Page 112 of Cast to be Mine

“Would you blame her?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t blame her at all. Which is the worst part.”

He shrugged. “You know what you need? A rebound.”

I blinked at him. “A rebound.”

“Yeah. Get back out there. Date someone new. Take your mind off things.” He snapped his fingers like he’d just had a brilliant idea. “What about Scarlett Johansson? Is she single?”

I stared at him blankly.

“She’s hot, she’s successful, she’s probably used to dating complicated Hollywood types.”

“For one, she’s married. And no. Fuck it. Never mind. I’m not talking to you about this.”

“I’m just trying to help!”

“You’re terrible at it.”

Beau grinned, completely unrepentant. “The single life is the only life for me right now, brother. I can’t relate to your romantic woes. But I can listen, and I can suggest wildly inappropriate solutions. That’s what family is for.”

Despite everything, I felt the corner of my mouth twitch. “You’re an idiot.”

“A charming idiot.” He pushed off the counter and headed for the door. “Get the poster signed. And for God’s sake, eat something. You look like shit.”

“Thanks for the pep talk.”

“Anytime.”

He left me with the stupid poster. The man who’d inadvertently started this whole mess by not being able to keep his mouth shut during a simple interview. I should be furious with him. Part of me was. But mostly I just felt tired.

I wasn’t giving up. She could have all the time and space she needed. I’d wait. I’d be patient. And when she was ready, I’d be there.

Some things were worth waiting for. Grace Stone was definitely one of them.

37

GRACE

Ihad basically spent the last three weeks hiding in my apartment, dodging calls from journalists, and watching the scandal slowly fade from the headlines. Three weeks of staring at my phone, willing myself not to text him. I couldn’t cave to the ache that had taken up permanent residence in my chest.

Not yet.

I wasn’t exactly sure when it would be safe to go back in the water, but not yet.

And then Loretta called.

“They need you back on the lot,” Loretta said, her voice all business. “Pickup shots for Breathless.”

My stomach dropped. I’d been expecting the call. It was pretty standard and I knew it was coming, but I’d also been dreading it.

“When?”

“Tomorrow morning. Seven a.m. call time.”

I closed my eyes and pressed my phone harder against my ear. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“You can and you will.” Loretta’s tone left no room for argument. She wasn’t pleased with me after all the declined requests for interviews. “This is your job, Grace. You signed a contract. You show up, you do the work, you leave. Simple.”