Chapter 9
Watching Leona follow Raven up the stairs made Luke reach for her.
Ryan caught his arm and held him back with a shake of his head.
Once they were out of earshot, Ryan whispered, “Give her a few. Leona is nervous. Let Raven work her magic and get her to relax.”
“Right.”
“And why didn’t you tell me it was Raven’s favorite author?” Ryan demanded.
He lifted a shoulder. “I only met her last night. Wasn’t sure I could convince her to give me a chance, much less come out on a boat with you two.”
“She’s not used to celebrities. What did you expect?”
“Not sure. Most women would jump at the chance to be here, with us.”
“True, but you’re not looking for that. And I see the way you’re looking at her. When did you decide you want something more than a good time?”
Luke pushed his fingers through his hair. “When I realized Tara wanted a hell of a lot more, and I knew she wasn’t the one. Got me thinking. I want something real, and Leona is the most real woman I’ve met in a long time. I want to see where it can go.”
“You got it bad, Luke. That may be a good thing.”
“I hope so. She’s nervous, though. Doesn’t believe I’m sincere, and I’ve never been this captivated.”
Ryan grinned. “Then, let’s see what we can do about that. Now let’s get up there.”
By the time Ryan allowed Luke to go upstairs, Leona had relaxed. She no longer seemed nervous.
“Told you,” Ryan offered under his breath.
Nodding, Luke smiled. Raven was the most real person he knew in the business. She was down to earth, avoided the spotlight except on the red carpet, and was always easy to talk to, even if she never discussed her past.
Ryan and Raven had been close since their first movie together. And since then, they usually let the media speculate they were together because it made their lives easier.
Would the tabloids be a deal breaker for Leona? Luke didn’t understand why that worried her. It would give her more exposure. Hopefully, she wouldn’t shut him down the first time they were spotted together.
He sat down behind her on the lounge and took the lotion from her. Without a word, she glanced back and smiled as he put a dollop in his hand to rub into her silky skin.
Biting the inside of his cheeks, he attempted to control the grin. He wanted to touch every inch of her until she begged for more. Those smoky dark eyes were pure sensuality. Fuck, he was going to be in a constant state of arousal with her there. How long was he going to last before getting her naked?
And as bad as he wanted her, he wanted to slow down. No rushing to the finish line. He wanted to wine and dine her, get inside her head. He wanted to make a lasting impression.
He skated his hands across her lower back, just above her waistband. A gasp left her lips.
Leaning in, he whispered, “Love your satin skin.”
Her breath caught and he sat back to finish.
“If you lie down I can do your legs.” He knelt beside the lounge and she lay back.
“Didn’t get to my legs, but I got the rest of my front.” She watched him with those big dark eyes.
Damn, he wanted to rub the lotion into her stomach, and everywhere else. She’d laid out the wrap on the lounge before lying down, so he had all of her shapely long legs to do. Biting the inside of his cheek, he went to work.
Her eyes closed and she held her breath while he focused on her thigh, lifting her leg to make sure every inch of exposed flesh was covered. He didn’t comment on the ridiculously high SPF on the bottle. Then again, he liked her pale skin, the light freckles across her shoulders and nose.
Ryan asked, “Either of you need to be anywhere tonight?”
“I don’t have any plans,” Luke replied.
“No plans,” Leona answered, her voice lower than before.
God, he wanted those legs wound around him.
“We could stay out as late as you want. I was going to make dinner. Ryan has lunch covered already. We have snacks,” Raven offered.
“Sounds good to me,” Ryan chimed in.
“Me too,” Luke answered.
Leona met his gaze and nodded. “Sure, I’m game. Mona can keep herself busy.”
“Who’s that?” Ryan asked.
“My closest friend. She came out for moral support while I was dealing with the negotiations. If she hadn’t dragged me out, I wouldn’t have met Luke.” One corner of that full pink mouth lifted. “I’m glad she took me.”
“Me too,” Luke answered. Though, he would have found a way to run into her eventually. She had a signing coming up in a few months, and he had already talked Raven into going with him.
Would it be weird for her to sign a few books for him? How would she sign them?
Shaking his head, he finished with her lotion and lay back in the lounge beside hers.
Knowing she didn’t want to talk about her books or her ex, and Raven and Ryan wouldn’t want to talk movies, he had to think of a neutral topic.
Luke came up with one. “How did you meet Mona?”
Leona looked over and smiled. “First day of fifth grade. I was reading Lord of the Rings, and she plopped down next to me to find out who was my favorite and why.”
“And who’s your favorite?” Raven prompted.
“Galadriel, though Gandalf was a close second,” Leona answered.
Luke grinned. “You like magic.”
Leona nodded. “Always have.”
“I do love Twisted Fates. The way you show the magic is incredible. It’s all so realistic, which shouldn’t be possible,” Raven added.
Leona’s laugh took his breath. “Thank you. I have been told that a few times. It’s good to hear I didn’t go too far, but I’ve heard that too.”
“Unfortunately, there are always critics,” Ryan offered. “I read the first Midnight’s Daughter and started the second. I have to say, I’m drawn in. Your characters are relatable, even in the craziest situations.”
“Really, you don’t have to say that,” she protested.
Ryan grinned. “It’s true. I’m just a slow reader.”
“You’re a busy man.”
“So am I, but I’ve managed to read all of them,” Luke teased.
Shaking her head and blushing, Leona changed the topic, “What do you usually do out here?”
Raven smiled over at Leona. “Relax, and forget the rest of the world. And of course, whatever we want to do.”
