.

“I think you have people.”

“You’re right. My fingers are best saved for important work—like getting you naked.”

She rolled her eyes and I fought the urge to spank her. Maybe I would when I got her inside.

The car pulled up and I climbed out. “Wait there,” I said. David got out and as he reached for Lana’s door, I asked, “Can you bring her bag in?” He nodded and left me to open her door.

She winced at the sun as I opened the door but still managed a cute half smile.

“Welcome to LA,” I said.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

David followed with Lana’s suitcase, but when we got to the front door, my urge to be alone with her overtook me. “I’ll take the bag inside if you just leave it there. You’ll be back at two?”

“Yes, sir,” he said, and he turned back to the car.

“He’s coming back tomorrow?”

“Or tonight, depending on how you look at it. I have a little trip planned. Just the two of us and not in public. But you might want to take a nap because it’s kind of a middle of the night excursion.”

She put her arms around my neck. “I don’t feel like napping.”

“Then I’ll have to see what I can do to tire you out,” I replied. “We have twelve hours before he comes back but I’m not sure that’s enough for me to do all the things I have planned.”

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as I pinned her against the door with my hips.

“You are so delicious.” I pushed my mouth against hers, desperate to taste her, dying for her to understand how much I wanted her.

I had to get her inside. Without breaking our kiss, I dug out my keys and tried to open the door behind her.

“Matt,” she whispered against my cheek before pulling away. I lifted her and she wrapped her legs around my waist, kissing my neck. I got the door open, dragged her suitcase into the entrance hall and carried her inside.

“I have a house rule,” I said.

“Yeah?” she asked, leaning back as I slammed the door behind us and strode toward the bedroom.

“No clothes.”

She grinned.

“And you’re breaking that rule.”

“But you just told me.” She fumbled with the bottom of her shirt, then pulled it over her head, exposing the delicate white lace of her bra. Her breasts pushed out of the cups in a way that got me harder than a baseball bat and itching to bite down on the soft flesh.

I shook my head. “Don’t play innocent with me. You don’t follow the rules, you gotta pay the price.”

She squirmed in my arms, trying to get free. “What price?”

“You’re mine until you leave LA. That means I get to do exactly what I want while you’re here.”

Her breathing became choppy as she stared into my eyes. She liked me in charge. Of her body and mind—at least when we were in bed—and that suited me. I hated it when women tried to take over in the bedroom. It had gotten worse the more famous I got; the nameless women I’d fucked treated sex with me as an audition, constantly trying to impress me. Lana, on the other hand, just reacted to what I did to her, seemed to do whatever seemed right in the moment. It was never forced between us, just phenomenal.

I let her fall onto my bed, scanning her body, drinking in the sight of her finally, finally in my home.

She glanced around and her smile faltered. “What is it?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I bet this bed has seen a lot of action.”

Of course, she would think that. My history preceded me. “I’ve never been with another woman in this bed.” Buying this place had been a turning point for me. I’d bought it when I’d stopped the wild parties and meaningless sex.

She pursed her lips, clearly thinking I was bullshitting her. I leaned forward and opened the fly on her pants. “I mean it. This is my home. The first place I’ve ever owned. The only woman who’s entered this room is my housekeeper.”

“Really?”

“I’ve never lied to you,” I replied.

She softened and reached to release the catch on her bra. “I don’t want to be breaking the rules, now do I?”

Her breasts fell free, her swollen pink nipples begging me for attention. She might just be the perfect woman. I slid her pants off to reveal matching white lace underwear. “Christ, I’d forgotten how tempting your pussy is. How tempting all of you is.”

I got undressed as quickly as I could, my gaze never leaving her body. I should have taken her panties off before I started to undress myself. The view would have gone from incredible to spectacular.

As if she were reading my mind, she slipped her thumbs into either side of her underwear and dragged them down. I fisted my cock as I eyed her glistening pussy now she was finally naked. Slowly, she opened her legs under my inspection. “That’s right. You know what I like,” I said, taking a step forward. I grabbed her ankle and pulled her toward me.

