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*****
He found her curled up on the long sofa in the library, a book on her lap and a glass of wine in her hand.
"It's non-alcoholic, in case you were about to say anything. I needed something stronger after the day I had." She felt oddly reassured seeing him standing inside the doorway. His blonde hair was tangled, no doubt by the wind.
She’d wanted to call him when she left Tiffany's, but had decided against it. She wasn’t going to use him as a crutch, even though it was tempting.
"Hard day?" He came into the room, angling his head to stare at the title she was reading. "'Pregnancy dos and don'ts.' Something I should know?" Lowering himself, he lifted her feet to put on his lap.
"I went to lunch."
"How was it?"
"Horrible. She’s pregnant by Ivan Polinski." Her eyes tracked to his face. "You already knew?”
"I had her checked out." He started rubbing her feet. "Baby, she’s unstable and has a history of hooking up with producers and directors. It's not a certainty that Ivan is the one who got her pregnant."
She nodded at that. "I felt sorry for her."
"What happened?" He asked her gently.
"She told me off. Cussed me out and accused me of judging her. I felt awful because I know the family. Sara is a friend of Mom's and I know Nicole and Devon. We went to school together.
Sara isn’t the usual Hollywood wife; she’s sweet and caring. Why would Ivan jeopardize everything when he has so much to lose? Was it worth it to bang someone like her?" Her gaze swung to his. "What the hell is wrong with men? Why can't they stay with one woman? Why do they have to swing their dicks everywhere?"
"I don't." His expression turned stony at her glare. "I get you’re upset and projecting, but hear me loud and clear. I don't do crap like that. I’m faithful to whomever I’m seeing. It's even more so where you are concerned, because I happen to be head over heels in love with you. I don't appreciate you lumping me in with men who cheat."
They glared at each other for a spell, before she turned her head away to look at the collection of books on the shelves. "I’m sorry."
"I didn’t get that. Could you speak a little louder? I want to get this on record."
He winced when she used her left foot to nudge against his crotch. "You’re being a dick."
He eased her foot away from him carefully. "Tell me what happened."
She did, telling him everything and feeling the anger and despair dissolving as she did.
"She sounds like trouble."
"You should have seen the look on her face."
He gave her a considering look. "We both know that wouldn’t have happened."
"I’d have slapped the shit out of her if she laid a finger on me." Uttering a sigh, she sat up against the cushions. "That's why I’m not friends with women, too much drama."
"You’re friends with Leesa and Kelly." He pointed out.
"They’re different." She shook her head. "She told me some story about her Dad being a drunk and Mom distant, and how she had to take care of her little brother.”
“Who’s now stashed in a halfway house trying to get clean."
"Oh. So, you were right about her. What the hell was I thinking?"
"That she needed a shoulder and you offered one. There’s nothing wrong with that."
"I feel like an idiot."
"You don't look like one." He grinned as she gave him a dirty look. "All I’m saying is you tried to reach out and it backfired. You need to stay away from her."
