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Asmall hand slips into mine and squeezes.WhenImeetShae’sgaze, her eyes are wide and liquid and full of wonder, reinforcing just how fucking amazing this moment is.Myheart slams hard against my rib cage, andIsqueeze her hand back, letting my thumb brush across her soft skin.
Thenthe moment is over, andIforce myself to let her hand go.
Twoadrenaline-filled hours later, we’re at the post-screening reception.I’mstanding at the bar, beer in hand, while my friends laugh and chat with the cast.Imust admit,Iwas pretty awestruck whenIshook the hand of the star of the show, one of the biggest names inHollywood.
I’mdistracted by a flash of silver and blue asShaemoves to the other end of the bar.Shesmiles at the bartender, who gives her a flirtatious grin as he leans over the bar to take her order.Hemust be a funny guy, because she laughs, the clear sound reaching me even through the noise of the party.
Hewinks at her, taps his knuckles on the surface he’s leaning against, and goes to make her drink.Iroll my eyes at his obvious flirtation, but my attention is soon drawn back toShae.Shetucks her hair behind her ears, then smooths her hands over her hips and fusses with her skirt.
She’suncomfortable in the dress, even though she looks fucking stunning.IfIcould,I’dmake sure she knew it too.Ifshe were mine,Iwouldn’t let her believe for a second that she wasn’t the sexiest woman here.AndIwouldn’t just tell her;I’dtake her somewhere and show her exactly how she makes me feel.
Butshe’s not mine.Andshe never will be.
Itighten my hold on my glass and put it down on the bar a little too hard.Thebartender is back now with a cocktail he slides across to her.
Shesmiles her thanks, picks it up, and turns.Butshe doesn’t head back to the group.Instead, she walks over to the far wall where shots of key scenes from the movie have been blown up and hung.
Withoutletting myself overthink it,Ifollow her.Therearen’t many people in this area of the reception.They’reall clustered around where photos are being taken with the cast.WhenIget to her, we’re all but alone.
She’sstanding in front of a shot of one of the love scenes—the male and female stars of the movie entwined together in bed.WhenIstep up alongside her, she turns her head toward me, her pretty brown eyes widening.
“Isaid it before, but it bears repeating.Youlook beautiful tonight,Shae.”
Asmile flits at the corners of her lips. “Thankyou.”Sheturns to face me fully. “Sohow was it?Listeningto your music on the big screen.”
Ishove my hands in my pockets, a grinIcan’t stop—probably the first genuine one of the night—spreading across my face. “Fuckingawesome.”
Shescans the star-studded crowd, an expression of amazement on her face. “Thiswhole thing is incredible.I’mso proud of you,Devon.YouandBeau, both.”
Hereyes are bright, but there’s a hint of sadness there as well.Idon’t like seeing it.Idon’t like thinking thatImight have put it there.Thenagain, this isn’t the first timeI’veseen that expression since she got here.AndI’mnot sureI’mthe only cause.
Itake a step closer. “What’sthe matter,Shae?Youcan still talk to me.Youknow that, right?”
Shelicks her lips, smiles. “I’mfine,Devon.Thisis your night.Youdon’t have to worry about me.”
“Ido, though.I’llalways worry about you.”
Sheturns away from me and takes a sip of her cocktail.Iput my hand on her shoulder, the silk of her skin under my palm making me want to pull her to me.
Shelets out a sigh. “Devon—”
Icut her off. “Don’t,Shae.We’llbe fine.Wejust need to—”
Shespins to face me. “Forget?It’snot that easy for me.”
Inarrow my eyes at her. “Youthink it’s easy for me?”
“Yes.No.Idon’tknow,Devon.We’vebarely spoken.Andhonestly,Idon’t know whatI’mdoing here anymore.MaybeIshould—”
“No.”Igrab her waist and turn her so she’s between me and the wall.Islide my hand around to her back, her smooth skin hot against my palm.Shestares up at me in shock.
WhenIlean toward her, the scent of lime and coconut fills my senses, making my blood burn in my veins.Flashesof memory invade my mind—Shae’smoan whenItasted her for the first time, the way she arched against me as she came, the vision of her lips wrapped around me, those big brown eyes looking up…
Mydick surges to life.
“Ifyou think forgetting is easy for me,you are wrong,”Igrowl.
Shestudies me for a long moment. “AmI?”