Her hair spread out around her like arrows pointing toward her beautiful face. “How did I get so lucky?” I asked. A small smile curled up her lips.

I wanted to be anything but soft with her now. I wanted to fuck. Hard. Fast. Relentless. I grabbed a condom from my nightstand and rolled it on as quickly as my shaking hands would allow. I couldn’t wait to feel her around me. “We’ll do slow later. Right now, I need to be inside you, baby.”

She nodded. “I want that, too.”

I groaned as I guided the tip of my cock to her clit and then pushed down her slippery folds to her entrance. I leaned over her, clamping my hand on her shoulder. “You ready?”

She reached over her head, her breasts lifting. “Please, Matt,” she cried.

I slammed into her in one fell swoop, my hips hitting her thighs. “Oh God, yes,” she said, fainter now. The booming in my ears had taken over, and I had to try to think of something other than the way she was pulsing around me, the way I could feel her surrounding my cock, how she was looking at me. I needed to see her come, remind her what I did to her body. I had to show her how good this was, that it was worth it.

I pulled out and she whimpered. “Oh, baby, I won’t deprive you.” I just wanted to feel her heat, her skin next to mine. I moved us up the bed and hovered above her, looking into her eyes. I wanted to memorize every second with this woman. She widened her legs, her palms pressing against her inside thighs, spreading them as far as they would go.

I pushed in, watching her as she took my cock, deep, right up to the root. The expression on her face was desire mixed with relief, as if my dick was a life source. As if she depended on it, worshipped it, needed it.

I shuddered.

“You missed me, baby?” I asked her. “You missed my cock, driving into you like that.” I slammed into her again. “Your fingers aren’t the same, are they? They can’t fill you up like I do.”

“Yes,” she whimpered. “I want . . .” She was too far gone to form full sentences.

I pressed my hand on her belly, stroking my thumb over her clit. Her body began to twitch and jerk. I clasped her shoulder, trying to keep her in place. “Just take it, baby. Take my dick.”

“Oh God, oh God, oh God,” she chanted, her voice breathy and desperate.

She grabbed my wrist. “I don’t think I can . . . It’s too much.” She looked at me, almost pleading with me to stop, to keep going, to give her release, to make it last. I knew how she felt. She wanted everything at once.

That’s how I felt every moment I spent with her. She was almost too much for me. Too good.

But I knew what she wanted was for me to take what I wanted from her. I picked up my rhythm, pounding into her again and again, not stopping as her grip around my wrists tightened, her fingernails digging into my skin. But I didn’t stop. I just kept fucking and fucking, my skin getting hotter and hotter until seconds, minutes, hours later, she screamed out my name and her orgasm coursed through her body.

I paused, panting as I enjoyed the way her whole body shook and her muscles milked my dick all the time as she looked straight at me.

Jesus Christ, I wanted this to last forever. I wanted us to do this again and again. I wanted time to stand still.

I began to move but she cupped my neck and pulled me toward her. I kissed her, fast and sloppy. I was impatient. I wasn’t nearly done. My dick was throbbing, and I wanted her to know how much I’d missed her. I wanted her to feel how much.

I pulled out and flipped her over to her stomach and lifted up her hips. She groaned as I positioned her just as I wanted—her ass in the air, her face in the mattress.

I slid my hand over her ass, focusing my attention on her hot, wet pussy as I teased her entrance with my crown.

I wanted her to need it, beg for it. It wasn’t enough that she was just ready for me.

“Matt,” she cried as she twisted her hips.

I stayed silent, pulling back when she shifted to try to get more of my dick.

“Matt. Please. I want it. Please.”

That was better. And I couldn’t say no to her. Not ever.

I gripped her hips and slammed into her as she groaned. I gasped in relief. “Yes,” she screamed as if it was all she’d been waiting for her whole life.

It was so deep like this. We fit perfectly. I couldn’t stop. I wanted to give her whatever she wanted. I needed to take from her more.

I pressed my palm on her lower back, desperate to keep her in position, not wanting to waste a single thrust.

