Page 61 of Filthy Rich

That makes me laugh.

“What’s funny?” She frowns.

“I’m not sure anyone has ever called me a good influence,” I say. “But aside from that irony, my dad’s the last person in the world who would ever be influenced by me. He teaches me, end of story.”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” she says. “First of all, he’s your dad, so he must care what you think, at least a little. But secondly, try to imagine how proud of you he must be, and how potentially embarrassed that might make him.” She smiles. “His son, a handsome and well-known movie star, making loads of money. . .the right way?” She shrugs. “Let comments like the one he made go, or just gently tell him that it’s too much, and then try to show him how much better he could have handled the situation with what you do.”

She does not know my dad at all.

“Try to remember that he hasn’t seen you for as long as you haven’t seen him. Maybe he won’t be what you remember.”

“I guess.” I’m honestly worried he might be worse.

“Aren’t you supposed to be filming right now?” She glances behind her. “I thought I saw May, all dressed and make-upped and?—”

“Shoot.” I sigh. “Yeah, I’m probably holding them all up.”

“Let’s head back,” she says. “The last thing you want to do when there’s a new co-star you want to impress is make her wait.” She ducks her head as she starts back toward the set, and I’m not sure how I can tell, but something’s still off.

“Hey.” I grab her hand. “Wait.”

She stops and turns, but her eyes are shuttered. “What?”

“Come here.”

She swallows, and then she looks around. “Come where?”

I tug on her, and then I step toward her myself. “Closer.” I lean over and press a soft kiss to her mouth before she can stop me. “I’ve missed you. Our date got cut off, and then I spent yesterday helping find a replacement for the ‘rank one,’ and then my dad showed up uninvited, telling everyone he’s my new manager.” I shake my head. “It was a terrible, long day. I needed to see and touch and hear you.” I smile, and then I press another kiss to her cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t call last night. I was too tired, and my dad was hovering and snooping, and I just couldn’t.”

She ducks her head. “I thought you were with May.”

“With May Markson?” I release her. “Why would I have been with?—”

Then it hits me.

She was jealous.

And now I’m grinning from ear to ear. “You thought I was with another woman, and you were upset about it.”

She’s shaking her head, and she’s walking back toward the set. “No, I mean, I wasn’t upset.”

I jog ahead of her and trot along backward so I can see her expression. “You were.”

She finally stops walking and drops her hands on her hips. “Bea said you love her, and now you’re working with her, and she’s really cute, and?—”

I grab her arms, and I yank her right up close, and I really kiss her this time. I kiss her until I can’t think. I kiss her until I can’t breathe, and then I kiss her until I can tell she’s gone weak in the knees, and only then do I let her go.

“When I kiss May, it’ll be because someone’s paying me. The only person I want to kiss is you, Miss Rothschild. Besides, May knows we’re together, and she said she has a boyfriend who feels the same way. She seems to be just as nice in person as she acts on her show, and that’s why I was happy they chose her.” I lower my head until we’re eye-to-eye. “Capiche?”

She’s smiling. “Yes. Aye, aye, sir.”

I turn back around, slide my hand down her willowy arm, and then lace my fingers through hers, tugging her along with me all the way back to the filming location. “I have to go work now, but I hope you’ll come back for a late lunch. After that we have a sunset scene, so I should have loads of time before I have to report back.” I lift my eyebrows. “Yes?”

She shrugs and nods.

“Good. Because I’ll miss you this morning.”

There are people watching, and I’m glad. Maybe it’ll keep them from saying anything stupid. I lean closer. “And if anyone ever implies that I’m a good actor because I look happy when I’m with you, I’ll lay them out cold, even if it’s the President himself.”

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