A gold envelope caught my eye as I sorted through the mail, and I dug it out, eager for something to distract me from the typical pile of bills and boring, business correspondence. I stroked my fingers across Calvin’s name printed in calligraphy on the satiny surface. I typically opened all the mail, but this looked personal. Was it an invitation to a wedding, or something?

There was no return address on the front, so I flipped it over. The name and address of Olympic Studios was embossed on the back flap. Curiosity flared inside me, and I couldn’t resist carefully slicing the envelope open. I gasped when I pulled out the thick, linen card inside, printed in gold lettering.

Calvin walked in then, grumbling about troubles with the building inspector, and set a pile of papers on my desk. I tore my eyes away from the invitation to look up at him. “What? Sorry, I was distracted.”

He waved it off. “I was just complaining. It’s nothing for you to worry about. What’s that?”

He craned his neck to look at the card, so I turned it towards him. “It’s an invitation to the premiere of the new Beau Bennett movie, Enticement.”

“Oh, yeah.” He shrugged it off like it was no big deal, like he got invited to huge movie premieres every day. Of course, a guy like him probably did. But he didn’t run in Hollywood circles, and this was the first invitation I’d seen cross his desk.

I couldn’t stop myself from digging for answers. “This is a big deal, Calvin, but you don’t seem the least bit impressed. Do you get invited to a lot of these?”

He took the invitation and glanced at it then handed it back to me. “No. I get invited to a lot of benefits, charity auctions, other kinds of parties, but not typically movie premieres. But I invested in that film, so I suppose they felt obligated to invite me.”

“You did? I didn’t know you invested in movies.”

“Well, I don’t normally, but they approached me about filming a scene at my mansion. When I looked into it, I decided the project had a lot of potential.”

“Uh, yeah. Beau Bennett is in it. He’s like, the world’s sexiest, most eligible billionaire.” My eyes widened, and I slapped a hand over my mouth. “Present company excluded, of course.”

Calvin rolled his eyes and smirked at me. “Of course. I guess you’re into that Hollywood type.”

I wrinkled my nose, remembering all the Hollywood guys I’d dated. None of them were quite as famous as Beau Bennett, but they were all the same. “Well, no, not really. I’ve heard he’s a total playboy, and guys like that are obsessed with themselves. They don’t have the capacity to care about anyone else.”

Calvin got a thoughtful look on his face that made me wonder if I’d said something that hit home. Calvin wasn’t obsessed with himself, but he was obsessed with making money, and he didn’t seem to have any important, personal relationships. Was there anyone he cared about?

Calvin started to walk away without saying anything else, so I called after him. “You’re going to go, right? Should I put it on your calendar?”

He turned back with a look on his face like he’d eaten something sour. “No, I don’t have the time for it. There’s too much to do to get ready for the opening.”

I huffed. I couldn’t believe he was giving up an opportunity like that! “Oh, come on! It’s only one night. You can’t work every moment of every day. You need to take a break once in a while. It’s like an investment in your mental health and happiness.”

He chuckled but shook his head. “I don’t usually like to make public appearances.”

“But think of all the free publicity this could bring! I’m sure they’ll want to interview you, and you can tell them about the resort.” That was the right thing to say. He tilted his head and pursed his lips like he was considering it.

“Come on, Calvin. You can’t pass this up. It’s an incredible opportunity. Most people would kill for this chance.”

He got a strange look on his face, then, that I didn’t quite understand, and his voice sounded strained. “I couldn’t go alone. I’d need a date…”

He seemed worried about that, but that made no sense, whatsoever. “I’m sure you could find one. You probably have all kinds of women throwing themselves at you.”

He shook his head. “I try to avoid those types of women.” Then he dropped his eyes to the floor like he was suddenly fascinated by the carpet pattern. Eventually, he mumbled, “I don’t suppose you’d like to go with me? I mean, you’ve probably been to enough of them. You can help me fit in better.”

When he peeked up at me, his face looked tense with anxiety. What did that mean? Was he nervous because he liked me and he thought I’d turn him down? I should. He was my boss, for one thing, and my parents were upset enough that I was working for him. But I would give anything to go to that premiere, and surprisingly, I really wanted to go with him.

