Chapter 16
Finally, back at the hotel, Leona walked into the lobby and immediately backed out, pulling Luke with her.
“What’s wrong?”
“My ex is sitting there. Either I have the worst luck in the world, or he wants something. Let’s go through another entrance.”
Luke’s face hardened. “What’s wrong with him seeing you with me?”
“It’s him seeing me. Period.” She put her hands up. “But fine, if you want to witness a scene, be my guest.” Turning, she moved for the door.
He caught her arm, pulling her back to his chest with a low groan. “If it’s that big of a deal, we can go another way.”
“Why do you want to meet him? And are you going to hit him? Oh, God, you better not be planning to hit him.”
Tipping her head up, he shut her up with a kiss. “Not going to touch him, and we’ll see if we can walk past him without him noticing, but if he’s waiting for you, then he probably will.”
“Except, he’s on the phone, probably with work. Or Mindy. Maybe I’ll get lucky.” Rolling her eyes, she pulled away and walked inside, making a beeline for the elevator. Russell didn’t seem to notice on the way past, and Luke didn’t look back either, but he kept his arm around her shoulder.
A few people stopped to stare at them. She knew that was bound to happen sooner or later.
They made it to the elevator and she pressed the number for her floor as someone’s arm shot between the closing doors. They opened to reveal Russell.
“What are you doing here?” Leona demanded.
“Looking for you. You won’t answer your phone.”
“Because I don’t want to talk to you,” she snapped back.
“I realized how wrong I was to let you go.” Russell glanced at Luke and back. “But I see you don’t think much of our time together.”
“Why would I, Russell? You betrayed me. Then tried to say I was the one cheating when you were. You tried to get money out of me, when you left me months ago. I’m over it.”
“The divorce was final last week.”
She barked out a laugh. “We fell apart years ago. And you were fucking Mindy for a year before you filed for a divorce. You blew any chance of a reconciliation, not me.”
“I was confused, Leona. We’ve been together since high school. I thought maybe the grass was greener on the other side. It’s not.”
“It’s a little late to expect me to actually care. Why are you really here?”
“You, I want you back.”
“Too late for that. I don’t even remember why I loved you in the first place. So please, leave me alone.”
“We can’t talk about this?”
“There is nothing to talk about. I’m done with you.”
“Leona, we were so good in the beginning.”
A bitter laugh burst free. “Yeah, I was a dumb kid, and so were you. Then you decided you needed to be the king of the house, and you know what? I don’t want that.”
“So now you’re with a movie star half your age who makes more than you ever will?”
Leona rolled her eyes. “Half my age would be illegal. We’re getting to know one another. Not that it’s any of your business. Why the hell do you care anyway? Go home, go back to Mindy.”
“We’re through.”
“Why? Because you don’t have my money? Well, that’s not my problem.” The elevator opened and Leona walked out and hurried down the hall. Luke stayed behind a moment and that worried her, but she was done with the conversation.
* * * *
Luke stepped out of the elevator and Russell tried to follow. Luke caught his shoulders and shook his head. “Don’t. She clearly isn’t interested in fixing anything with you.”
“She will. We always work our issues out.”
Luke laughed. “You criticized her for what she writes. Tried to take her money when you left, while you were fucking another woman. Somehow, I don’t think you can fix what you broke. And I’m glad, because she’s everything I want.”
“You? There is no way you’ll do right by her. You’ll ditch her as soon as someone better comes along.”
Luke shook his head. “There is no one better.”
“What do you even see in her?” Russell sneered. “You could have anyone you want. Why my wife?”
“Ex-wife,” Luke hissed. “She’s beautiful, has an amazing mind, an incredible imagination, and I love her books.”
“You’re a fan-boy? That’s funny. It’s mostly women who love her shit.”
Luke backed up, clenching his fists. “Leave her alone. You already wrecked what you had with her. Don’t make it worse.”
“Why the fuck do you care?” the asshole demanded.
“Because, I want her for as long as I can have her.”
Russell snarled, “She’ll remember why we belong together, she always does.”
“You can’t give her what she needs. I think she knows that now.”
Russell stepped back into the elevator. “She’s not going to be happy when there are a thousand paparazzi taking your picture, and she lands in the tabloids.”
“We’ll see about that.” Luke walked back to her room and knocked.
She threw it open after a moment, then went back to her bedroom.
“Leona, talk to me.”
She spun, fury on her face. “He’s such an asshole. I can’t stand him. So many damned years wasted for him to throw it away. And now he thinks I might take him back after he dragged the divorce proceedings out as long as humanly possible? No, fuck that.”
Luke closed the distance and captured her face. “Yeah, he’s an asshole. Forget about him.”
“I was doing a good damned job until he showed up.” There was so much vulnerability in her voice.
He pulled her into his arms. “What can I do to help?”
Her eyes closed.
