Matt

“The wallpaper looks like it’s spun gold,” Lana said, glancing around the hotel room. “And the number of chairs, even in the bedroom? We could invite most of Worthington over and they’d all have a place to sit.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, let’s not do that.”

“If you’re used to the Presidential Suite at the Mandarin Oriental, what were you thinking booking my little cottage in Maine?” she asked. “You could fit both cottages in this place.”

I was learning that wherever Lana was, I felt at home. Even if it was Friday at just past six and we were naked, in a hotel bed, overlooking Central Park. I pulled her closer. “Hey, I love your place. This suite is ludicrous. They upgraded me. I would never book something this huge. I don’t need two bedrooms.”

“But now that we’re here, we have to take a bath in that tub. That view is just—”

“There’s no better view than looking at you.”

“Who writes these lines for you?” she asked, lifting her head from where it rested on my chest.

“It’s all my original work. And I mean it. If you’re in the bath, I don’t give a crap about the view. Your boobs are awesome.”

She giggled. “That’s the best compliment I’ve ever heard.”

“Like you said, I have all the words.”

She dipped down and kissed my torso. My dick twitched.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand and I groaned.

“Sinclair,” I said.

“Take it. Otherwise he’ll keep calling.”

I slid my finger across the screen. “Hi, Sinclair.”

“We’re stuck in traffic. We’ll be twenty minutes,” he said.

“You’ll be where in twenty minutes?”

“Kristin and I will be with you. We agreed to this last week.”

I’d told Sinclair that I wouldn’t sign the contract with Kristin Cooper until Lana had met her. “But we said tomorrow night.” I’d not had a chance to get Lana up to speed. Talking about your next girlfriend wasn’t the kind of conversation you had over the phone with your current girlfriend.

“No, we said Friday night. Christ, are you not in the hotel?”

I glanced at Lana. “Yeah, we’re here.”

“Good, we’ll see you in twenty minutes.” He hung up.

Lana frowned. “He’s coming here?”

“I said we’d see him tomorrow. He swears we agreed tonight. But he’s bringing Kristin. I wanted you to meet her before we sign contracts.”

“Sign contracts?” Lana’s whole body stiffened. “I didn’t realize that deal was done.”

“You knew I was talking to her.” I’d deliberately not mentioned it a lot because I didn’t want Lana to think I was pressuring her into going public. But I definitely had told her that things were progressing.

“And she’s coming here tonight to sign?”

“And to meet you. In twenty minutes.”

She shook her head and bounced out of bed. “I’m getting first shower,” she said as she ran into the bathroom.

It wasn’t anything I was looking forward to. I didn’t want to live this lie. But at least we’d get this over with. Hopefully Lana would be comfortable with her and everyone would be happy.

Lana

Staring into the mirror on the dressing table, I applied a thin layer of blush. Kristin Cooper was beautiful. Blonde. Not much more than a hundred pounds. She probably had her hair professionally blown out and her makeup done by a glam squad. And here I was, my trusty L’Oréal cream blush smeared on the back of my hand, hoping to make myself look healthy, rather than like I was trying out for a circus. The thought of coming face-to-face with Matt’s next girlfriend, even if she was fake, filled me with complete and utter dread.

My conversation with Ruby had brought everything into focus. I didn’t know what the future held for Matt and me, but I knew that I couldn’t lose him. I’d been waiting for a moment to tell him, in between kisses, that I wanted to be with him and that I’d put up with the scrutiny, the lack of privacy, and that I just wanted us to have a proper shot at being together. If that meant we didn’t hide, then so be it.

Sinclair’s call might have come at the exact wrong time. But perhaps it was fate. Wasn’t it better this way? Didn’t I get the best of both worlds—Matt and my privacy?

In the bar with Ruby, as soon as I’d decided that I’d go public with him, a weight had lifted off my shoulders. I’d been happy with my decision and I couldn’t wait to tell Matt.

I hadn’t understood that negotiations with Kristin had gotten this far. It made sense that Matt wouldn’t tell me all the details—it was awkward and uncomfortable for us both. But if I’d known we were due to be meeting Kristin tonight, then I would have told him. Perhaps I still should. But there was still that voice at the back of my head, telling me that this was what I’d wanted.

But was it?

