Page 69 of Take Hold of Me

I jump up and run into the living room where I had dropped my purse and retrieve the sheets with my lines. Returning to the balcony, I sit on his lap, wiggling to find a comfortable spot.

His hands land on my butt and still my movements. “If you really want to run your lines with me, you’d better stop that.”

Giggling, my hand covers my mouth. Waving the papers MonsieurPrice handed me in front of my face, I reply, “Once we go over these lines a few times, I think we can spend the rest of the afternoon doing something more fun.”

“Deal.” He squeezes my butt cheeks, eliciting a squeal from me.

Practicing for my cameo takes longer than I anticipated, and it is already well into the afternoon when we wrap up. “I am so sorry to have taken so long. Now I have to start getting ready for the movie premiere tonight.”

Wills kisses my neck, causing a shudder to run down my spine. “Not a worry. When it’s over tonight, I’ll hold you to some hot and sweaty sex as payment for my help.”

I hold out my hand and we shake. “Deal.”

After a whirlwind bunch of appearances, I am excited to accompany Wills to a venue in which he is the star of the show for once. “Are you excited to meet the members of your new gym?”

He weaves in and out of traffic. My last appearance, at an art gallery, ran long so he is trying to make up time. “I’m not big on parties. But, it’ll be nice to meet everyone, I guess. Zak will be there.”

“He is going to be your assistant, right?”

“More than that, actually. In addition to being a personal trainer on staff, he will be my right-hand man.” He changes lanes and chuckles. “Zak’s going to be surprised to see you. Actually, I think you’re going to surprise a lot of folks tonight.”

“I hope in a good way. Being the reason you are late for your own party is not a good start.” I run my hand through my hair and look out the window at the passing scenery. Or, rather, at the stopped traffic. My fingers drum on the armrest. “I am so sorry,” I say for the tenth time.

“Ems, it’s fine. We won’t be that late.”

The clock on the dashboard screams “7:30”—the party started a half-hour ago. I made Wills late for his own welcome party. I hate being late to anything and being the cause of it is unbearable. “Did you call your brother-in-law to let him know?”

“I didn’t think of that. But, we’ll be there soon enough.”

I face him, admiring his expert maneuvers through the traffic, changing lanes with such confidence. His profile, even as he is concentrating on driving, calls to me. It is not just his features, though, it ishim. Who he is, how much he has overcome and how he makes me feel like I can be more. “I am in awe of you, Wills. The way you are changing careers inspires me.”

His eyebrow raises. “At first I thought you were going to compliment my driving skills. But, Ems, you know it was time for me to make a change.” He slants me a quick look before returning his eyes to the road. His nightmares and panic attacks attest to this fact.

Is it time formeto make a change? I have a call with my attorney tomorrow to find out how the negotiations on my behalf are going with the Agency. I emailed him some additional suggestions after the movie premiere with Brandan last night. Including my request to be represented by Rose’s PR firm rather than Greta’s.

Wills takes the next exit. “We’ll be there in five minutes. No worries.”

I pull down the visor and open the flap with the lighted mirror to check my makeup. After applying more lip gloss and fiddling with my hair a bit, I am ready. I was so fixated on the art gallery premiere that I did not focus on how important this party is for Wills. And by extension, me.

“I will make you proud tonight, Wills.”

We turn into the parking lot. “You always do, Ems.” He puts the Jeep into park and jumps out of the vehicle before I even reach for the handle. My door opens and he helps me out. We are both overdressed for a gym, but the art gallery required our attire. At least he left his blazer in the back seat—my conservative dress cannot be so easily dressed down, although I did change my jewelry and shoes to be funky.

“Ready?”

Nodding my head, I take his hand. “Oui.”

He leads me into the very large gym, where streamers and a huge handmade “Welcome, Wills!” sign have been set up at the reception area. People mill around and turn when we walk into the room.

Applause rings out.

I smile at the man of the hour, so proud to be on his arm. The blush that creeps up his neck is adorable.

A sandy-haired man, a little shorter than Wills, approaches us. “Wills. Glad you made it.” He extends his hand, which Wills shakes.

Wills performs the introductions. “Emilie, this is David Calla, my brother-in-law. David, this is Emilie Dubois, my—” He looks at me. “My girlfriend.”

I suck in my breath. This is the first time he has called me his girlfriend. As soon as I greet David, who treats me like I am merely a normal date, I beam at Wills.

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