Her hair skirted her skin as she leaned up on her elbows and turned her head to look at me.

It was like a bullet to the chest. She was so beautiful, her eyes heavy with desire, her mouth slightly parted, the need in her expression. How had I got so fucking lucky?

I wanted to come on her. Over her. In her. I wanted her whole body covered in me. She quivered the way she always did before she came the second time and it was too much. Seeing her undone sent blood rushing to my dick.

Her desire for me—not the actor, model, star, but just me—tipped me over the edge. Her eyes widened and she lingered on the cusp of orgasm, begging for release. I was happy to give it to her. Three final, sharp thrusts and she arched her back and called out my name. She couldn’t get any more perfect.

I fell onto the bed and rolled to my back, pulling her into my arms.

She twisted her legs, linking them through mine as she always did. Who would’ve thought I’d have a postcoital routine that existed of something more than a piss and a good-bye.

Our breathing hadn’t even returned to normal before I started imagining Lana gripping the edge of my dining room table while I pounded into her from behind. “You’re wicked,” I said, kissing the top of her head.

“I am?” she asked.

“You make me insatiable.”

“I’m pretty confident you had that covered before I arrived,” she said.

My sexual past wouldn’t stop hovering around us like a bad smell. Did it bother her? Worry her?

I shifted so she was on her back, then propped my head up with my hand and stared down at her perfect naked body. I slid my palm between her breasts and over her belly. “You get that this is different for me, right?” She caught my hand before it could go lower. “You’re different. For me. That’s why you’re here, in LA, in my home, in my bed. I can’t pretend there haven’t been women before you, and I can’t change that—don’t want to. But you’re the only one that I want to be with. I hope you feel the same.”

She traced my eyebrows with her finger as if buying herself time to think. “Kiss me,” she said simply. It wasn’t any kind of declaration, but she never had to ask twice.

And anyway, it was enough.

For now.

Lana

Between orgasms, I had managed a little sleep thanks to the difference in time zones. So although I was tired, it could have been worse. I still wasn’t sure I wanted to go out in the middle of the night, but Matt seemed excited. I’d rather have stayed naked and in bed with him.

“Are you ready?” he called through the bathroom door. We’d agreed to have separate showers or we’d never manage to get out of the house.

“Just coming.”

He snickered and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and grin as I pulled on a pink blouse and a pair of skinny jeans.

Being here in LA with him hadn’t been as awkward as I’d imagined it might be. We’d spent a lot of time together in Maine, but I’d been worried he may be someone different at home. Sometimes people changed depending on their environment.

Part of me had thought this trip would be a release. I’d be able to leave and say to myself that Matt wasn’t the man I’d thought he was and that we’d go our separate ways. But so far, Matt was the same, which was both wonderful and terrifying.

I scrambled through my bag for my mascara. Even though Matt had said I didn’t need makeup tonight, I was pretty sure there wasn’t a woman in Los Angeles who went completely barefaced. Mascara, blush and maybe a bit of lip balm would be the absolute minimum while I was here.

“Car’s here,” he yelled.

I almost ran into him as I came out of the bedroom. Excitedly, he grabbed my hand and practically pulled me out of the house.

Matt held my car door open as David slid into the front seat. “You’re okay with the route?” Matt asked.

“Absolutely, sir,” he replied and then Matt flicked the switch that brought the screen up between us.

“You’ve never been to LA, right?” Matt asked, taking my hand and clasping it in his lap.

“Nope. Ruby and I were going to go after graduation but then . . .” But then my ex had ruined our plans. I hadn’t even attended the ceremony.

“If I ever meet him, he’s going to get knocked into next week.”

I kissed his shoulder. “You’re sweet, but I wouldn’t want him to have the satisfaction of knowing it still bothers me.” Bobby had wanted to control me, to punish me, and releasing those photos had given that to him. In my own way, I was finally trying to take some of that power back, here, with Matt. I was getting on with my life.

“Have you seen him since it happened? To confront him?”

“No, never laid eyes on him again.” The damage had been done and confronting him would just have given him the attention from me that he wanted. “There was no point. I just walked away.”

