Through the club’s poor lighting, Paisley’s lips moved.

“What was that?” Alex asked. He had trouble hearing anything over the pounding music.

Paisley put her face close to his ear. “It’s loud in here!”

Alex nodded and did his best to read her face. They had been at the premiere’s after-party for not even an hour. At first, Paisley had seemed excited to mingle. She’d introduced him to Noah Armstrong and his wife, and together they met the showrunner of a television series they both liked, but after that the novelty had died. The event turned into just another party at a club.

Years ago, Alex would have loved that, but he tended to live a quieter life now. He went to bed sooner and woke up earlier. It suited him and made him more productive.

Apparently, Paisley felt the same.

“Would you like to go somewhere else?” Alex asked in her ear. Then, before he could embarrass himself by coming across as a creep, added, “For a late-night dinner?”

Even in the dim club, he could see her eyes light up. “Now you’re speaking my language!”

Twenty minutes later, after a quick goodbye to Paisley’s friends, the two of them slid into a booth at a midtown diner.

“I love this place,” Paisley said, picking up her laminated menu.

“I do too.”

“Really?” Her eyebrows flew up. “Of all the places in the city…”

“Plus we like the same frozen yogurt spot,” Alex reminded her.

“That’s true,” she said with a smile that warmed Alex throughout.

“I have only been here twice, though,” he said. “The fried pickles are delicious.”

Paisley bit her bottom lip and rolled her eyes back. “Oh, man, I love the fried pickles.” Suddenly, her face grew serious and she put the menu down. “We have a decent amount in common, I guess. At least when it comes to food and movies.”

Alex nodded. He knew he probably gazed at her for too long, but he could hardly help it. With her round, sweet face, shimmering brown eyes and soft, brown hair, she was nothing short of angelic.

“I’m glad you stayed,” Paisley said. “I know what I said about not wanting to have more famous people in my life sounded weird—”

“To be pedantic, you said that you would not want to date someone who was famous.”

Paisley’s eyes locked onto his and something shifted there, but he could not tell what. “Right.” She smiled. “And we’re friends, right? So it’s all cool here.”

Alex’s stomach dropped and he opened his mouth but nothing came out. So was this what the friend zone felt like?

Paisley held her menu up, hiding half of her face. “I assume we’re starting with fried pickles.”

“You know it.” Alex kept his attention on his menu, unable to look at her.

A waitress arrived and they put in an order for fried pickles and sandwiches. Folding her hands on the table, Paisley looked seriously at Alex.

“So,” she said, “the movie.”

He mimicked her actions by lacing his hands on top of the table. “You mean the one we watched tonight?”

“What did you think of it?”

“Noah was good.”

“Of course he was.” Paisley stiffened. “Noah is always a great actor.”

Alex chuckled. “You are protective of your friends.”

“Well, yeah. I mean, Noah is still kind of new, but he’s Lauren’s husband. That makes him family.”

“I like it,” Alex said softly.

Paisley blinked, her pupils widening a bit. “What’s that?” she asked.

“You seem to care greatly for the people in your life.”

She ducked her face a bit. “You picked that up already?”

“We have been talking for months,” he reminded her.

“Yeah.” She smiled a bit. “You know what? When I first saw you, I was surprised. Obviously. But now it doesn’t feel weird to be sitting here at all. I guess, because of everything we’ve talked about, it feels normal. Like we’ve done this a dozen times.”

“I agree completely,” Alex said.

“Sometimes—” Her gaze drifted to the window and she pushed a stray hair from her face. “It can be lonely in such a packed city.”

Alex’s throat tightened. “Indeed.”

Paisley looked back at him. “How long have you been here for?”

“About twelve years. I came for school at NYU and stayed. I now have a software company.”

Paisley nodded. “What kind of software?”

“It is called Mythos,” he said. “We are most well-known for creating digital platforms for the arts and entertainment fields.”

“Really? That’s so awesome.” Paisley fiddled with her fork. “I’m sure a lot of people already know these details about your business but I meant it when I said I don’t follow the lives of the rich and famous.”

“And yet you are a big fan of certain actors. I saw how excited you were to meet Evelyn Austen.”

Paisley blushed. “I love her stuff. There are a lot of actors and filmmakers whose work I love.” She shook her head. “But I don’t want to read about their personal lives.”

“I understand.”

“Yeah.” She looked at him thoughtfully. “I get the sense you really do.”

“I actually want people to know… very little about my life.” Alex hurried to explain. “Unless I know them personally.”

The waitress arrived with drinks and they paused in the conversation.

“Is it all right that we left the after-party?” Alex asked, once they were alone again.

“Oh, yeah. Totally. I’d already met everyone there I wanted to and I’m going to see Nic and Lauren in the morning, anyway. We’re getting breakfast. Nicole’s bringing her baby.” Paisley’s eyes shone. “This is only the second time I’ve seen her, so I’m pretty excited.”

“I can tell.” Alex chuckled.

“Yeah, she lives in Florida, so it’s not like we get to hang out all the time anymore.” Paisley tilted her head and studied him. “Where are your best friends?”

“I have a few really good ones in the city.” Alex paused. “I suppose, if you used the term ‘best,’ it would apply to them.”

“Cool.” She paused and drew her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’m glad you came. This is… really awesome.”

Alex nodded, his throat too thick for speaking.

Throughout the months they’d chatted online, he had found Paisley to be intelligent and insightful. He had fiercely wanted to meet her in person and become friends away from the screen.

Now that he had set eyes on her, a deeper desire had awakened. It had been months since Alex had been on a date and there had been no connection with the last four of five women he went out with. Not on his end, anyway.

He didn’t like it when women seemed too fascinated with his royal status and insisted on going with him to places where they were sure to be photographed together.

It was ironic that he should finally meet a girl he had a magnetic draw to, only to have her quite promptly shut down any possibility of romance.

“We’re friends,” “I would never date a famous guy,” Paisley’s words echoed through his head as his eyes wandered across her face.

He understood her desire for staying out of the spotlight all too well. All he could do was respect that decision and appreciate her company. But could getting to know him better make her change her mind and prioritize romance over anonymity?

The waitress set a plate of fried pickles down and Paisley clapped.

“You’re about to see a really vulgar side of me,” she said, grabbing a napkin. “Sorry in advance.”

Delighted with her spontaneity, Alex laughed. “Bring it on.”