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“How have you survived in Hollywood?”
“It’s been rough at times, but …” She managed a sassy smirk. “I’m so talented I don’t need to call in any favors.”
Birch cracked a smile but sobered quickly. “You’re incredible, Ally.” He gave her a soft, lingering kiss then pulled back. “As for your original question … I don’t know.”
She waited. Her stomach churned.
“I’m praying for some sign from Blade or the good Lord, but I don’t know how to go back on that promise.”
“Is it wrong to just not think about it for a few days?”
His eyebrows lifted as he grimaced and his hands dropped loosely to her waist. “Maybe.” Her stomach got even more squeamish. He was going to retreat from her again. “Yet as I spend more time with you I realize two things. First, Blade would have loved you.”
Well that was something in her favor.
“Second, Blade and I were both in horrific states of mind when I made that promise. Bermuda had just dumped me for Jeremiah Jansen.”
Allison’s stomach turned at that name. She’d dated Jeremiah not long after she graduated college. He’d made her uncomfortable when they’d been at his pool and he’d convinced her to wear a skimpy flesh-colored bikini he’d purchased for her, begging until she finally gave in just to shut him up, and saying over and over again “it was just the two of them, no one else would see”. Then he tried to push her to be intimate in the pool while they were kissing. He’d been peeved at her when she stopped his advances and broke up with him, leaving his house quickly and mailing him the skimpy swimsuit. She was embarrassed simply remembering how vulnerable she’d made herself by giving in to him and wearing that stupid suit.
It was in the past and he’d left her alone, luckily. The real problem now was Jeremiah had already secured one of the male leads inThe Crusadersso if she got her role they’d be acting together for years. She’d be professional with him, but wasn’t excited to be in close proximity for who knew how long. The series was slated for at least four movies, and there was no saying what romantic relationships would bloom between the characters.
“I can’t imagine why anyone would dump you for Jeremiah.” She shuddered just saying the name. Was this the moment to tell Birch they’d dated and kissed in a swimming pool with minimal clothing? Hopefully not. The idea was worse than jumping off a thousand foot cliff with no wingsuit. Would he think as low of her as he seemed to think of Bermuda? It made her sad that he thought so poorly of her close friend.
Birch gave her a tight smile and shrugged. “It was all about furthering her career. Jeremiah claimed he could secure Bermuda a role in a blockbuster as soon as she finished school,” Birch continued. “She was set to begin Julliard in the fall as she was two years younger than me. Anyway, the night Blade died he had also just been cheated on and dumped, and who knows if he was already contemplating suicide or if the overdose was a mistake, but he was not in a good place mentally, or physically, with all of the drugs he was experimenting with.”
He released her, took her hand, and started walking toward the waterfall.
“So what does that mean?” Allison asked, hardly able to stand the suspense, and knowing at some point she’d have to tell him she’d also dated the snake Jeremiah. Knowing that Jeremiah was involved in the past hurt between Birch and Bermuda made Allison think her friend was probably more innocent than Birch wanted to admit. Jeremiah had probably lied to and twisted Bermuda’s young, impressionable mind. She focused back on Blade and Birch. “You think Blade would’ve liked me and you weren’t in a good spot when you made that promise …”
He stopped walking and studied her, tracing his thumb along her cheek. “I can’t discount my promise to my brother, but I promise you that I’m going to pray even harder for a sign from above, some way to make us work …” His voice deepened. “Because all I want is you Ally.”
Allison squealed happily, forgot about her shoulder, and threw her arms around his neck. “Ouch,” she cried out, pulling her left arm down.
“Ally,” Birch reprimanded. “I’m going to make you put that sling back on.”
“Just kiss me better instead.”
He shook his head but his dark eyes glinted warmly at her. She felt heat rush through her as he bent and tenderly kissed her shoulder. His warm lips made their way from her shoulder and up her neck. He took his time and she pulled him in tighter with her right arm around his neck. He gave her a dangerous, hot look and kissed his way along her jawline.
As he trailed kisses along her cheek and approached her mouth, he ran his hands over the bare skin of her lower back and made her tingle from head to foot. He suddenly stopped and said, “I respect and admire you, Ally. No matter how attracted I am to you, how much I want you, please know that I will never cross any boundaries with you.”
Allison had to blink quick to stop the moisture that sprung into her eyes. She looked up at him and said, “I respect and admire you, Birch. No matter how hot you are I promise that I will trust you to keep us both morally safe.”
He chuckled. “Putting all the pressure on me then?”
She grinned, hoping he knew that she’d do her part to stay in control too. “Yes, sir.”
He bent close and she could feel his warm breath on her lips and a rush of desire and joy. “I’m going to have to use every trick I learned about self control in the military to keep us both safe.”
She tugged him closer with her right hand, her left safely planted on his lower back where she wouldn’t hurt her shoulder. “Good thing all those years of training can be put to use.”
He laughed harder but then she pressed her lips to his and they both forgot about laughter, but luckily he remembered about staying in control.
