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Gail scoffed and turned from them. “Nothing.”
Hayden put his arm around her. “We were just talking.”
“About me?” Lana asked, a steely look in her eye.
“No,” Gail said while Hayden said, “Yes.”
Lana folded her arms across her chest, her evening gown blowing in the breeze. “Come on. Spill.”
“I told your boyfriend I wouldn’t interfere with your relationship,” Gail said, one hand on her hip.
Lana raised her eyebrows. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“After she tried to give me two million dollars to leave you,” Hayden said.
Lana’s mouth dropped. “Mother!”
Gail rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. I just wanted to see if he would take the bait. He didn’t. So, I think maybe he might be genuine. That’s all.”
Lana’s expression softened, and she stared at him. “You really turned down two million dollars?”
“Of course.” He brushed his lips over hers, and warmth spread through him when she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
“Stop it, before you smudge your makeup,” Gail said behind them.
Lana pulled back, but the smile on her face told him she didn’t care about her makeup. “I think that’s one of the sweetest things anyone’s ever done for me.”
“Turn down two million dollars?” he said, laughing.
“Yes. You must really love me.”
He grew serious. He did love her. With all his heart. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her nose. “I do love you.”
She smiled, which sent electricity through his body to his toes. “I love you, too.”
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
Lana stared out the small window watching the tarmac speed by as the plane slowed. It had been three long months since she’d seen Hayden, and she couldn’t wait to be back in his arms. This last film shoot had been fun, but emotionally draining.
She’d been in Athens, and the work had been amazing. She was working on a film unlike anything she’d ever done before. It was an artistic film, not meant for mass production. It wouldn’t be shown in any theaters. Rather, it would make the rounds in film festivals. But she found it artistically satisfying in a way she never had before.
A text came through as she turned her phone off airplane mode. It was from her mother.
Call me when your plane lands.
Things had been better between them. Her mother had finally relented and backed off, allowing her to pursue a few of her dream roles, like doing this film. She’d even admitted that maybe she’d been wrong to push Lana in the past. It was amazing. She felt free, for the first time in her life.
She swiped her finger across the screen and pressed to call.
“Lana,” her mother said, sounding breathless.
“Mom, what’s up?” She watched the plane slow, and come to a stop. She unbuckled and grabbed her carry-on. Flying on a private jet had its perks.
“Check your makeup.”