He pulled me closer to him. “Always a lady.”

“Not when I’m in yoga pants and socks.”

“Especially then. That’s your sexiest look.”

I elbowed him in the ribs. “You’ve got all the right words today.”

He kissed me on the lips, then moved away and tapped on the tinted window. “This is Rodeo Drive. You’ve heard of that, right?”

“With all the stores? Can I roll down the window?” I asked. “I like the breeze and I want to see better.”

He grinned and reached for the button.

“No one will see you, right?”

“Not at all. We’ll be moving too fast.”

The warm air slipped into the air-conditioned car, making me shiver. “It’s so hot, even so late.” The street was quiet and still, and reminded me of a film set, all new and perfect.

“We can come shopping tomorrow if you like.” he said.

“Like you can just walk into stores without people noticing you.” I laughed. “And anyway, I’m not much of a shopper.” He’d promised me we wouldn’t go out in public. Hopefully he wasn’t regretting that decision.

“And now we’re turning on to Sunset Boulevard,” he said as we turned right. “Like the movie.”

“And the musical.”

“That,” he said, pointing to the left. “Is the Beverly Hills Hotel.”

The familiar white cursive font on the side of the green building poked out from between the palm trees. “We’re not going there though, are we?”

He shook his head. “It’s a real celebrity haunt. There’ll be photogs there. I thought you might just like a drive around town—your own private Hollywood tour. You can’t visit the city and never step outside my gated community.”

“I’d be okay with just being with you.” As soon as I said it, I realized how cheesy it sounded. But it was true. I’d come to LA to see him, not the sights. “But this is really thoughtful of you. Thank you.”

Each side of the road was flanked with green—trees and shrubs and grass. “It’s cleaner than I expected. And greener.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, this end is nice. It changes as we go along. You’ll see.”

We sat holding hands, looking out the window, the scent of a Los Angeles night filling the car as the trees buzzed by. Without warning, the greenery disappeared, and flags on both sides of the street welcomed us to West Hollywood.

“And this is the beginning of the Strip.”

Billboards took the place of the landscaping. Car horns honked in the distance and our trip didn’t seem so private anymore. “Should we close the window?”

Matt shrugged. “It’ll be fine. I have my hat if things get busy.” He leaned forward and pulled out a navy-blue Yankees hat from the pocket in front of him.

“The Yankees? You know you’re in LA, right?”

“I used to go when I was in New York. Can’t turn me now.”

“You know it’s not an invisibility cloak though, right?” I asked. A piece of clothing wasn’t going to transform him from Matt Easton to some tourist from the Midwest.

“Let me worry about being recognized. I promise, it won’t happen.”

I needed to trust him. This was his town, his fame. And it was as important to him as it was to me that we weren’t seen together. “You ever been on one of these billboards?” I asked, pointing up to a huge sign that had Jennifer Aniston on it.

“Yeah, once or twice. It’s a weird feeling, driving past one. But good. It means the movie’s getting publicity if you’re thirty feet high.”

I shuddered, though a movie billboard was probably different than having your naked body plastered around campus. Matt had signed up for it, agreed to it, even aimed for it. But I wouldn’t ever crave people’s eyes on me like that.

“That’s the Viper Room, a club that you might have heard of,” he said, leaning toward me and pointing to the right.

It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t remember why. “We’re not going there though?”

“No.” He chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing really. I used to go a lot. But you’re right. It’s not really your scene. And I mean that in a good way.”

I didn’t say anything, but this part of LA was less glamorous than I’d imagined it to be. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, and maybe things would look different in the light of day, but it looked run down in places.

“That’s the Comedy Store,” he said and I slid over a little, some of my hair catching the breeze and escaping out the window.

“Hey, look at that,” I said, glancing back at Matt to make sure he’d seen what I’d seen. “A train. Is that a restaurant?”

“Serves great hot dogs.”

“It’s super cute.”

“We can get takeout from there if you like.”

