Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“I don’t. I never do.”
“Then tell your agent to back off.”
I wished it were that easy.
“In the meantime, I spoke with the hotel. There is a staff entrance at the back that is well protected. You can come and go from there. They might catch on, but it will cool their heels for a few days.” She leaned down and kissed Mila on the cheek. “We’ll talk in the morning.”
Andi fixed me with a look. “You hurt her, you’ll answer to me.”
“I have no intentions of hurting her. We didn’t plan this, Andi. It’s really fresh for both of us.”
“Your reputation—” she began.
I cut her off. “You, of all people, know how a rep can be blown out of proportion. Manipulated. How everything can be orchestrated to look like something it’s not. There are times when nothing is what it seems.”
She studied me. “Maybe we need to have a conversation. It sounds as if you need some advice.”
“Maybe we could do that.”
She nodded and picked up her purse. “If this is going forward, we need to talk. My number one goal is protecting Mila. Ensuring her safety and well-being.”
“Andi,” Mila interjected. “I’m fine.”
“And I want to make sure you stay that way. But I’ll say this. Two episodes in two days. That tells me you’re not completely fine. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
She left, and Mila dropped her head, rubbing her face. “Well, I didn’t expect that.”
“Me either,” I admitted. “But she seems surprisingly cool with it.”
“We’ll talk more in private. She’ll warn me about all the dangers of being involved with you.”
“And will you listen?” I asked, my voice tight.
Mila turned to me, her eyes soft in the light. “Yes, but I’ll make up my own mind.”
I touched her cheek. “Thank you.”
I frowned. “You’re still pale. And she’s right. That’s twice I’ve made you faint. Maybe you should listen to Andi and stay away.”
“Maybe you should stop worrying about that.”
I smiled and leaned closer, kissing her. “I don’t think that’s an option anymore.”
“For me either.”
“Then we’re stuck,” I observed.
She sighed as I kissed her again. “I guess so.”
I left her in her room. Neither of us mentioned the pool. She needed her rest, and I needed to think. In my room, I brought up my contract with MJ on my laptop. I had scanned in the dog-eared pages, the original in my safe-deposit box along with some other important items.
I went through it again, shaking my head. I had signed it when I was young and stupid. When MJ and I were both new to the acting world. I thought we were a great team and she was all I needed. And for a while, we were. Then her ego grew, and my problems started.
Both became too much to handle.
I rubbed my eyes, staring out into the darkness from the seat on the balcony. I needed to tell Mila the truth. She shouldn’t be involved with me unless she knew. Unless she could accept my limitations. I wasn’t sure Mila was an affair sort of girl. She was the kind you fell in love with, married, and planned a lifetime around.
I had no lifetime to offer. No stability. All I could offer her was a few weeks on set. Some passion and my attention for a short time. Invariably, I would drift away, and she would go back to her life.
I hung my head, rotating my shoulders. I was a bastard. A selfish bastard. Even though all of that was true, even though I knew she was a virgin, inexperienced, shy, and sweet, I still wanted to pursue this. I knew I would walk away, or that she would get tired of me and leave, but I still wanted this. Wanted her. Even for a short while.
Because when I was in her company, forever didn’t seem impossible. The future wasn’t empty. I wasn’t alone.
Being Nicholas Scott wasn’t awful because she liked me.
And even though I knew that, too, would change, I also knew I was selfish enough not to stop it.
And that right there was the reason I should.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MILA
“Sammy,” I breathed out. “Really?”
“The man is an animal in bed. Plus, he is so incredible,” my sister sighed. “He was hurt badly, Mila. He hides so much of himself. But he shows me.”
“Sounds like you’re in love with him.”
“No, we both agreed it’s just for now.”
“Uh-huh. Agreements can change.”
“I don’t think Luke wants that.”
“What do you want?” I asked.
She was silent for a moment, and when she spoke, her voice was low. “I’m not sure anymore.”
Then she changed the subject, injecting a bright note into her voice.
“Dad and some of the cousins are coming to help with rebuilds. I’m so excited to show them the ranch.”
“I know,” I hummed, walking out to the balcony and looking outside. “Mom told me when I talked to her earlier. She said Dad was pumped about the project. She said he was thrilled about the thought of tackling all the work.”