Page 53 of Finding Her Leading Man

“What?” Why did he stop? Her body shivered from the loss of contact.

“It’s not time.” He stepped back. “Not here.”

She opened her mouth, but words didn’t leave. It should have felt like a rejection. She’d all but ripped his shirt off, and he was telling her that he didn’t want to sleep with her.

He half-smiled and set his hands on his hips. “Stop analyzing me. This has never been some sex fling for me, Sam.”

“I know, but—”

“I also don’t plan on some sweaty, rushed event.” He winked at her, and her knees nearly gave out. “It’ll be worth the wait. I promise.”

19

Trevor booked one hotel room and left Samantha there to get changed. He’d called ahead for a tuxedo after he found out it was a black-tie affair. It was a benefit of sorts, although according to the contract, they would pay $50,000 for Samantha to sing.

The lie he’d told her still bothered him. Her contract was feeble, really, with four different holes in it that he could attack. But she needed to do this. She needed to get past the hurt and showing the society that had determined her fate that she was still an amazing actress would make her transition back to New York easier.

And he wanted to hear her sing. It was the reason he didn’t take her old agent to the cleaners for signing her to such a crappy contract.

She might not want his representation, but he’d make sure she was with someone who knew what the hell they were doing next time or had access to an entertainment lawyer to check over everything.

But at the moment, he stood underneath a massive chandelier waiting on Samantha to arrive. Thousands of small pieces of crystal glinted in the light with little rainbows dancing on the ceiling and walls. He’d been places like this before with Grayson. Glad-handing had become second nature when they first started. Meeting the right people meant being in the right places.

It was a life he’d been born into, the wealth and glamour. Grayson hadn’t. That’s why they’d made a good team.

And Grayson was ready to move on. Trevor would always be his agent or manager. Or a friend. Whatever he needed, but he had Juliana now. They’d settle in Statem during their off-time, and Trevor would either visit Addie there or fly back to California.

Could he move to New York? Make that jump?

He sipped on a glass of champagne, surveying the room full of people dressed to the hilt. It didn’t matter which coast. Everywhere he went, he ran into pretentious people interested more in their possessions than the humans they used to get them. People like Grayson and Samantha.

There were good agents and managers, people who cared for their clients. That’s who he needed to find for Samantha. But he was at a disadvantage. He didn’t know enough about anyone in New York to make friends. Or allies.

Tonight was hard on both of them. He scanned the program he’d been handed as he entered the room. They’d already written in her understudy, another woman who’d slept with Jasper. When a few of the benefactors complained, they reached out to Samantha to fly in to fulfill her contract.

“Wow.”

He turned at the sound of Samantha’s voice.

“You look great in a tux, Trevor.”

And she was breathtaking. Her dress was a turquoise blue with a low, plunging neckline and jewels lining the waist. Her skin looked as soft as it felt. He ran a hand over her shoulder to her wrist. “I’ve changed my mind about singing. Let’s get out of here. I want to keep you all to myself.”

“Really?”

The hope in her eyes made him feel like a cad for making her go through with this. He picked up her hand, turning it over and kissing the inside of her wrist, his gaze locking with hers. “Soon enough. Promise.” It was a promise he couldn’t wait to fulfill.

“Sam?”

They both turned toward the sound of a man’s voice. Jasper Henderson. He had the audacity to look Samantha up and down in an appraising way.

Trevor’s fist curled into a tight ball, but he released it. No fighting. Grayson had already warned him, again, about getting into any type of confrontation with Jasper.

Grayson was a hypocrite.

“You showed up,” Jasper said.

Samantha arched an eyebrow. “As did you.”

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