AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Was it that brunette you came here with?” she called out behind me, and I doubled back.
“Yeah. You’ve seen her?”
She sniffed. “Not since you came in with her. Sorry.”
I frowned, wondering if she was putting me off since I’d turned her offer for a drink down, but thanked her anyway. With mounting frustration, I headed toward the den. I checked the library and the parlor, but still found no sign of her when finally, my ears perked at the distant sound of laughter. A throaty laugh I’d know anywhere.
I followed the sound out onto the rooftop patio. They had set up a makeshift lounge with twinkle lights and plush patio furniture, all surrounded by a partially enclosed gazebo with propane heaters. It was there, underneath the canopy of lights, I found her.
The fog of her breath puffed into the brisk evening air, despite the space heaters. Arms wrapped around herself to ward off the cold, head tipped back, she laughed. To her right, Mimi stood while another individual—clearly a man—hovered in front of her, his back to me while he spoke animatedly, gesturing and waving.
Frozen, I watched a moment longer when the man reached out and touched Scarlett’s arm, and I sucked in a breath. A jolt of something hot and sharp stabbed me in the gut as a wave of possessiveness like I’d never felt before washed over me. For one wild minute, I contemplated storming up to her, throwing her over my shoulder, and carrying her off like a caveman.
And then I remembered who I was—Thorne Roberts. Such a display of jealousy wouldn’t bode well. Besides, I was America’s teen heartthrob, which meant I didn’t need to prove myself to anyone, and the world already knew Scarlett was mine. Surely, this was merely a friendly conversation, and Scarlett was being polite.
Only that didn’t really make me feel any better because she wasn’t mine, not really. While it was true dating someone else during our arrangement would be a breach of contract, there was little I could do to prevent her from getting his number and hooking up with this douche after our time was over.
Maybe he needed a little reminder she and I were together.
With that thought in mind, I propelled myself forward. With every step, I clenched my jaw a little harder, and when I finally sidled up behind her, I slid my arms around her waist, pulling her into my chest.
Her gasp of surprise made my heart race while the sweet scent of her shampoo drifted to my nose as I dipped my face to hers and whispered, “Hey, babe.”
She shivered in response, and I smiled. This minor victory made my heart soar.
And then I glanced up, and my smile dropped away.
The cocky grin. Short-trimmed, wavy blond hair and blue eyes. The little scar above his upper lip. Athletic build.
Davis Walker.
His cocky face split into a wide grin as his identity sank in, and a small chuckle escaped his lips. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Davis opened his arms wide. “Come on, man. Don’t ya have a hug for your dear old pal?”
I made no move to greet him, and he dropped his arms.
“No? Maybe some other time,” he said.
The muscle above my jaw popped, and my grip on Scarlett’s waist tightened. “Had I known they let garbage into the party, I wouldn’t have shown.”
“Now, now,” Davis’s eyes darkened. “Let’s play nice in front of the ladies, shall we?”
“Boys, why don’t we go get a drink?” Mimi interrupted.
“Uh, yeah. Come on, Thorne.” Scarlett tugged on my shirt, but I ignored her as a sinking sensation filled my gut.
The party was for cast members and their dates only. So unless he came with someone . . . “What are you doing here, Davis?”
“Oh, didn’t you hear?” The corners of his lips curled.
“Turns out your costar needs surgery, a pin in his arm.” He winced. “Ouch. Good job, by the way.”
“Cut the crap.”
Davis laughed. “You always were so much fun to tease. Anyway, you’re looking at his new replacement.”
The ground beneath me shifted, and my arms fell from Scarlett’s waist. My nostrils flared as my gaze flickered from him to Mimi in search of the truth.
Mimi, unaware of the bad blood between us, offered me a small shrug. “It’s true. The director confirmed it. He’s supposed to make an announcement later.”