What I wanted was Matt.

Hell, if it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t be in New York at all. I wouldn’t have had the courage to start making jewelry again, and I wouldn’t have had the confidence to follow up on an introduction Mr. Butcher made for me to one of his contacts in the fashion industry.

I dressed quickly—we weren’t going somewhere fancy—and checked my lip gloss and fluffed my hair before going to find Matt and Kristin.

I walked in to the living area from the bedroom just as Matt passed Kristin a drink. She was even more gorgeous in real life. She wore skinny jeans and a cami. Her makeup was flawless and her glossy blonde hair looked like she’d just stepped out of a Pantene commercial. My gaze flitted between them as I took them both in. They looked perfect together—two beautiful, talented actors. The public would lap them up.

I patted my stomach, trying to stave off the nausea that stirred in my belly, and went across to join them.

“Kristin,” Matt said, rising when he spotted me, “this is my girlfriend, Lana.” He held his arm out to me as I neared them and slid his hand around my waist. “And Lana, you know Sinclair.”

I nodded at Sinclair, images of me naked in a sheet still flashed through my head. “Hi,” I said, reaching out to shake Kristin’s hand.

She ignored my hand and pulled me into a hug. “It’s so good to meet you. You’re so pretty,” she said. “Matt’s a very lucky guy.”

I smiled. “Thank you. You’re even more beautiful in real life.”

She chuckled and patted my arm. “I have a team of people that work on me. I do not wake up like this.”

I laughed. She was nice. Maybe she and Matt should sign contracts today, and then I’d have more time to get used to the idea of a public relationship.

“Shall we sit and go through the paperwork?” Sinclair said, clearly keen to close this deal.

“Sure, do you have an itinerary?” Kristin asked as we all took our seats around the dining room table. Kristin sat next to Sinclair and Matt and I opposite them.

“Yeah, there’s a lot going on over the next six months because of Thanksgiving, Christmas and then Sundance followed by the awards season,” Sinclair said.

“My publicist should have sent you over a copy of all my fixed dates,” Kristin said. “I swear, if this job was just acting, it would be a hell of a lot easier.”

Matt chuckled.

Kristin was more down-to-earth than I’d expected. Less starry. She didn’t treat me like I was a second-class citizen just because I wasn’t famous. She seemed humble and normal.

Sinclair could have picked someone worse. Up until last night, I would have been happy for Matt to sign a contract with Kristin. But now?

“Yes, I got your list, Kristin, thank you,” Sinclair said. “It works that you’re both in LA and neither of you have travelling commitments. But I think a trip over the holidays would be a good idea. Maybe Cabo. Or even Europe.”

Kristin and Matt were nodding but I couldn’t help but wonder why the hell a vacation was necessary. And would I be going to Cabo with Matt and Kristin or would they be going alone?

“Any functions or trips other than home to see your family, please ensure you keep your team informed,” Sinclair said. “We just need to know what to say to the press if you’re not together and we get asked.”

Sinclair slid a piece of paper across the polished wood table to Matt and gave another to Kristin. “Everything should be set out there.”

“I have the charity gala lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel that should be on the list for next month,” Kristin said.

“Yeah, I had that down anyway. I did it last year,” Matt said.

“Will that be our first public appearance?” Kristin asked, looking up at Sinclair.

“Yes. We have a lunch planned for next week at the Ivy. We expect press interest to start then and then the gala will be your first official public appearance.”

Matt had spoken to me about the gala. It was being held to raise money for the children’s hospital. It should be me going with him to that event. Not Kristin, however sweet she was.

As they talked, I found I was watching rather than listening, trying to figure out if this really was what I wanted. Could I encourage my boyfriend to put his arms around another woman, even if we all knew it was pretend?

I’d been hiding since New York, denying myself my hopes and dreams, but I’d sacrificed enough.

That I might lose Matt because I wanted to hide might actually be worse than seeing my naked picture all over campus. At least back then I’d been able to go back to Worthington and lick my wounds. But if Matt and I split? Maine was where I’d met him. How would I be able to heal if we broke up if he was everywhere I looked, everywhere I slept? He was in my heart.

The conversation with Ruby and now watching him in the same room as Kristin, seeing a glimpse of him with someone else, solidified my decision. If anyone was ever going to be worth fighting for, worth risking everything for, it was Matt Easton.