Of course, we couldn’t actually just go to dinner. It was almost as if we were in a bubble, cut off from the rest of the world. It was a romantic thought, but it was also a little odd. I’d never noticed how limited Matt was while we were in Maine, probably because I was in my world and my day wasn’t impacted by Matt’s stardom. But going to a restaurant should be the most natural thing in the world. It bothered me that we couldn’t be normal, or spontaneous. “Maybe,” I replied.

“Oh, and that’s Chateau Marmont—an old Hollywood icon.”

“That place?” I asked, staring at the white building on the left, hidden by the trees.

“Yeah. I like that place. Maybe we’ll go one day. You know, when this Audrey thing is over.”

I smiled but didn’t say anything. Even when the Audrey thing was over, I didn’t want to be together in public. I thought he understood that.

We kept going and the restaurants gave way to banks and offices. I wasn’t sure if we were going somewhere or were just driving around.

“And this,” Matt said, “is Hollywood. You know how you can tell?” he asked as we pulled over.

“How?”

“The sidewalk.”

I poked my head out of the car to see stars all over the sidewalk. I grinned and turned back to him. “That is so cool.”

“That’s Grauman’s Chinese Theater,” he said, lifting his chin.

“Oh, yes. Of course,” I said, recognizing the striking building from watching the Academy Awards. “Have you been to the Oscars?” I asked.

“Never been nominated or invited. I’ve been to the after parties, but never the ceremony.”

I wanted to ask whether or not he wanted an Oscar, but surely every actor did.

“We’re going to drive along up here for a couple of blocks.” He pressed a button and told David to go to the next place. Matt had obviously put some thought into this trip and it was kind of adorable.

After a few minutes, the car slowed to a stop again. “I thought you might want to visit your namesake, Lana Turner, and then I have a map and we can go and see anyone you like.” Matt’s eyes were lit up. “You brought your phone, right? For a picture? David will take one for you.”

“I can selfie,” I said. “You okay to stay here?”

He nodded and I could feel him watching me as I slid out of my seat. Even at this time of night, there were people around. He’d definitely attract attention if he followed me.

I found Lana Turner’s star quickly. I couldn’t help but be a little sad my dad wasn’t here for this. He was the Lana Turner fan. But I knew wherever he was he’d be smiling down, happy if I was happy. Which I was.

I was full to the brim.

So much so I couldn’t quite believe any of it was real.

Matt

“You’ve heard of the Hollywood Bowl, right?” I didn’t want Lana to think I saw her as some hick who knew nothing about the world, but I remembered coming to Los Angeles and everyone pointing out all these places as though I should know what they were or understand their significance when I hadn’t had a clue. I really wanted to show her LA tonight. I just wished we didn’t have to hide.

“A concert venue, right?”

“Yeah. It’s outdoor, and I really like it. And here we are.”

“Stay,” I said as I opened the door, got out and rounded the trunk to her side. As I opened her door, she said, “We’re getting out? Like, you’re getting out? What if someone sees?”

“It’s closed tonight,” I said, helping her down from the Range Rover.

“Closed?” She frowned.

I held my hand out and guided her to the entrance. “To the public, but I thought it might be fun to explore.”

“We’re breaking in?” She sounded genuinely concerned.

“No, they’ve let us come after hours. I know a guy who knows a guy.”

“Oh, to be a famous movie star,” she said and giggled, poking me in the ribs.

“Hey, I said it had its perks.”

I’d arranged for us to enter at the back of the venue so that when we came out, she’d feel the size of the place. As we turned into the bowl, she gasped. “It’s huge.”

As I’d planned, the stage was lit in blue, as if someone was about to come out and perform. “Let’s make our way down to the front,” I said, tugging her hand.

As we got closer, we slowed, taking in the lights and the stage. She twirled. “I can’t believe we have this entire place to ourselves.” She slid her hands up my chest and around my neck. “Thank you for planning something so special. If only your screaming fans knew how adorable you really are.”

I spanned her waist with my hands and dropped a kiss on her lips. “I look after the people who are important in my life, that’s all. Come on. I have something arranged.” I turned and led the way to our left.

