Page 59 of One-Star Romance

“Sweet place. And these decorations? We’re in a winter wonderland!” Tyler said, holding his arms out wide and coming in for a hug.

“Thank you,” Gabby squeaked as he enfolded her.

Angus came over with Christina on his back. “Natalie! And, oh wow, the Tyler Yeo? Huge fan! Welcome to our humble abode.” Angus shook Tyler’s hand heartily, then gave Nat a bear hug. “Your TV show! It’s hilarious. Appointment viewing for me, every Tuesday!”

“Thanks so much,” she said, exhaling, even as she noticed Gabby’s dreamy expression clearing, turning sour for a brief moment. But here was proof: Natalie had done her job disguising Dennis enough that Angus could watch the show and have no idea.

Angus gave Tyler a hearty handshake, then leaned forward so that Christina, on his back, could respond to Tyler’s proffered high five. “What can I get you? I have a bottle of Scotch I’ve been saving for a special occasion. Or…steak! Want me to grill you a steak?”

Angus, Tyler, and Christina headed off toward the kitchen, chatting happily. Gabby squeezed Nat’s hand quite hard. “You guys walked in here like a couple. Are you?”

“No. We’re coworkers.”

“But he came to a party in the suburbs with you. You don’t do that for a normal coworker.”

Natalie had heard that ghostwriters often fell half in love with their clients, having spent so much time thinking about them. Strangely enough, in their case, the opposite seemed to have happened. Tyler had fallen half in love with her.

She didn’t flatter herself—she knew it had started because of how eagerly she listened to him talk about himself. But now he actually seemed to respect her mind for what it could do outside of making him look good, though that was still a central feature.

“Please tell me you’ve at least…” Gabby waggled her eyebrows.

“No. Well, we went on one date. The night we found out the pilot had been picked up. We were drunk and hopped up on adrenaline, and he took me out to this fancy dinner.”

“And did you smooch?” Gabby asked, with all the seriousness of a policewoman interrogating a murder suspect.

“Yes.”

Gabby emitted a small shriek. “Why did you not call me immediately?”

“Maybe because right afterward, he said, and I quote, ‘It’s so refreshing how you’re pretty in a normal person way and not like a supermodel.’ ”

“Okay,” Gabby said. “But still. You kissed Tyler Yeo! I can’t believe you haven’t told me every detail.”

“I thought it might be more fun to tell you in person and see your face, but—” Nat cut herself off, and Gabby awkwardly fiddled with her hair.

“Yeah. I’m sorry again about missing the premiere. I just figured that Angus needed more emotional support for his work retreat than you did at a fancy Hollywood party where everyone wanted to suck up to you.”

“Right,” Natalie said. Sure, the Meant 2B premiere had been wildly exciting, but it had been destabilizing too, the kind of night where she could’ve used Gabby’s grounding force. Instead, Gabby had bailed a few days earlier for some last-minute, high-pressure invitation from Angus’s boss, a retreat for Insight Capital’s top employees and their spouses. Yet another example of one of Natalie’s proudest achievements passing by without Gabby’s support.

“After going with Angus,” Gabby continued now, talking fast in an almost anxious tone, watching Natalie’s face, “I’ve got to say, it’s good I was there. Those guys are such competitive, status-obsessed assholes. No wonder Angus is always on the verge of developing a stress ulcer. Did you know that they call him ‘Sofa Stoat’? As in ‘Can Sofa Stoat handle taking on more hours, or is he preoccupied thinking about recliners?’ Which is ridiculous because futons and sofas aren’t the same, and he’s actually preoccupied being an equal partner in raising his child. I keep telling him that if he wants to quit, it’s fine by me, but—” She shook her head and pressed a hand on Natalie’s arm. “Anyways! I would have had much more fun walking the red carpet with you. Dibs on being your date to the next show you create.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Unless Tyler wants that position instead.”

“You aren’t letting this go, huh?” Nat asked.

“Nope! Now back to discussing Tyler’s mouth,” Gabby went on. “It must have been the best kiss of your life, right?”

Natalie started to confirm, then stopped. Because although making out with a movie star had been plenty exciting, the best kiss of her life had been with Rob Kapinsky in a cold, clear lake.

Where was Rob? Nat scanned the room for him, hoping he would and wouldn’t be here in equal measure. If he’d seen the show, he’d probably treat her with an icy superiority, Zuri on his arm. Last Gabby had told her, Rob and Zuri had sent out the save-the-dates for their wedding, to be held in April of next year, and Angus had been running himself ragged trying to be the best best man the world had ever seen (despite the fact that Rob had barely asked anything of him).

No sign of Rob. Well, of course not. Why would he fly out across the country for a housewarming party, especially while in the midst of wedding planning?

“Hello?” Gabby asked, bringing Nat back to earth. “Lost in reveries of Tyler? Sorry, but I still don’t understand why you’re not trying to make something happen with him.”

“Because we work together! That’s messy. I don’t want people thinking I got this show just because Tyler wants to get into my pants.”

It wasn’t just that, though. Five years ago, Natalie would have dated him anyway, gossip be damned. An actual movie star wanting to be in a relationship with her? How could she say no? But now, she didn’t want to date someone for status. She wanted to date someone who was right. And even though their date had been exciting, adrenaline-filled, and Tyler was clearly a practiced kisser, she couldn’t stop the nagging feeling that she was like a Bachelor contestant, there for the wrong reasons.

Still, the “being professional for work” excuse was an easier one. And that was what Natalie had said to him when she pulled back from their drunken kiss. Well, first he’d said the shit about the supermodels, and then she’d told him that she didn’t think going any further was a good idea.

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