Page 48 of California Dreaming

She wanted to stay this close to Arch forever.

Chapter Twenty

Later, when they got back to Carmel, he suggested a moonlit stroll on the beach, as though he didn’t want this perfect day to end. She didn’t either, but she also knew he’d spent more than enough time on his feet for the day. As she walked into his house, the whole day seemed like a dream.

But it was real.

Her lips still felt pleasantly bruised from the intensity and urgency of their kisses. They had just kept kissing and kissing and kissing, wanting more and more.

Her head—and body—were swirling with sexy thoughts mixed with deep emotions. Had Arch encouraged her deepest and most secret desires to paint and then also kissed her senseless? Kissed her with an intensity she had never dared to let herself dream of?

Once they were inside, she said, “Why don’t we get you back to your chair and elevate your leg for a while? You’ve had a long day.”

“I’ve had the best day, Tessa. I swear there’s no better medicine than you. I honestly don’t feel any pain in my leg at all.”

Though she was charmed and extremely flattered by his words, she had to be firm. “Still, I know it’s a struggle walking in that new boot.”

Arch shrugged. “I’m just happy to have the cast off. Plus, I need to get all the practice I can walking with this thing before I have to climb the stairs unaided at next week’s awards ceremony.”

She nodded, remembering how thrilled Arch had been to receive the invitation to present an award at the Moonrise Independent Film Festival in Moab, Utah.

“I was wondering if you’d do me the honor of being my plus-one?” He looked a little nervous, which wasn’t something she’d seen in him before. “It’s a small indie film festival, but it’s become one of the most respected ones around. Remember Jay saying that Smith Sullivan and I would be presenting the award for best feature film? It’s a good opportunity to do some advance publicity for the buddy movie.” He looked so hopeful as he added, “It would be way more fun with you there.”

But instead of feeling excited about being asked, Tessa felt all the wonder of their day together rush out of her body like air escaping a deflating balloon.

Pure panic set in. One extremely hot, long kiss, and suddenly he wanted her to be his plus-one at an industry event? It was her idea of a nightmare. All she wanted was to stay safely in the small world she’d created for herself. Not be seen on the arm of one of the world’s most visible and photographed men.

This was exactly what she’d been afraid of—that she’d fall for Arch, and the entire world would be the audience to her heartbreak.

She swallowed hard. “I’m not sure about that, Arch,” she said carefully. “I am still your caregiver, after all, and going as your date would be really unprofessional. If my company finds out I’ve been romantic with a client, I’d probably get fired. And possibly never be able to work again in this industry, because you’re so famous, and everyone would always associate my fall from grace with you.”

Saying it out loud made her realize the truth of it and what a precarious situation she’d put herself in. She was too good at her job to lose it. She’d lost everything once before, when her husband, the man she’d foolishly trusted, had gambled all their money away. She’d built herself back up, slowly. She didn’t have much in the way of savings, but she had a little and a job she enjoyed. She couldn’t allow herself to be that vulnerable ever again, and yet, here she was, on the road to potential disaster.

Arch’s face fell. He’d obviously thought she would jump at the chance to attend a film festival with him. But then, his eyes lit up once more. She could almost see a lightbulb go on over his head. “But doesn’t coming with me count as work? Like, what if I trip on the red carpet? Wouldn’t that be the perfect reason to have my caregiver with me? To prevent further injury?”

“Wait, there’s a red carpet?” Now she was even more horrified. It didn’t sound like the small awards ceremony he’d made it out to be.

He shrugged, as though it were no big deal. “There’s always a red carpet.”

Of course red carpets were no big deal to him—he walked them all the time. He knew how to pose for the hundreds of cameras flashing in his face. How to deal with being stopped to sign autographs. She’d witnessed firsthand how he took fame in stride. Being approached by strangers was nothing to him.

But just the thought terrified her.

“I can see you’re worried,” he said, “but if I let the Helping Hands agency know that you’re going to accompany me for work, will that be okay with you?”

She should say no. But he’d just made it so easy for her to justify saying yes. He was still her client, and he was still healing.

After a long pause, she finally nodded. “All right. I’ll go with you. But not as a romantic plus-one. Only as your caregiver.”

She barely had time to take her next breath when he bent down to kiss her.

And with that kiss, all her fears were forgotten. At least for the moment—when all she could think about was how much she wanted him.

* * *

Though they’d had a big, long day together out and about in Monterey County, Arch wasn’t the least bit tired. On the contrary, he was full of energy.

And it was all down to being with Tessa.

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