“Glass of champagne?” I asked as we came to a table covered with a white cloth. On it was an ice bucket and two glasses, along with two hot dogs from Carney’s. I loved that she’d spotted the restaurant on our way here.

“Champagne and hot dogs?” Her eyes were bright with excitement. “This is too much.” She held out her hands as if welcoming the food and alcohol.

Seriously, she might just be the perfect woman. Or my perfect woman anyway.

I poured two glasses of champagne and handed one to her. “To hiding in plain sight,” she said.

“With the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known.”

She tilted her head. “You have all the words, my friend. All. The. Words.”

What she didn’t realize was that I wasn’t trying to tell her what she wanted to hear, I was just saying what I felt. There was no one on the planet I’d rather be with right there and right then.

I sat and pulled her onto my lap.

“It’s true, champagne does go with everything,” she said, setting her glass back on the table in front of her. “Even hot dogs.”

“Are you enjoying LA?” I asked. I hoped it wouldn’t be long before she came out again.

“Yeah. It’s different than I thought it would be. It feels less like a city than New York.”

I chuckled.

“You know what I mean—it’s more about the outdoors than Manhattan.”

“I’d like to think this won’t be your only trip.”

Her gaze darted from my mouth to my eyes and she just smiled.

“I was talking to Sinclair about the pictures taken in Maine.”

She glanced back at the stage and leaned into my chest.

“Audrey and I are going to announce our breakup on Tuesday after you fly home.”

“Really? Before the publicity tour for your movie?” She linked her fingers through mine.

“Yeah, the studio thinks it might create good buzz if they spin it right. It’s just there will be additional scrutiny on Audrey and me after the photos.”

“I’m sorry if I ruined that for you.”

“You didn’t do anything. And maybe it’s for the best. Audrey won’t have to wait as long to get married. And, you know, things are going well between you and me so . . .”

She stopped stroking my wrist. “But Audrey isn’t the only reason why you and I aren’t public.”

“No.” I took a deep breath. “But maybe now we have options.”

She put her hand on my chest and turned to face me, her eyes narrowing. “Options?”

“Well, I won’t be with Audrey. And Sinclair is talking about another contracted girlfriend.” She raised her eyebrows. “I said that we were together so I didn’t need another girlfriend.”

“What did he say?”

“Well, he wants me to be in a relationship. Thinks it shows me as being mature and reliable.” Sinclair might want me going out with a star, but if Lana was amenable, I’d rather it was her.

“So you’re going to get another girlfriend?”

“Well, I was hoping you were going to tell me that I’m already taken,” I said, pulling her closer. “I want you to be my girlfriend.”

Her frown deepened. “I don’t understand.”

“Look, I don’t want another fake girlfriend when I have you.” I paused, wanting her to agree, but her face was frozen. “The thing with Audrey was easy,” I explained. “I was single and she had a serious boyfriend. But now that the shoe’s on the other foot, I can’t imagine why she signed up. Not when she was with someone else.”

“What are you saying? You don’t want a contracted girlfriend?”

“I’m saying, let’s go public. I don’t want to have to hide.” Her eyes widened in shock. “Not right away. There needs to be some time after my breakup with Audrey.”

She tried to wriggle away but I held her tight. “Would it be so bad for people to know I’m your boyfriend?”

“Let go of me. I need to—”

I released her and she scooted off my lap and onto the chair next to mine. “You know I don’t want that sort of attention.”

“But you’ve seen how my fame can be a good thing—think of the positives.”

“It’s not something I’d ever choose. You know that. I feel like you’re changing the rules on me here.”

“How did you think this was going to play out? We can’t stay a secret forever. Not if we’re serious. And I’m here to tell you I’m serious. I really like you. I haven’t dated a woman since high school—I’ve never had the urge. But I want to spend all my time with you, whether I’m in the house or going to a premiere.” It felt good to tell her.

“A premiere?” She looked at me as if I’d suggested we boil ourselves in acid.

I shifted my body toward her and brushed her hair behind her shoulders. “You’d look beautiful on the red carpet.”

