Page 52 of Last Fall

Heavily invested in the project? If Scott and Lily were attaching their production company to the movie too, that meant they were all-in on the deal. “Erik,Idon’t even know thisstuffyet.”

His smile grew even bigger. “Well then I guess it’s a good thing I have insiderinformation.”

“You look like you want to kiss him. I think you should kiss him,”Rileysaid.

And because that wasexactlywhat I wanted to do, I grabbed Erik and laid a big fat kiss on his very surprised lips. “Thank you Erik!” It wasn’t a sexy kiss. It wasn’t even particularlyintimate.

But even that totally public, quick kiss sent my heartracing.

As I sat back in my seat Erik chased me, stopping just short of kissing me, eyes locked on mine and hungry. “Careful.” Then he kissed me once, his nose brushingalongmine.

Riley cleared his throat. “Damn you two. Get a room. And make sure you use like, twelvecondoms.”

Erik shot him a deathglare.

“What?” Belle shrugged. “With sparks like that she could get pregnant just thinkingaboutyou.”

My jawdropped.

Erik laid a protective hand overmine. “Stop.”

The way they all spoke to each other. It was so candid. Like they knew everything about each other. Even though it shocked the hell out of me—I could not imagine ever having a conversation like this with my brother—I kind of admired theirfamiliarity.

“Can we stop pretending you two are just friends?” Jack laughed. “I suck atacting.”

“Wearejust friends,” Erik said with a low warningrumble.

“Not for long,” Belle said into her glassofwine.

“It’s me,”Isaid.

The table fell silent. Everyonestared.

“Don’t,” Erik whispered. “You don’t owe themanything.”

I ignored him. “You’re both divorced. You know it isn’t easy. I like Erik. I’mtrying.”

“You’re divorced?” Jackasked.

“No.” I focused on Erik because he was right. I didn’t owe them anything. The only person I cared about was the man I was looking at. “I nevermarriedhim.”

Thank goodness. Otherwise he wouldn’t have let me go so easily. I wouldn’t have been able to take my three boxes and disappear. He would have followed me. There would have been lawyers andjudges.

He would have convinced me tocomeback.

Relief flooded me when Erik took my hand and smiled. “It wouldn’t matter one way or theother,Zo.”

“Well you picked a good one this time,” Riley said. “He’ll treat you right and maul your ex if he ever comesnearyou.”

Erik shot another glare across the table and I was starting to wonder if Riley was trying to pick a fight onpurpose.

That’s when I saw how white Belle was. “Are you okay?” Iasked.

Erik dropped my hand and darted around the table, dropping to his knee to hug his sister. “I’m sorry. Riley stop being anasshole.”

“Whatever,” Riley muttered, looking stricken as he watched Belle take a few steadying breaths. “Prince Erik will fix everything. Healwaysdoes.”

Now I knew for sure Riley had feelings forBelle.

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