Page 63 of The Best Wrong Move

“You were? What happened?” I try to picture the type of woman someone like Dom would propose to. A tinge of jealousy rolls through me.

He sits back in his chair, taking a deep breath. His face looks stern, like he’s practiced closing off whatever hurt he’s about to reopen.

“Her name was Taryn. She swore up and down that none of that stuff mattered to her. The fame, the fortune, the red-carpet events, and everything else that comes with your dad owning Paramour Studios.”

“And then what?”

“I found out that she tried seducing Quinton for a movie role three weeks before our wedding.”

“Oh my God. You must have been devastated.”

“To say the least.”

“I’m so sorry. I’m sure you loved her, but she sounds like a real asshat.”

I smile, hoping he’s not offended at the joke.

He erupts in laughter at first, then quiets down to the sad chuckle at the end of a joke that hits a little too close to home.

“Turns out, she was.” He smiles weakly, like the wound has reopened. “Quinton told me what happened right after. I was furious. Mom had to call all the guests, which was like eight hundred of their friends and family. I never saw it coming.”

“That explains why you didn’t tell me much about your family until now.”

He nods.

“She wasn’t the only one,” he says. “Just the first one who was caught so brazenly.”

“So, now you try to hide it.” I realize what a huge deal this was for him to bring me here and tell me about his brother.

“People treat us differently. All of us. Once they find out.” I watch it all pour out of him, like he’s letting go of something he’s held close to his chest for too long. “It’s hard to know who to trust, and who’s just looking for a handout.”

As much as I would love the opportunity to pitch Quinton Rockwell my script, the look on Dom’s face right now tells me that I can’t take him up on that offer.

“Dom, I can’t pitch your brother,” I say quietly.

“What?” His voice is suddenly all gravel and steel, like he can’t believe what I’m saying.

“Not after what you’ve just told me. I don’t want to risk you thinking that I’m just using you for the connection with your brother. You deserve a clean slate from all that. And someone who isn’t going to take you up on that offer. I’d rather just take my chances with the connections I have back home and not risk muddying the water with you over this.”

His eyes shoot to mine, and he leans back in his chair. “But I’m the one that offered, it was my idea. At first, I thought maybe there was some chance that you’d found out who my brother was, and that was why you chose my rental while you were here finishing your script.” He takes my hand in his, smiling. “But I’m certain now that you had no idea I was on the other end of that reservation.”

“I don’t want to put you in the position of feeling taken advantage of. I won’t pitch him if it’s going to bother you, even if you tell me you don’t mind. I have contacts in the broadcast industry. I can make it without you.”

He smiles, then laughs before looking at me in disbelief. “Well, this is a first.” He leans over to kiss me. “Someone actually trying to turn down a family favor from me. You are full of surprises, Liv.”

“Have you dated anyone seriously since Taryn?” I ask quietly.

“No.” His voice has turned soft again. “I’ve never had any interest in getting that close to the flame again. I’d resigned myself to flying solo. I knew I had pretty much everything most people would consider to be the recipe for a perfect life. I told myself that was enough. That I didn’t need anyone else. Until I saw you standing there in your underwear that day.”

He cracks a smile — I burst out laughing.

Then he leans over the table to give me another long kiss, letting his lips linger against mine for as long as I want.

Chapter 39

I can’t imagine how awful it must have felt for Dom to find out that his fiancée was willing to trade sleeping with his brother for her future marriage with him.

“Not everyone is like Taryn,” I say firmly when he pulls away from our kiss.

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