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I nuzzle my nose against hers and as much as it pains me, I set her down. I have a feeling that things are about move fast. “What’s the plan?”
She takes a big breath. “I leave for L.A. today. The audition is tomorrow.”
“Wehave to leave today.”
“You’re going with me?”
“Of course, I’m going with you.”
The joy in her face dissipates and what looks like disappointment fills her eyes. An uneasiness settles in my stomach. “Do you not want me to?”
“No, it’s not that.” She looks away and it seems she like she wants to say more but can’t find the words. Then it hits me. She thinks this is about being her bodyguard.
I tilt her chin up until she’s looking into my eyes. “I want to go with you, Autumn. Not because I feel I have to. I’m not going to say the bodyguard side isn’t a factor at all, but I want to be there as your boyfriend first.”
Her whole expression softens. “Really?”
“Really.”
She jumps back into my arms, peppering my face with kisses. “Good. Because I want you there as my boyfriend.”
I take her mouth in a kiss that immediately ignites. My cock hardens and as a hot need fills my body. Fuck, I want inside her. Now.
Right as I get my hands on the hem of her shirt, she pushes me away. “No, we can’t get started on that as much as I want to. I gotta get on the phone with my assistant and get us a flight out of here as soon as possible. Go pack.”
Very reluctantly, I release her.
She’s right. We have a lot to do in very little time. I retreat to my room and grab my duffle bag out of the closet. I’m tossing clothes on my bed when it sinks in that this is my chance to meet with Kyle. We’ve exchanged a few texts and he’s anxious to meet with me, but I wasn’t going to leave Autumn. But now I really don’t have an excuse. I pick up my phone and shoot off a text before I think about it too much.
Within five hours, we’re lifting off. Autumn’s team worked hard to get this done and I’m relieved we’re taking a private plane since it ensures us anonymity and limits the people around her. We have reservations at The Starlet, an upscale hotel that Autumn says is discreet. She has a former acting school friend living at her place while she’s been gone.
Autumn weaves her fingers through mine. “Do you not like flying?”
I roll my head against the headrest and look at her. She directs her gaze to my bouncing knee. I might not be a fan of taking-off, but that’s not what is bothering me. Kyle can only meet during Autumn’s audition, and I don’t like the idea of leaving her alone for that long.
“I’m fine.”
She gives me a look that says she doesn’t believe me. “If it’s not flying then what’s going on? You’ve seemed distracted for a few days. Ever since meeting Tom.”
I know she’s been waiting for me to bring it up. I had planned to, but I don’t know how to talk about that part of my life. I know she’ll see me as Tom did and I don’t feel like some hero. There’s so much about those years that I haven’t let myself process.
She’s giving me an encouraging smile, so I take a deep breath. “When you were changing at Tom’s studio that day, he told me about another foster kid I knew, and I’ve been texting with him. He lives about an hour out of L.A.”
I stop myself from telling her about the script. I’m not ready to talk about it. Hell, I don’t even want to think about it. I told her my story doesn’t deserve a Hollywood ending and now it’s getting one without my permission. I need to find out more before I can come to grips with it.
“Are you going to meet him?”
I shrug. “He can meet tomorrow, but I have to go to him. Your audition…”
She squeezes my hand. “Jackson, I can get myself to my audition. You should go.”
“I don’t know.”
“I do. We’ll order a car for me, it’ll be fine, I promise. This feels important. You should go.”
I nod. She’s right, but I’m a little disappointed I don’t have an excuse to bail.
“Jackson, will you tell me about it? It’s okay if you don’t want to, but…I’d like to know. To understand.”
