Page 21 of The Truth

She was still thinking about it when they were walking to the parking lot.

She pulled her sweater tighter around her, her crutch tapping lightly against the pavement. “That wassogood.”

Gunn unlocked the truck and leaned against the door. “Better than expected?”

“A hundred percent. That mother-daughter thing for the side characters? The way it wasn’t all forced drama but still emotional? I might’ve teared up at that final scene, but you’ll never prove it.”

“I won’t tell a soul.”

“You’d better not. I have a reputation to maintain.”

He opened the passenger door, and helped her in. It was a lot higher off the ground than Aubrey’s SUV. She probablycouldmake it in herself, but… well… they both knew the truth: he liked getting his hands on her.

He had said so himself, after all.

And she liked getting them on her. Was it okay to think that, considering the man’s profession?

When she settled, he rested his forearm on the edge of the doorframe and met her gaze.

“I like seeing you like this.”

Her breath caught. “Like what?”

“Happy.”

The single word settled into her bones, deep and unshakable.

She swallowed. “It’s the cookies from after the movie. Sugar high.”

His eyes warmed with amusement. “Of course.”

Her fingers curled around the fabric of her sweater as she forced herself to exhale.

She was so falling for Gunn Hiller.

And there wasn’t a single thing she could do about it.

14

Well.Life could certainly change quickly. Somehow, Aubrey had finally gotten Greer to spill the beans—while Ayla had been at the premiere ofPadiran Cole and the Sword of Vellis,starring Hunter Luis Clark and Quade Davis. It was one of their first full length movies together that wasn’t part of the Wonkus and Rufus series.

She’d greatly enjoyed herself. It had been a small crowd, but she had even known a few people in the audience. Including Ronnie’s brother, the cop who had been there after her house was vandalized. He was there with his wife and two beautiful children. And Aubrey’s boss and his family, of course. And Dr. Alvaro’s twin brother andhisfamily. His wife was the actress who had actually played Jilly Silly onScraggle-Popps. Of course Ayla had gotten her autograph. How could she not? She was a bigScraggle-Poppsfan and really wished they’d do picture books, too. She thought they would be super awesome for the kids. Jake and his wife had been there, too, with their kids. He’d agreed.

TBFN owned the rights toScraggle-Poppsand that man said he would seriously consider it. If he could work out details.

The movie had seriously been good. TBFN had produced it, and it was one of their first major productions. It had been really fun to be a part of the atmosphere.

Gunn had introduced her to the producer personally—she hadn’t known he was related to Jo-Jo, but he was.

But the best part of the night hadn’t been theotherpeople at all.

It had been sitting in the dark theater, his arm around her shoulder, as they had watched the movie together. She had felt him all around her and she had felt like she was exactly where she had been meant to be.

Now… though.

Total crisis with his baby sister. And this… was abigone.

Greer’s whole world had changed now.

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