He was worth a picture in a magazine.

Worth enduring the internet’s scorn.

Worth risking getting hurt for.

Worth loving.

“I’m going to start working with your team on the following six months’ itinerary,” Sinclair said. “We just wanted to get the big things noted down before we signed.” He pulled out a small bundle of papers from his bag. “And so if everything’s in order with the schedule, then we can sign and we’re done.”

Kristin reached out for the papers, but before she could pull them toward her, I slammed my palm down on top of the bundle, stopping her. “I’m sorry, but no,” I said.

This couldn’t be our lives for the next twelve months. Despite thinking it might be for the best, I couldn’t let this happen.

Matt squeezed my hand. “It’s okay. I’ve seen the contract and so has my lawyer.”

My gaze flickered from Kristin to Sinclair and landed on Matt. “I should have told you before now, but I don’t want you to do this.”

Matt sighed. “I thought this was what you wanted.”

I shook my head. “No. I want you. I want you no matter the circumstances or consequences. I’m sorry, Kristin.” I glanced at her and she was staring back, wide-eyed and smiling. “I didn’t realize this was so far advanced.” I turned back to Matt. “I want to be with you. And the tabloids can go to hell.”

“What are you saying?” Matt asked.

“I’m saying, it’s time.”

“Time?”

“For lunch at the Ivy.”

I stared at him and he didn’t say anything for the longest time. “You want to go public?” There wasn’t much enthusiasm in his voice.

I lifted my shoulders. “I just thought that maybe we could try. You don’t seem so sure.” Had he changed his mind? Kristin was definitely the easier option in many ways.

“I would love that. You know that.” He shifted in his chair, his whole body turned toward me. “But, it’s going to be difficult to try this. I mean, once we’re spotted together, there’s no putting the genie back into the lamp. You get that, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I get it. But I want to do this. And if you’re by my side, I think it can work. I want to be with you.”

Matt’s smile lit up his face, but before he could speak, Sinclair cleared his throat. “This isn’t something to make a snap decision about. Maybe take some time—”

“This is all I’ve thought about for weeks,” I said. “And after last night, I realized this is what I want.” I nodded.

“Last night?” Matt asked, turning to me and holding my face in his hands. “What happened last night and why have you waited until now to say anything?”

“I wanted to tell you in person. And you kinda sprung this meeting on me. I didn’t realize—”

“I’m really sorry about this, Kristin,” Matt said, pulling me toward him. “And whatever I can do to make it up to you, let me know. But if Lana’s happy going public—”

She put her palms up facing us. “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of standing in the way of such a cute couple. No hard feelings.” She stood and picked up her purse. “I was on my way to a dinner engagement anyway.”

“I think we should discuss this,” Sinclair said. “I’m not sure you’ve thought of all the consequences.”

“Come on,” Kristin said, pulling at Sinclair’s arm. “This is done. You saw that look in his eye when she told him she was ready to go public. There’s no faking that. This is what he wants.”

Kristin pulled Sinclair out the door, leaving us alone.

“You’re sure?” Matt asked, cupping my face again.

I nodded. “I want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you too.”

“I figure we can get through it together. I’m strong enough to do this with you if you’re by my side.”

“There’s no place I’d rather be.”

He slid his tongue along the seam of my lips and then pushed into my mouth. My body sank in response. Then without warning, he pulled back. “What changed your mind? You’re not just jealous of Kristin, are you? Because, I’d never—”

I pressed my fingers against his lips. “No.” I paused. “Well, yes, I’m jealous of Kristin, but not because I think you’ll cheat.” I paused again. “But I don’t want the world to think you’re hers when really, you’re mine.”

I glanced down and fiddled with the button on his shirt. “And I talked to Ruby last night and she made me see that if you and I are going to have a shot at being serious, then I can’t hide. That you’re worth not hiding for.”

“So you made up your mind about this when you spoke to Ruby last night? I wish you would have called.”

I trailed my fingers over his lips. “Yeah. I wanted to tell you in person. And I realized the world doesn’t care about me. It’s you they’re interested in.” I smoothed over his eyebrows.

“And the only person I’m interested in is you,” he said.

I wasn’t sure how I got so lucky.