Page 16 of Ignacio

Delta shot a flirtatious, sidelong glance at him. “Thank you for the reminder, baby. How could I forget?” She spoke sweetly in a whisper, punctuating her words with a smile and touching his clean-shaven cheek with the tips of her fingers.

His jaw firmed and his gray eyes darkened momentarily before he said in a curt voice, “We should go.”

He nudged her forward with his hand at her spine, and they made their way to the limousine, where the driver now waited beside the open door.

“I’ll meet you there!” Rochelle called. Her car was parked up front. She and Pierre hopped in and took off.

Delta slid onto the leather seat, and Ignacio sat beside her. When the door shut, unexpected panic erupted inside her, and her heart started racing.

This was it. They were about to perform for all the people at the event and those watching at home, and they had to convince every last one of them that they were together again and happy.

“What’s so funny?” Ignacio asked.

She must have laughed out loud by accident but decided to be honest. “I think this whole charade is ridiculous. Crazy.” She kept her voice low, watching as the driver slid behind the wheel and Ava reclaimed her place at the front.

Resting a hand atop his knee, Ignacio relaxed against the leather seat. “You could always back out.”

Delta tossed him a scathing look. “You first.”

After a brief pause, Ignacio rolled up the partition so they could have privacy. “Let’s remember what’s at stake, shall we? We both have something to gain if we play our roles correctly.”

“Play our roles. Easy for you to say. You’re an actor.”

He made walking the red carpet look easy. Maybe because his parents had been in the entertainment business for years, and he’d been in the public eye since he was a child.

“What you do is acting too. You play a role as a singer and performer. I’ve seen your dance routines with your partners on stage. Shouldn’t be too hard to pretend you have feelings for me.”

“But I actually like them,” Delta said.

Adjusting his cuff, Ignacio laughed. The sound was dry and without humor. “Just do what I do when I’m with you. Fake it.”

Delta shot him her best kiss-my-ass smile. “I’ll do my best.”

Then she focused her attention on the outside scenery. She had no intention of talking to him for the rest of the trip.

Chapter Seven

She smelled like jasmine. Delicious. Sweet. Tempting.

Ignacio gazed out the window at the cars and buildings whizzing by on the highway, restlessly tapping his knee, his thoughts never far from the woman sitting nearby, testing his patience and making his groin ache.

Under different circumstances with anyone else, the limo provided plenty of space, but with Delta riding with him, it was simply too small. Her scent wrapped around him like a soft, invisible fabric, urging him to move closer. He breathed her in, and longing pressed hard into his chest—a warning that he was already in too deep. How ridiculous that her scent could make his pulse race and his thoughts scatter. But that was the magic of Delta James. She was effortlessly intoxicating, whether or not she meant to be.

He’d known spending time together would be a bad idea, but he’d had no idea how bad. His attraction to her was fucking annoying. The minute he saw her standing in front of her home, his tongue might as well have rolled out between his teeth like a cartoon character. She was exquisite in the lavender gown, and her hair looked sensational. He instantly wanted to mess up herperfect hairstyle with back shots as he gripped the strands from behind. What man wouldn’t?

The ultimate had been when she shot him that little flirty glance from beneath her curled lashes. She had to have known what she was doing. For several seconds, he ceased to think. His entire body went hot, as if gasoline had been poured into his veins and then ignited with a match. Before this was all over, Delta James was going to be the death of him. Of that, he was certain.

To his relief, the limousine finally arrived near the Astoria Grand Hotel and rolled to a stop. The ten-story landmark had been built in the 1920s and dripped with charm and history. The Black and Gold Music Experience took place there every fall, honoring excellence in music and recognizing artists for their impact on society. The annual event celebrated their achievements, from electrifying live performances to unforgettable contributions to film soundtracks, showcasing how music inspires, connects, and enriches lives.

Ava climbed out of the limousine first and surveyed the area like a hawk. At the same time, Ignacio’s bodyguard, Randall—who had arrived ahead of them—positioned himself at the back end of the car. Well over six feet tall, he wore a dark suit and scanned the crowd with practiced vigilance.

Though Ignacio loved his career as an actor, this was the aspect of being a celebrity that he disliked the most. Unfortunately, some fans could become obsessive. He once had a stalker break into his home and climb into his bed to wait for him. While he felt sorry for the woman, the entire ordeal had been nerve-racking.

What happened was a thankfully rare occurrence, but he needed multiple close protection officers most days. On a night like tonight, he only required Randall since the venue had its own security.

Randall sent a subtle nod to the chauffeur, and he climbed out of the car.

“This is it,” Ignacio said to Delta. “Show time.”

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