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But that’s not what I do. Nope, my brain kick starts as his hands grip the counter behind me on either side of my hips, caging me in, and I do the exact opposite of what I want to.
“It’s getting late. You should probably go.”
“Is that what you really want?” he challenges, leaning in closer so his lips are only inches from mine, our foreheads touching. His hands move to my hips, his touch feather light.
“Yeah. I still have stuff I need to get done tonight, and tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
Even I can hear the lack of conviction in my voice.
Eli is a true gentleman, though. He releases his hold on me, both physically and with his stare, and steps back. After gathering his things, he says his good-bye quickly and shows himself out. All I can do is watch him go as the sun sets over the horizon, and I wonder if I just destroyed the only chance I’d ever have with him.
Not that I want one.
I’m not interested in him.
Right. I’ll have to keep reminding myself of that every day I see him for the next few months. Because I can’t be attracted to Eli Simms. He’s a Hollywood star. He’s in the spotlight, and that’s something I’ve successfully been able to avoid the first twenty-five years of my life. I’d like to keep it that way.
“For you, Miss Taylor,” I hear Martha say.
I’m staring out the French doors of the pool house as if Eli is still there. My breathing has returned to normal, but my pulse is still racing. My heart pounding against my chest at the realization that he almost kissed me. I’m not sure how long it’s been since he left, but the sun is barely visible on the horizon now.
When I turn to face her, she’s fussing with the flowers Eli brought me. She’s put them in a vase, the bright yellow and purples standing out against the white porcelain.
“Thank you. They’re beautiful,” I say once I find my voice.
Without looking up, Martha replies, “You should be thanking that handsome young man who brought you them.”
“I’ll thank him later.”
“Seems to me you could have thanked him by letting him kiss you instead of pushing him away.”
My mouth drops open at her comment. “Were you spying on us?”
“No, but I saw the way he was looking at you. I saw how disappointed he looked when he was sitting in his car, debating on whether or not he was really going to leave. That boy has it bad for you, Taylor. You should give him a chance, but you won’t. You’ll write him off the way you do all the others. Why? Because your picture might end up on the front page of a tabloid. Because someone might figure out who your mother is. Heaven forbid they talk about you. There are worse things in the world than attention, you know that, right?”
I do. We’ve had this conversation before but that doesn’t stop her from continuing her lecture.
“If he’s worth it, he’ll prove it to you. It won’t be by bringing you flowers. You’ll know it the moment he kisses you. You’ll feel it deep inside. And I can’t wait to hear about it when it happens. You’ll try to hide it, but it’ll change you and you won’t be able to. Love is a fickle thing, Taylor. It’s not to be taken lightly. You of all people know that. And when you fall, when you find the one person who is worthy of your love, the magnitude of the feeling is going to crush you. In a good way, of course,” she states, her voice light and chipper as she twists the vase toward me, finished with her arrangement, and then leaves without another word.
My mind drifts between thoughts of Eli and the one relationship I didn’t run from. The relationship that almost ruined me. It destroyed my faith in humanity a little. Left me with a wounded heart. It’s also the same relationship that saved my soul.
It hardened my heart. Made me stronger. More cautious. Less trusting, especially of actors.
And most importantly, showed me who my true friends were.
Hayden and Austin.
The only people in this world I trust aside from Martha.
Ugh!Even thinking about him brings back horrible memories. What an ass. I do my best not to think about him, ever, but it’s hard not to when he’s the face of at least a dozen ad campaigns.
Failed actor turned star soccer player for the Vegas Avengers.
Son of actor Arrow Ryland and pop diva Mia Fox.
The tabloids love his gorgeous face. His hot body. Glorious abs.
Motherfucker only got part of what he deserved. Sure, we hurt his ego, nicked his pride, but in the end, he didn’t really suffer any consequences. Not the way we wanted him to. If he had, one or all three of us would have been behind bars for assault.
