Page 132 of Reel Love

“Did he hurt you?” I whisper.

“Of course not. I’m just making a show of it for your benefit.”

“You know, you could join me in this industry. I knowpeople.”

“That’s what Ben and my mom would call a hard pass.”

I giggle. Then I catch Tank’s eyes in the rearview mirror and I’d swear he had been smiling. Of course the smile is gone by the time I look up, but I saw traces of it retreating, and I feel like that’s a bigger win than if my mom were to give me her stamp of approval.

Miguel turns onto the freeway and navigates LA traffic as we make our way to the docks in Ventura. At some point along the drive my head tilts onto Stevens’ shoulder. Our hands are intertwined on his thigh. I drift to sleep and wake to Stevens’ voice telling me we’re here. Tank already has the car door open.

Joel is sitting in the boat when we walk down the dock. It’s obvious Stevens and I are a couple. I don’t know what Brigitte has told Joel, but his wide eyes tell me she hasn’t told him a thing. He’s got an NDA on file. He won’t disclose our relationship to anyone. Knowing Brigitte, she withheld information on purpose so she could hear about Joel’s reaction later. I can’t blame her. It is pretty priceless.

“So …?” Joel points between me and Stevens.

Stevens boards the boat, drops his duffel and extends his hand to me. I take it and board the boat.

“He’s my boyfriend,” I say with a smile I can’t suppress and wouldn’t want to.

“He’s your …?” Joel’s mouth pops open. “Man. If I knew that was on the table, I would have shot my shot, Alana.”

Joel winks at me playfully.

Stevens wraps a possessive arm around my waist. “It wasn’t on the table.”

“I’m joking, man. I have no interest in Alana. But this? What happened? I leave for one week for Wisconsin and you two hook up?”

I look at Stevens, curious as to how he’ll answer.

He smiles down at me. “Exactly. That’s just what happened.” Then he places a chaste kiss on my forehead.

Joel shakes his head, but he leaves us to find our place at the stern while he walks to the helm.

“You’re not going to tell him?” I ask Stevens.

“Later. I’ll give him a little while longer to marvel at the fact that a woman like you fell for a guy like me.”

I chuckle. “It’s not that far-fetched.”

“Did you hit your head? It’s totally far-fetched. But you’re mine now, and we’re not practicing catch and release. Remember?”

“I do remember. I’m yours.” I kiss the side of his scruffy face. He didn’t bother to shave this morning, and I love him like this.

“Thank you,” I say, looking up at Stevens.

“For what?”

“For coming to LA. I’ll never forget the past two days.”

“I’ll always come for you. Don’t ever doubt that.”

I’m home in Marbella, unwinding from the days in LA. Stevens has been up north on a job. He’ll be back today.

My phone rings. It’s my mother.

“Hello, darling.”

“Mother. You sound winded.”

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