She pressed her palm flat on her chest. “I can’t breathe.”

I made sweeping circles on her back. “I’m not saying that we need to issue a statement. I’m just suggesting that when the Audrey thing has died down, in a couple of months, then we could just not make such an effort not to be seen together.”

“In a couple of months?” Her question sounded hopeful.

Maybe she was open to this. “Yeah, nothing has to change right away.”

She took a deep breath. “A couple of months is almost as long as we’ve known each other.”

“Exactly. I just want you to think about it. Sinclair’s asking me to meet this new girl for a contract and I just—”

“Maybe you should.” She dragged her fingers through her hair. “Anything could happen between us in a couple of months. You’re going to be travelling to promote this movie. I’m going to be busy in Maine . . .”

“Hey,” I said, ducking down, trying to catch her eye. Her stare was planted firmly on the ground. “Just because I’m going to be abroad doesn’t change anything. I can arrange for you to come out to wherever I am on the junket, and if I have some down time, I’ll come back to Worthington for a few days.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“You don’t want me to come to Maine?”

She sighed. “I do, but not while your profile is going to be higher than ever. You’ll have just announced your split with Audrey and the press is going to be looking for the reason why. I don’t want to be the answer.”

“Fair enough. And Sinclair would probably have a—”

“I don’t give a shit about Sinclair. I’m telling you, for now I don’t want you to come to Worthington.”

I wanted her to tell me that all she cared about was me and she’d do whatever it took to be with me. But she was saying the opposite. “Okay, I promise not to come to Maine.” I tried to sound level and unconcerned but the rejection stung.

“Okay,” she mumbled under her breath.

We sat silently as the minutes ticked by. Had I read this situation wrong? We’d practically lived together in Worthington and she’d agreed to come out to LA. Did she expect things between us to fall apart?

Would it really surprise me if she did? My past was hardly one of committed monogamy. But I wanted to be committed to her. Somehow, I’d gone from wanting to fuck everything that moved to wanting one woman and one woman only—Lana.

I just wanted her to feel the same way.

“I’m sorry if I overreacted. I have a lot to lose, and I can’t give that up just because it’s convenient for your career.” Her voice wobbled as if she was close to tears. This was not how this night was meant to go.

“You think I’m using you?” That was the furthest thing from the truth.

“I’m not saying that. I just think that we wouldn’t be having this conversation if it weren’t for your career and Sinclair and the franchise.”

Well, I couldn’t argue with that. If Sinclair hadn’t been on my case about getting another girlfriend on contract, I never would’ve brought up going public with Lana. I knew how she felt about it.

I wanted her to be happy. More, I wanted to be the one who made her happy. “I’m pushing too hard,” I said. “And you’re right, going public with you in a few weeks would be convenient for my career. But it’s more than that, Lana. I like you, like being with you. Part of me wants to show you off, tell everyone you’re taken. Have people see how fucking lucky I am.”

She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “I know and it’s so nice. It was just not what I was expecting. At all. I’m not sure where it leaves us if one of us wants one thing and another wants something different.”

I took a steadying breath. I needed to be strong and calm. To tell her everything was going to be okay, that I could guide her through this. One way or the other, we’d resolve this. “Listen. Above everything, I want you to be happy.” A tugging in my gut said that wasn’t the whole truth. I wanted this franchise, which meant I had to have a girlfriend. Only after the ink was dry on the contract could I do what I wanted. If Lana wanted our relationship to remain under wraps, then maybe I should take the lunch that Sinclair was trying to set up.

“I want you to be happy, too. I’m just not sure what that means,” she said, glancing up at me.

I took her face in my hands. “We’re going to take things step-by-step. I’m going to stop pushing and we’re just going to enjoy our time together.” I dropped a kiss on her lips. “Agreed?”

“Okay,” she said. “And I’ll definitely think about it.”

I smiled, trying to mask my concern. Los Angeles didn’t have thunderstorms very often, but a rumble in the distance told me unless I could change her mind at some point, we weren’t going to last very long.