Page 29 of Hidden With You

“I started reading the first Martin King book.” He wasn’t at all sure what made him blurt that out.

“Yeah? That’s totally cool. I’m being read by a guy who pretty much is King.”

He chuckled. “I thought I might try and finish it tonight. See if you did it right.”

Her mouth curved up in a half smile. “I always do it right. I’m the author. That means I can make up my own rules.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “I bet you can. Did you write the script?”

“No. I don’t know a thing about screenplays. Besides, no time. I’m already working on the next Martin King book, and I’m consulting on the series, so that takes up some time.”

“The series? A Martin King TV show?”

“What? Oh, no. It’s a fantasy series based on Twisted Desire. Have you read it?”

“No. To be honest, I hadn’t even heard of it until I read the dossier on you.” He watched her face, afraid he’d just insulted her. But what he saw was relief.

“Thank God. That was like everywhere when it hit. I didn’t think I’d ever be anonymous again.” She smiled up at him. “Honestly, I kind of like the feeling. It means there’s more of me for you to get to know.”

“Yeah,” he said softly. “I like that part, too.”

Jasper cupped his hands behind his head, his mind full of Zelda.

He should be sleeping. Instead, he was remembering the delight in her eyes when he confessed to having never heard of her first series. He could understand wanting to be less in the spotlight. After all, she was a celebrity. Not as much as someone like Jamie or Damien Stark, but enough to be inconvenienced by the steady shine of a spotlight on her life.

But to crave complete anonymity? Why? Maybe it was just a passing thought. She was so talented and vibrant and smart. Why didn’t she want to be out there looking at the world and see herself reflected in it?

Just thinking about it made his heart break a little.

But maybe it wasn’t anonymity she wanted at all. Maybe what she really wanted was to have someone beside her. To shield her from that glare.

He felt that flutter in his chest that so often accompanied thoughts of Zelda. Maybe he could be the one to hold her hand. To help her feel safe in that glare.

No. Dammit, no.

He needed to exorcise those thoughts, but it was so damn hard. Because he craved her. That was the bare bones truth of it. He wanted to hold her. To possess her. To get lost with her. That vibrant, exciting woman.

He told himself it was just sex. That he wanted that release, and why not take it? So what if she was young? They both knew the attraction was real. And he was no stranger to FWB relationships.

Except he couldn’t go there with her. He couldn’t put his finger on why Zelda was different from Liesl or any of the women he casually fucked, but he knew that she was. He needed to stay far, far away, and not just because she was a client at his new workplace.

No, this was about protecting himself as much as it was about protecting his professional reputation.

Hell, maybe he really did need to take the edge off. As an MI6 agent, Liesl understood the way he thought and the pressure he was under even if he’d never told her his particular circumstances since he left the service. And God knew he’d relied on her enough over the years to get him by in those cold moments when he needed warmth, and Sandra wasn’t there anymore.

Tonight, it was Zelda who wasn’t beside him.

No, no, no.

With a groan, he let himself settle back into the thick, downy pillows. This place might be a cottage, but it was well-appointed. The pillows were fluffy, the sheets were 800 thread count, and the comforter was light as a feather. Everything was perfect, except for the fact that he was alone.

But she’s only one thin wall away.

With a soft curse, he reached for his phone, intending to call Liesl. Maybe phone sex would burn this obsession right out of him. He started to dial, realized what he was doing, then tossed his phone across the room. It started to ring right as it landed.

Well, fuck. Had he actually pressed send instead of cancel?

He tossed the comforter aside, then crossed the short distance to his phone. Not Liesl, and his blood went cold when he saw the single initial identifying the contact—M.