Ryan turned on some music and dropped down in another lounge. “Anything we want. Which usually isn’t much. We take our breaks where we can get them.”
“I can imagine,” Leona answered, then turned her attention to Luke. She wet her bottom lip.
He wanted to suck that plump juicy morsel into his mouth, press in tight, slip his hand down her leg and back up her thigh to grip that firm round ass.
Her breath caught, and she broke eye contact when she closed her eyes and laid her head back.
Shit, he was going to have a severe case of blue balls at this rate.
* * * *
Foolish misconceptions. No one on the boat was full of themselves. They were so much easier to talk to than she expected. After the first few awkward conversations where they were trying to find a comfortable place to settle, they fell into their groove.
Within an hour, they seemed like old friends. And without anyone around to hassle them, it was easy to forget about the contract, the movie, her ex and his bullshit.
And what might have surprised her the most? Luke had recently lost a cat that he missed and wanted to replace. He had a sweet side a mile-wide.
Ryan hopped up sometime around noon to grab lunch. He packed a variety of handmade sandwiches, and a veggie tray he prepared.
Leona sat the lounge chair up and grabbed a tuna salad and some veggies before settling back in.
Luke grinned as he sat down beside her with a turkey sandwich. “It’s nice out here, isn’t it?”
“Very peaceful. I have to imagine with your crazy lives it’s a nice getaway.”
“Very. Every once in a while, we get a boat of photographers nearby, but we go inside to ignore them,” Raven explained. She glanced out over the water. “Manny usually takes us out far enough it’s not an issue.”
“He knows the drill. And once we’re in a good spot, he’ll stop the boat and join us,” Ryan said.
“Should I feel weird we haven’t seen him yet?” Leona asked.
Luke scrubbed the back of his neck. “May not even notice him. He’s pretty quiet. Sits in the corner and only joins in the conversation when he feels he has something interesting to add, which isn’t that often.”
Leona’s head cocked. “That’s no fun. Maybe we can break him out of his shell.”
A slow smile spread on Ryan’s face. “How do you propose we do that?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I need a few minutes to think of something. But he hasn’t anchored the boat yet, so we have a bit.”
Ryan looked at the cabin. “I’d love it if my brother opened up some.”
“Maybe you should bring someone he’d like,” Raven offered.
Luke rolled his eyes. “Would you really want to spend all day stuck on a boat with Tara Punce?”
Leona sat up, her interest piqued. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Fame-hound,” Luke answered immediately. “I made the mistake of taking her home, before finding out Manny had a thing for her. She made a scene when I left her that night. I’m just hoping I don’t run into her again.”
Raven shook her head. “She was caught on camera in the bathroom of a club with the only co-star I ever dated. And that made plenty of tabloids. She’s looking for another fifteen minutes of fame.”
“Damn, I wish I could have remembered that,” Ryan stated. “Maybe I could have talked Luke out of his stupidity that night.”
“Me too. I never would have gone home with her. Now I just feel slimy.” Luke shuddered.
“I’d be happy never winding up photographed,” Leona muttered.
Luke took her hand. “I really do hope cameras won’t send you running the first time they spot us together.”
Leona licked her lips. She had no clue how to answer that. Anonymity was a great thing, though she hadn’t used a pen name. She had used her maiden name, and now she was happy she had. So far Leona had been lucky in avoiding some of the drama a few authors friends had dealt with, but at least her family supported her writing.
Raven cleared her throat. “Don’t put her on the spot. That’s not something she would know until it happens. And maybe she’ll be lucky and the media won’t rip her apart the first chance they get.”
Ryan nodded. “Let’s hope. It’s never fun to watch that fallout.”
“I can always retreat to my house across the country and hide.” A laugh escaped Leona, but she wasn’t amused. No, she was busy trying to squash those thoughts. Because really, it shouldn’t matter what anyone thought about her. Normally, she didn’t care.
“Sorry.” Luke stood. “Another glass?” he asked, snagging her empty wine glass.
She didn’t fail to notice Raven’s glass was still full. Ryan’s wasn’t, so she nodded. “Sure.”
The engine shut off as Luke filled empty glasses.
* * * *
Damn, he felt stupid. Leona had been laughing, joking, telling stories. Now she quietly stared out at the ocean.
Manny took one look at Leona and grinned. “Your distraction from last night, Luke?”
Luke tipped his head. “The one who got away, but I caught up with her this morning.”
Leona’s brow pinched, but she wore a smile. “He told you about me?”
“Only briefly last night. And then he laughed when I didn’t bring you back to the VIP because you were busy sneaking out the door.” Luke rolled his eyes.
“And you like Tara?” Leona asked Manny.
Manny lifted a shoulder. “She’s hot. And I don’t have to worry about her going after fame with me. I’m not famous.”
Leona’s eyes widened. “No, but your brother is. And who’s to say she wouldn’t use you to get to him?”
“Yeah, but she has no chance with Ryan. Totally not his type,” Manny answered.
Her head cocked.
In all honestly, Luke had no clue what Ryan’s type was. He never seemed interested in anyone. He could flirt with everyone, and he did when the mood struck, but it didn’t often.
Whatever, he was a good guy, and if he wanted to avoid all relationships, so be it.
Leona smiled up at Manny. “I’m Leona.” She offered her hand.
Taking it, he grinned. “A pleasure. And now I know who you are. The author these guys are always talking about.”
“Don’t read a lot of books?”
He shook his head.
“That’s okay. Not everyone does.”
And just like that, Manny joined the conversation.