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“After he fucked every woman in Hollywood? He can’t possibly be that foolish. Shay is not going to forgive him,” I tell him and I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince him or myself of that.
“He’s thinking of taking her on a trip. Maybe Paris or somewhere tropical. He’s going to ask her tonight. Somewhere they can fall off the face of the Earth for a few days and they can talk and be alone.”
“A trip isn’t going to move her. She goes to Paris any time she wants to go shopping and she’s been to every tropical destination on the planet at least twice.”That girl will use any excuse to be in a bathing suit on a beach with a margarita.
“Not with a Harry Winston diamond on her finger.”
I jerk my head towards him. “Excuse me?”
“Don’t say anything, yeah?” He downs the rest of his drink and puts it on a tray of a server passing by like he’s a guest and not someone on duty.He’s such a fucking prick.“But yeah, he’s going to ask her to marry him.”
I rub a hand over my forehead as I stare at his security in disbelief. “You cannot be serious. She doesn’t trust him. She’s not going to say yes.”
“I tried to tell him that.” He shrugs. “He can’t force her down the aisle and obviously she doesn’t trust him, but he’s hoping that a ring will buy him some time and at the very least some good press.”
Fuck, is he going to spring a ring in public to force her to keep up appearances? I’ll fucking kill him.
“When?” I grit out, trying my best to keep my anger in check, but Brent’s words coupled with Paxton’s hand moving down too close to her ass for my taste as they move around the dance floor has the word coming out harsh and clipped.
“I don’t know.”
“In public?”
“Probably.”
Fuck.
“Why is he doing this? Trying to trap her into a relationship he doesn’t want to be in himself?”
“What makes you think he doesn’t? Because he’s cheated on her a few times? Come on, Hunt you can’t be that naive. He cares a great deal for Shay.” He chuckles like it’s the most common thing in the world. “Shay is coming up fast. Do you know the kind of power couple they’d make? She’s good for his image.”
“And what about hers?” I ask.
“He’s not bad for hers either. They’re good for each other.”
“He’s the cliché Hollywood playboy and they think the girl next door is good for his image, but he isnotgood for her.”
“No one knows he’s a playboy, Hunt. Relax. Look at how everyone has been falling at her feet all night.” He gestures towards the crowd and the circle of people that are watching them float around the dance floor.
“That’s not Paxton’s doing. She’s always been charming,” I argue, hating that he’s trying to allude that this asshole is why she’s so successful.
“No, but he’s the reason she’s where she istonight. Whythosepeople,” he points, “those directors, more importantly, are falling at her feet. I know you’re smart enough to know it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. And more importantly, in this business, who you’re fucking.”
The thought of his hands on her after mine just were irritates the fuck out of me. Infuriates me that she’s so beautiful even on the arm of a man that doesn’t deserve her.
“I gotta take a leak, I’ll catch you later, Hunt.” He reaches out to shake my hand and I oblige, my eyes not leaving Shay who’s managed to break away from Paxton, and is over by the buffet table getting a small plate of food. Grateful for Brent’s exit, I pull out my phone and pull up her contact.
Me: You look stunning. I can’t take my eyes off of you.
I watch as she must feel the vibration because she sets her plate down and pulls her phone out of her clutch. A tiny smile slowly moves onto her face. I see her typing and then she slides it back into her purse so she can pick up her plate before moving to an open table to sit down. She doesn’t look my way even though I know she knows where I’m standing and I’m not surprised when I feel the buzz in my hand.
Winter: I wish I had a reason to keep my eyes on you. You look so handsome tonight. I can’t wait to get you out of that tux.
A surge of confidence moves through me. I wasn’t a stranger to female attention. Even some of Shay’s friends have let their eyes roam over me shamelessly, but attention from Shay is an entirely different high.
Paxton sits next to her at the table and pulls a piece of cheese off her plate and whispers something in her ear. Her eyes shift from side to side before turning to look at him and I want to turn away. I don’t want to be privy to their intimacies and yet I have to focus on Shay.And therein lies the problem with getting involved with the person you’re protecting.
My eyes on her will mean something different when I’ve touched her, kissed her, fucked her. I’ll be staring more at her curves and her smile and how beautiful she looks and I’ll be less aware of what’s going on around her.
