Page 54 of Overexposed

“Does this happen often?” I’d heard about some crazy fan encounters, but what delusion did you have to have to think that running onto someone’s property naked was going to get you five minutes with the object of your…affection? Obsession? Whatever.

“That’s why we have security,” Ollie explained as he headed back to me, phone at his ear. “Yes, this is Griffiths,” he said before reciting his address. “We’ve got what looks like a naked intruder streaking on the property and”—he let out such a put-upon sigh—“she’s heading for our pool.”

I found myself wanting to offer him some genuine sympathy because he sounded truly forlorn.

“Immediately,” Ollie continued. “We’ll be inside until you get here.” He ended the call, his scowl deepening for a moment as the woman dove right into the water.

“It looks like a very nice pool.”

“Yeah,” Ollie said. “Now we’ll have to clean it again.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” he said with another sigh. “But yeah, that’s why we have security to deal with…well, that.”

“Sometimes though,” Seven interjected and I jumped because I hadn’t even heard him come in. Granted my ears were still ringing, but Seven radiated a kind of chaotic cloud of raging disapproval. I’d notice that before I would his footsteps. “The crazies just get walked right in the front door.”

Since his gaze was fixed on me, I didn’t have to pretend I didn’t know what he was talking about.

“My brother not enough for you, Stray? Trying to catch Ollie in your claws now?”

Since he wasn’t wrong but I had zero intentions of humoring him, I faced Ollie. “Maybe I should go.”

“You don’t have to go anywhere,” Ollie said. “Ignore Seven. It’s what I do.”

“I don’t have a problem with ignoring him.” In fact, I took no small amount of pleasure in making sure he understood Iwasignoring him. “But there’s no skinny-dipping tonight and you probably want to get dressed before security gets here.”

His smirk was downright adorable. “I promise you, they’ve seen me worse and we didn’t finish our game.”

The man was dangerously tempting. “Rain check?”

Ollie dipped his head and I swore I thought he was going to kiss me, but all he did was whisper, “You better believe it,” with his lips mere centimeters from mine.

Seven made a gagging noise but Ollie just winked before he pivoted and went to his clothes. Damn, I hated to see him go, but I really didn’t mind watching him walk away.

I allowed myself that little pleasure at least until Seven’s gagging cough grew even louder. If he weren’t a grown-ass adult, I’d have sworn he just did aslutcough.

Finally, I cut a look at him. “Hairball?”

He glared but Ollie just laughed, and when I looked back at the screen, their nude visitor was making herself at home swimming lazy laps in their pool.

Yeah, that was definitely weird.

chapter

twenty-one

Stella

My phone vibrated as I kept one eye on the hotel’s back entrance. I was set up perfectly at a table just outside a trendy bubble tea and smoothie place. I wasn’t a huge fan of wheatgrass or seaweed. They had a coffee smoothie so I’d made do with that.

Despite my phone vibrating a second time, I didn’t look away from the entrance. My camera was at the perfect angle, and I had it camouflaged with a couple of bags from high-end stores. With one hand under there on the shutter button, ready to take the snaps, I sipped my smoothie.

An A-list actress stepping out with her daughter’s boyfriend had been all over the blinds the past few days. Dad was pretty sure when she had affairs in the past, this hotel was her favorite. It was within reasonable distance of her studio and away from the frothier places where the tourists liked to gawk.

The rear entrance was perfectly situated to let them step outside, then put on a hat or sunglasses before leaving the little courtyard. If they had a car picking them up, even better. Another buzz from the phone—it was practically bouncing with excitement.

It was probably Gem. Since I’d given him my number, we texted multiple times a day. Well, he’d texted multiple times a day and he’d called me at night more than once when I was winding down. The man wanted to know I was home safe. As much as I tried to keep a little professional distance, I had to admit, there was something really nice about the fact that he wanted to know about me.

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