Without letting myself worry about the complications, I smiled and said, “I’d love to go with you.”

His face relaxed and curved into a wide, brilliant smile. “Well, all right, then. Put it on the calendar.”

The time flew by, every day filled with a million tasks to get the resort ready for the party and the swiftly-approaching opening. By the day of the premiere, Calvin and I were both in need of a break.

He told me to meet him at the small airport just outside of town, so I drove there and parked my old car in a row of shiny, high-priced, luxury vehicles. I looked down at my casual outfit, wondering if I should’ve dressed better. I had a gown back at my apartment in LA that I planned to wear to the premiere, but that was several hours away, and I wanted to be comfortable. But maybe jeans and a polo weren’t appropriate for a ride in a private jet with a famous billionaire.

I grabbed my tote bag and walked towards the terminal. Calvin was inside, talking to the attendant at the front desk. His serious expression softened into a smile when he saw me.

He glanced down at my outfit, but he didn’t make a face, so either he wasn’t offended or he was good at hiding it. He looked more casual than normal, too, in khaki pants and a loose, blue, linen shirt that brought out his eyes. A garment bag hung over his shoulder, and a computer bag dangled from the opposite hand.

“Hey Layla, are you ready to go?”

I nodded, suddenly nervous. He led us out to the tarmac where a large, glossy white jet sat, the words CalMont Enterprises written across the tail in gold and black lettering. A woman in a prim, black stewardess uniform stood at the bottom of the stairs leading into the plane. Calvin handed her his garment bag but kept his laptop.

She reached for my tote. “May I take your bag, ma’am?”

When I handed it off to her, she climbed the stairs with the luggage and disappeared into the airplane. Calvin held out a hand to guide me up the stairs. It was warm and firm against mine, and I felt a sense of loss when we got to the top and he let go of me.

“Wow, what a gorgeous plane, Calvin.” I gawked at the wide, creamy leather seats and the glossy wood accents.

“Thank you. I actually bought it off Beau Bennett.”

I slid into one of the soft, throne-like seats and buckled my seatbelt. “Are you two friends?”

He shrugged and took the seat right next to me, even though there were half a dozen others. Then he pulled his computer out of the bag and set it on his lap. Maybe he wanted us to work during the flight. “I don’t know if I’d go so far as to call us friends, but we’re acquaintances. We have some things in common.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, like a few billion.” Unlike Calvin who’d earned his money the hard way, Beau had inherited his money when his parents died, but he was still one of the few billionaires under the age of 35.

Calvin grinned at that. “Let’s just say we understand each other.”

The stewardess wheeled a refreshment cart up the aisle towards us. “Would you like something to drink?”

Calvin glanced up at her. “Ginger ale, please.”

She nodded and looked at me as she expertly poured his soda over ice in a crystal tumbler and handed it to him.

“May I have a bottle of water?”

Calvin held up a hand to stop the stewardess before she poured it and looked at me. “You can have something stronger, if you want. I’m sure we have whatever you like.”

I shook my head and smiled at the stewardess. “No, I prefer water, thank you.”

She poured Perrier into a glass and handed it to me. I took it then pointed at Calvin’s laptop. “I need to keep a clear head if we’re going to work.”

He looked down at the laptop and winced then slid it back into the bag. “Sorry, habit. But we don’t need to work. You work too hard as it is. I want you to relax and enjoy yourself today.”

I almost spit out my water. “I work too hard? I’m only trying to keep up with you. You’re like a machine.”

He shrugged and swirled his ginger ale. The ice tinkled melodically against the glass. “Another habit, I guess.”

The plane started moving then, taxiing slowly to the end of the runway. Nothing rattled or shook. I could barely even hear the tires on the pavement. It was like we were gliding on water.

“I get that. I mean, you’ve had to work hard to get where you are. But can’t you relax and enjoy it now? Do you have to keep pushing yourself to the breaking point?”

