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Leaning against the wall, ankles and arms crossed, I borrow some of Jax’s chill before I give away how badly I want to kiss the cute scar she’s trying to hide. “What happened to those hot red heels?”
“Real me right here.” She gestures to the cats smiling on her feet. “Sorry if you’re disillusioned.”
“I’m not disillusioned.” Just as fast as I put Jax on, I let him go. This girl makes me want to be me. Whoever the hell he is. Locking on her eyes, I move forward.
She moves back.
I advance a little more.
She retreats.
We play this game until her knees hit the bed, until I see her shaking, then I immediately back up to my adjoining door, my confidence a conflict of interest to my charm. “I make you nervous.”
“You’re Gabriel Wade.” She brackets my name in sarcasm. “I’m sure you make a lot of girls nervous.”
That’s not it. She couldn’t care less who I am. “Only my fans call me Gabriel. My friends call me Gabe.” I meet her eyes in a challenge. “Which do you want to be? Fan or friend?”
“Neither. And don’t expect me to fangirl all over you.”
“I’d be disappointed if you did. I don’t want you to kiss my—”
Her mouth tightens.
“—ego.” I grin.
“There’s not going to be kissing of any kind.”
Well that sucks. Based on the look on her face, I need to save this crash-and-burn before it hits the ground. “When doesHauntedcome out?” I launch a new subject.
“Saturday.”
“I’ve never met anyone who got millions of views on DigitalReads.”
She stares at me like I’m a total creeper.
“Google.” I shrug. “I’ve never stalked anyone before either. It’s usually the other way around. It’s not as easy as the groupies make it seem. What made you decide to be a writer?”
“I didn’t really decide.” She pales and looks away.
“Your book just sort of happened?” I tease her.
Something odd flashes across her eyes. “My dad’s a writer.”
“Have I read him?”
“You read?” Some of her backbone resurfaces.
“There’s a lot of downtime on set.”
“My dad’s self-published. I haven’t even read him.”
I let her dad weirdness go. I don’t know her well enough not to. “Vi was right. A lot of girls who watch my show would buy your book.”
“I don’t need you to sell my book. And you don’t need me to boost your fan club.”
True. But I do needher. “You want Vi off your back, right?” I go for the one thing I know she wants. “What if we agree to some kind of short-term publicity plan?”
“You don’t care about PR.” She tilts her head, like she’s trying to puzzle me out. “You want people to think we’re dating. Why?”
