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“Hey, Millie.” His eyes light up as he sees me. “I know that it’s late, but do I have time for one drink?”
If this was anyone else, I would definitely refuse because of my eagerness to get back home, but this isn’t anyone else so of course I agree, and I pour him his usual while he takes a bar stool opposite me. There might be a thick wooden bar separating us, but he’s close enough to have my pulse racing at the speed of light.
“So, how was your day?” I ask as soon as he takes his first sip. “Were you filming some more?”
“I was. The big kiss today.” He tosses his head back and chuckles and I do the same, trying to ignore the tight knot of jealousy twisting in my stomach. I can’t feel that way about Lance, I don’t own that much of him! “So, that was fun because the director made us do it a thousand times with Ashley kicking off throughout.”
“It sounds so glamorous,” I laugh as I tease him. “Endless kissing a gorgeous movie star…”
“Maybe when you put it like that, but the reality is so much different. It’s exhausting.” He rolls his eyes. “Especially with the temper tantrums. Honestly, we could have been done hours ago without them.”
I shrug my shoulders and grin, already feeling a million times lighter than I did before Lance walked through those doors. “Well, unfortunately for you, it’s a woman’s prerogative to throw a tantrum whenever.”
He stares intently at me. “I haven’t ever seen you throw a tantrum. You always seem very calm to me.”
He says the word ‘calm’ like it’s the most desirable trait going which of course turns my knees to jelly. I’m surprised this man doesn’t have a different super model on his arm every week, that he would rather be at this simple down-market bar with me rather than at fancy celebrity parties all the time, but Lance is different. I might not meet many famous people in The Scarlet Lounge, but I’m sure that this man is special.
“Maybe that’s just because you haven’t wound me up yet,” I joke. “Perhaps one day you will and then you’ll see a whole new side to me. A screaming, angry, tantrum filled side of me… maybe.”
I wink but he shakes his head no. “I can’t imagine it. I just can’t see you being like that.”
A heat rushes through my body and I’m afraid that it will turn my cheeks the same color as my hair, so I grab the cloth and focus on wiping down the already clean bar some more. He flusters me, he’s always knocking me off kilter, sometimes I find myself dizzy around Lance, not calm at all.
“So, how was your day today anyway?” Lance changes the subject seamlessly. “I would love to hear about The Scarlet Lounge. Was Bob sleeping on the left-hand side of the bar all afternoon as usual?”
“He was.” I’m relieved to have something much easier to talk about. “Talking in his sleep as well.”
“Of course. Typical.” Lance grins. “And did Connor get so drunk that you had to refuse him?”
“Yep.” I pop the P for dramatic effect. “God, my job sounds so glamorous compared to yours, isn’t it? I deal with drunks all day long, most of whom can’t handle their drink, and you get to kiss beautiful women.”
“There are definitely days when I would rather be here with you though, Millie.”
Oh God, I feel weak all over. It’s hard for me to remain focused when Lance says things like this. The heat is all over me again, I must be blushing, and he seems to absolutely love having me like this.
“Sure, you want to be hanging out with Bob, rather than Ashely.” I roll my eyes, trying to play this off. “I’m sure. You want to take a break from super stardom to come and spend some time with me.”
He doesn’t answer me but there is a definite look of something hiding behind his eyes. I can’t read what he’s thinking, or perhaps I’m too scared to because it might mean something deeper than I can handle. I mean, there is no denying that there’s a sizzling chemistry between me and Lance, something that goes way beyond mere friendship. But unfortunately, that doesn’t make any difference. That can’t change anything.
“Anyway, how are you?” Lance asks me, again changing the subject just as I need him to. “How is Millie Jones? Not just the customers at the bar. It’s been a couple of days since I’ve seen you.”
“Yes, I had my day off yesterday.” I nod slowly, thinking about my long boring day doing chores and running errands, again a million miles away from Lance’s movie star existence. “And it was nice to relax. Of course, I missed you and all of my other bar hoppers, but it was nice to chill out.”