Calvin leaned his head back against his seat as the plane sped up then took off, coasting into the sky like a paper plane instead of a hundred ton hunk of metal. “I guess I’m worried I’ll lose all the ground I’ve gained if I don’t keep at it. And what else do I have to do? I never took the time to develop any hobbies.”

I couldn’t picture Calvin doing anything as mundane as fishing or even golf. Was there anything that brought him pleasure besides making money?

“What about relationships? Don’t you want to spend time with the people you care about?”

Calvin turned his head and stared at me for a long moment, his eyes guarded. I stared back at him, trying to show him he could trust me. Eventually, his eyes softened, and he let out a soft sigh.

“There aren’t that many of those. I love my family, but I can’t say I like being with them. And I’ve never been good at forming relationships with other people. I guess Montgomerys aren’t very likable.” He quickly turned his head away from me and stared up at the ceiling.

I reached out a hand and laid it on his arm, nicely toned with fine, blond hairs. I’d never seen him in short sleeves before. “That’s not true, Calvin. I don’t know much about your family, other than the gossip that goes around, but I know you. I always enjoy your company.”

I wanted to say he was likable, but that seemed inappropriate considering the nature of our relationship. But it was true. He was smart, but he never made me feel stupid, he was strong but never bossy or intimidating. He was kind and interesting and inspiring. I liked him. A lot. A lot more than I should.

He glanced at my hand and gave me a soft smile. “That’s kind of you, Layla. I enjoy your company, too. You make the work day a lot more pleasant.”

I was hoping for something more than that, but I supposed even if he had feelings for me, he wouldn’t have said it. It might’ve felt like a date, but I was still his employee. I pulled my hand away. Touching him probably wasn’t appropriate, either.

We made small talk for the rest of the flight. It wasn’t quite as intimate as our earlier conversation, but still, we told each other a lot of personal things about our lives and our families. Calvin relaxed a little more, and I felt like I was getting a glimpse of the real person and not the business persona he wore like a costume.

A twinge of sadness that the conversation had to end dampened my enthusiasm about the day when the plane glided into the LA airport. We stood up, stretched, then made our way out into the bright sunshine. It felt like we’d been in a private bubble, and reality had finally burst it.

A town car pulled up to the plane, and a gray-bearded driver in a black suit and cap got out and took our bags then put them in the trunk. We slid into the black leather interior, kept cool against the hot, California sun with a steady blast of air conditioning. The driver got in and turned to Calvin. “Where to, sir?”

“I’ve booked a room at the Montage where we can have lunch and get ready.” He looked at me. “Unless there’s somewhere you’d like to go first?”

The Montage was a gorgeous, Mediterranean palace with sweeping archways, soaring columns, and trickling fountains. I’d admired it from the outside many times, but I’d never been inside. I was dying to spend the afternoon in the luxurious hotel. But I had something I had to do first.

I was hesitant to take Calvin there, but I didn’t want to ask the driver to take me out again later. I winced and said, “Can we stop at my apartment? I need to pick up my gown.”

I gave the driver my address, and he drove off. When we pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex, I cringed at the dingy, neglected property. The siding looked faded and stained, the landscaping was scraggly and dying, and weeds grew unchecked from the spiderweb of cracks in the concrete. I’d forgotten how bad it looked. It must’ve looked even worse to Calvin who was used to the pristine beauty of his resort, the quaint charm of Sweet Bay, and the luxury of his San Francisco mansion.

As soon as the car came to a stop, I yanked open the door and jumped out. “I’ll just be a sec. You might as well wait here.”

But Calvin got out and followed me. “I’ll come with you.”

He probably thought it wasn’t safe for me to go in alone. It was sweet, but unnecessary. I rolled my eyes then called over my shoulder, “I’m fine, Calvin. I lived here by myself for years.”

That didn’t stop him, though. “You might want to get more of your things. I’ll help you carry them.”

I waved him off and walked faster. “No, it’s okay. The gown is all I need.”

He hustled after me, his longer legs eating up the distance between us. I raced to my door and quickly turned around, hiding the eviction notice behind my back. I didn’t want him to know I was being evicted. That was too much humiliation. “Calvin, please. Just wait in the car.”

