Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
“Whoa, that is not what I meant at all.”
“But that’s the problem, right? You’re worried he’s sleeping with Lofton Beck.”
She blinked at me for a long second. “You are Lofton Beck.”
“Yep. And I can honestly say that Devon is the only person who doesn’t constantly remind me of that. He doesn’t look at me like that. He doesn’t touch me like that. He doesn’t talk to me like that.” I shot to my feet, the words coming faster, overflowing from a place I hadn’t known was this full. “From the very first day, he was an ass to me. Not Lofton Beck. Me. He didn’t care about the movies, or the awards, or even the money. He didn’t soften his voice or choose his words carefully because of who I was. He told me the truth even when it was ugly.”
She opened her mouth, but I didn’t let her speak.
“And then, when he started being nice, it was the same way. He didn’t bring everyone out here because Lofton Beck needed a PR moment or because it would make him look good. He did it because he listened to me. Because I told him I didn’t know what normal felt like anymore, and instead of nodding and moving on like everyone else does, he actually heard it. And then he did something about it. Quietly. Without fanfare. Without ever actually mentioning it to me at all.”
I pressed my fingers against my sternum, trying to ease the ache. “And if you want the truth, he didn’t need to do any of it because the only time I feel actually normal—not performing normal, not chasing normal, not pretending hard enough that it almost works—is when I’m with him. In the barn in the morning before anyone else is up. Late at night when he’s telling me about Gerald and some stupid Christmas wreath. When he even senses that I’m scared and he reaches for me. And yeah, also when I walk into his room in nothing but one of his shirts and heels, no airbrushing or makeup team, one boob slightly bigger than the other, cellulite on my thighs, and he fucks me like he’s been waiting his whole life to find me.” I shook my head. “Because I sure as hell have been waiting all of mine to find him. Me, Brooke. Not Lofton Beck. Me.”
My chest heaved as I finished, tears stinging my eyes. The reality of it all crashed down over me. And then all at once, the weight of the admission lifted from my shoulders even as it settled heavy in my chest.
“Babe.”
I froze because that had not been spoken by Brooke.
My back shot straight, and I twirled around, finding him standing only a few feet away. The smile he’d been sporting all night was gone, and in its place was the darkest glower I’d ever seen—even from him.
I plastered on a smile, hoping like hell he hadn’t been listening. “Hi.”
“You good?” His dark gaze flicked to Brooke.
“Yep.”
“You sure?”
I glanced down at my friend, still sitting on the blanket.
She stood up, brushing off the butt of her navy-blue shorts. “I’m good too, Devon. Thanks for checking.”
“Not real interested in you at all at the moment. She’s got tears in her eyes, but I’m the asshole, huh?”
Oh yes, Devon had heard it all.
If he wasn’t already running for the hills, he would be soon.
Brooke pressed her lips together, visibly delighted. “Well, I didn’t know all that other stuff when I called you that.”
“Right,” he mumbled. His long legs devoured the space between us.
I sucked in a sharp breath when he stopped in front of me, my body responding to his proximity immediately.
Looming, with his hands firmly at his sides, he bent forward, bringing his mouth to my ear. “Had Apollo cut the audio this morning so you could have some privacy with your girl. Not telling you what you can or cannot say, but how about you make it slightly more difficult for everyone in the three surrounding counties to find out I’m fucking you.”
My eyes flashed wide. “Shit. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking about the audio.”
He righted himself and shot me a grin. “Not your job to think about the audio, babe. I got you. You have fun with your girl. She gives you any more shit, you let me know, and she’s flying home Coach.”
“Oh, please,” Brooke scoffed, but her gaze nervously flicked to me in question.
Ah, yes. Coach. The ultimate threat.
A laugh bubbled from my throat. “I’ll keep you posted.”
“Hey!” Brooke objected.
“You do that.” He spared her one last scowl and then walked away.
I watched his departure, feeling Brooke sidle up beside me. She hooked her arm through mine. “You know I didn’t mean that Lofton Beck thing. I just…worry about you.”
“I know,” I replied without tearing my eyes off Devon. Pure happiness soaring inside me.