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Olivia laughed as Ben pulled her up from the side of the pool and drew her towards the sauna.
‘Just what kind of private did you have in mind?’
‘Private enough,’ Ben answered, and kicked open the door.
‘Do you have anything...?’ Olivia began, and Ben grinned as he pulled a condom from the pocket of his shorts.
‘I’m always prepared for emergencies.’
‘And is this an emergency?’
‘Definitely,’ Ben said, and shut the door with the flat of his hand.
Inside the sauna was dim and steamy, and the heat coiled around Olivia as Ben drew her towards him.
‘This is a new experience,’ she said, her breath catching in her throat as Ben gave her a look full of deliciously sensual intent. ‘What if someone comes in?’
In answer Ben turned the lock with an audible click. Olivia let out a rather breathless laugh, and then Ben was gathering her up in his arms and kissing her senseless, that raw passion he’d always possessed surging cleanly to the fore.
The heat and the steam and the dark all combined to make her feel exquisitely aware of every sensation: the press of Ben’s mouth to hers, the slippery slide of their bodies and then the deep joy and pleasure of accepting him into her body before they both spiralled towards a shared climax.
There was no anger here, just excitement. Honesty. Passion.
And love, at least on her side, even if she hadn’t admitted to it. But she’d take whatever Ben was offering, Olivia knew, and for now it would have to be enough.
* * *
Ben slipped from Olivia’s bed just after dawn. He didn’t want to leave the comforting warmth of her body curled around his, but he hadn’t been able to sleep with so much churning in both his mind and gut. Her words echoing in his heart. I know what this is.
Yeah. A fling. Two more days of hot sex. Maybe he’d been a fool to think it could become anything else. Anything more.
In the living area of the suite Ben paced restlessly, his hands laced behind his head, the city glittering far below.
He knew he felt more for Olivia than just wanting a fling, but he doubted now whether she wanted to hear it. And he still doubted himself...doubted his ability to keep her cherished and happy and safe.
Maybe he’d never be ready to take that kind of step with a woman. With anyone. People had disappointed him in the past. Maybe that was his fault for having high expectations, but his parents’ deception, his brothers’ willingness to keep him out of their lives...it had hurt. He knew he needed to make peace with it, find Spencer and talk to him the way Olivia had suggested.
But what about with her? Was he willing, was he ready, to risk his heart and his happiness with her? To have her turn away from him if she didn’t feel the same, or it didn’t work out between them?
Letting out a weary sigh, Ben turned back to the bedroom. He’d get dressed, leave a note for Olivia and put in a few hours of work before things got crazy. And as for the next two days with Olivia...he’d enjoy them to the hilt, and maybe he’d work up the courage to tell her the truth of his heart.
Just a few hours later, sitting at his desk with a cup of black coffee by his elbow, Ben clicked on his internet browser on his computer and all his hopes blew to dust as he read the news headline blaring from the celebrity gossip section of his homepage.
Starlet’s Pretend Boyfriend: Olivia Harrington Made Up Her Romance with Ben Chatsfield!
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
‘I’M SORRY, OLIVIA.’
Olivia stared blankly at her agent as the news she’d just imparted registered. She hadn’t got the role. After all the drama of her relationship with Ben Chatsfield had been played through the tabloids and gossip sites, the producers had turned to some other actress to play the role that Olivia had hoped would make her career.
‘I don’t understand,’ she said numbly, and Melissa shrugged apologetically.
‘I suppose the pretend relationship with Ben Chatsfield backfired. It was too much in the news, fodder for all the gossip sites.’
Olivia closed her eyes briefly. ‘Every actor and actress in Hollywood has their life picked over by those sites. It shouldn’t cost you a film role.’
‘The producers really see this film as a mission. They’re passionate about it, and they don’t want someone associated with it who’s been dragged through the papers.’
‘And what happened that was so objectionable?’ Olivia demanded. Melissa sighed again.
‘Do you really want me to give you a list?’