“Layla, what’s wrong?” He looked genuinely hurt by my rejection. I rolled my eyes and sighed. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Couldn’t he take a hint?

“I’m embarrassed, okay? I don’t live in a mansion or even a luxury apartment. I live in a dump, and I can barely afford that.” I turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open, revealing the tiny apartment cramped with secondhand furniture.

He glanced inside and his bright blue eyes clouded over. “You’ve seen the house I grew up in. It’s a lot worse than this.”

“Maybe, but you can’t control who your family is. And you made something of yourself. I grew up with everything, and now I have nothing. No talent, no skills, no education, no money.” I threw my hands up and turned in a circle around my pathetic apartment.

“That’s not true, Layla. You’ve done an amazing job at the resort. I’d be lost without you.”

“Thanks, but I’m sure someone else could’ve done a lot better.”

Calvin reached out and laid a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry you haven’t had as much success in Hollywood as you wanted to. I thought you’d be a big star. You always… shined.”

I frowned as I stared out the window at the sun-drenched sights of Los Angeles. “Yeah, well, Sweet Bay is a lot different from Hollywood. Here, I barely glimmer.”

“I’m glad you came back. You make Sweet Bay a brighter place. I wish you’d consider staying.”

I looked back at him, and his expression was sincere. I was sure I’d made life more miserable for him when we were teenagers, so I was glad I’d managed to reverse some of that since I’d been back. Calvin didn’t deserve any of the grief everyone had heaped on him. If only I could get the rest of the town to realize that, too.

“Thanks. But Hollywood is my home now. I’m not ready to give up on my dream yet.”

I headed for my bedroom then pulled my best dress out of my closet, lifting up the plastic shrouding it. It was the gown I’d worn to the one and only movie premiere I’d attended, half a dozen years ago. At least it was a classic style and should still fit me. I’d managed to keep my figure in good shape, if not my résumé.

Calvin followed me into the bedroom and let his eyes rove up and down the satiny, silver gown. “You might not have as many computer skills, but none of my other assistants would’ve worn that dress and gone to a movie premiere with me.”

I gave him a playful slug on the shoulder then slipped the dry cleaning bag back over the gown. I grabbed some heels that would match and a little, black clutch then moved towards the door, anxious to get out of there. “Okay, that’s all I need.”

Calvin glanced around at my closet, overflowing with clothes, shoes, scarves, and handbags. I’d always spent any money I made on my appearance. “Don’t you want to take anything else? There’s a lot of stuff here still.”

The last thing I wanted to do was fill Calvin’s fancy limo and airplane with my junk. “No, that’s okay. I wouldn’t wear much of this stuff in Sweet Bay, anyway.”

“But you might want it. And I’d hate for you to lose all your things if you lose the apartment.”

I bristled. “I’m going to pay my rent. I’m saving every dime of my paycheck.”

“You must owe a lot of back rent if you’re being evicted. It would probably be better to start over somewhere else, anyway. Why don’t I get a mover to come and pack everything up for you and put it in storage? Then you won’t have to worry about it.”

I gawked at him as he pulled out his cell phone and tapped at it. I couldn’t believe he’d offered that. It was expensive, and it wouldn’t benefit him in the slightest. I quickly put a hand over his phone to stop him. “You don’t have to do that, Calvin. Why would you do that?”

He looked me straight in the eyes, his irises burning like a blue flame. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to. Because I care about you.”

I was so surprised by that, I dropped my hand and let my mouth hang open. Calvin smiled at me and pushed my chin up with a finger as he dialed.

I knew in that moment I was in trouble. I was falling for Calvin Montgomery. Who wouldn’t? Besides being handsome, brilliant, and filthy rich, he was a great person.

There was nothing I could do about it, though. I was his down-on-her-luck assistant, and he was my billionaire boss. Even if he did have feelings for me, too, but there was no point in pursuing a relationship. I’d be leaving Sweet Bay soon and returning to Hollywood.