“Tell me what you want, what you need,” he pleaded.
“I don’t know anymore.” She let out a breath and dropped her head to his shoulder. “This is why I didn’t want to start anything, and then you come along. Sweet, charming, so damned sexy I can’t even think around you half the time.”
“Come home with me, Leona. And to hell with what anyone says or thinks. Just be with me. I’ll take it away.”
Leaning back, she nodded. “Okay.”
He wiped away a tear. “Bring your laptop and anything else you need.”
“I’m not checking out,” she quickly added.
“Not asking you to.” He wanted to. But he was starting to understand why she was so hesitant.
She pulled away to gather a bag of clothes and her laptop.
“If you’re up for it, I want to take you out tomorrow night. Somewhere nice.”
She froze, her eyes wide as she stared at the wall.
He almost took it back.
Then she shook her head and went to the closet to grab a garment bag.
“That a yes?” he asked.
“We’ll see, but I’ll be prepared.”
Her phone rang, startling her. Leona turned to grab it, glancing at the screen. She let out a defeated sigh. “Hey, Mona.”
He couldn’t hear the other line, but he could guess Mona was there with Roach, maybe picking up her things.
“I’m going to let Luke take my mind off everything. That’s all I’ll say.”
Leona sighed and held her phone out to Luke.
Luke watched Leona shut herself in the bathroom and sat down on her bed. “Hey, what’s up?”
“You should have hit Russell,” she huffed. “No, you shouldn’t have, but I wish you could have.” There was a chuckle. “Whatever you do, be careful. She’s scared you two are moving too fast, but I saw you with her. This doesn’t seem like a fling. You’re too invested for that.”
“I want to see where we can go.”
“And she’s terrified you’ll get bored, or busy, or whatever and leave her behind. She doesn’t want you to mean too much to her because she doesn’t believe she has a future with you.”
“I’m trying to find a way to show her without scaring her off.”
“You realize she’s been legally single all of a week, right? Sure, she says she was over him the moment she found out about Mindy, and trust me, she won’t go back to him, but the betrayal cut deep. She won’t trust as easy.”
“Yeah, and time is working against me. So, I’m going to convince her to give me the next two weeks, and then I’ll come for her after filming is done.”
“And what if you change your mind?”
“I suppose it’s possible, but I really doubt it. I’ve never dated a costar, don’t plan to. And I’m usually focused while I’m on the job. If anything, I’m going to be desperate for her by the end.”
“I hope so. When she isn’t thinking, she’s happy with you. Happier than I’ve seen her in years.”
His eyes narrowed on the bathroom door. “You mean that asshole made her happy once?”
“Yeah, but not like you. And if it doesn’t work out, don’t string her along.”
“You have my word. And, it’s crazy, but right now, I have no intention of letting her walk away.”
“You better mean that. I should go. Roach is getting impatient.”
He laughed. “Tell me Roach didn’t hit Russell.”
“Oh, he was tempted. I really didn’t think the bastard would have the balls to come out here. I just hope he goes home now that he realizes it won’t happen.”
“Me too, but I have a feeling that’s not the last we’ll see of him. He mentioned the paparazzi.”
“Slimy fucker would go there.”
“Think she can forgive me for that?”
Mona laughed. “Won’t be your fault. Just take care of her. I’m going back home tomorrow evening. Roach is taking me to the airport. That way, after lunch, I won’t interfere in whatever you do.”
“What about Roach?”
She smiled. “I’ll come back to visit, see where things are, but neither of us is looking for something permanent right now.”
“And Leona’s not.”
“Are you?” Mona asked.
He let out a sigh. “I shouldn’t be, but I am definitely considering it. The more I’m around Leona, the more I want with her.”
“You have a real chance. But you might have to fight to keep her. I guarantee she’s worth it.”
“Thanks, now I got to go, see if I can help her forget about Russell.”
“Eventually, she’s going to have to go back home. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I can’t come to her.”
“If you need help getting through to her, you got it.” She hung up.
Luke crossed the room to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
She opened it with a smile, though she seemed more closed off than that first night.
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
She closed her eyes and let out a breath. Her shoulders deflated. “Sure.”
“What about seeing Russel hurts so bad?”
Her eyes opened wide, then she huffed. “That I was so fucking stupid for so damned long.” She walked away, into the bathroom, and he followed until she had nowhere to go.
He turned her toward him. “How do I help?”
She put her hands up with a heavy sigh. “Drop him. Seriously. I don’t want to talk about him, much less think about him.”
That was easy. “Dropped. Come home with me.”
A laugh bubbled out of her. “Already told you I’m coming.”
He grabbed her laptop bag and small suitcase and went to the door.
Shaking her head, she followed. “Thank you.”
“You can thank me once I find a way to cheer you up.”
“I can think of a few ways.” She winked.
“I better get you home then,” he murmured.