Page 39 of Behind the Scenes
“So playful tonight, my darling.” She smirked as she took my hand in hers.
“Well, I do have some questions,” I said.
She let out a chuckle as she led us out of the hotel into the awaiting car.
“I’ll get us something more private, then.”
Private or an insane show of wealth?
The restaurant was completely empty, except for the two of us. The large windows were open, giving us a beautiful view of the sea. Between the time it took to talk to the police and figure out the stuff with our room, the sun had started setting. And now it was almost completely dark outside.
But the candles on the table and the lights outside were enough to give us a perfect view of the scenery.
The air was warmer than I expected, but the light breeze cooled my skin. The smell of the sea was all around us, and this might not be a date, but I couldn't stop wanting to know more about the person in front of me.
I took a sip of my red wine as I studied Harley. She nonchalantly took a bite of her pasta dish and sent me a smile. She wasn't pushing for any of my questions; she seemed content for us to be in silence, enjoying the music and the sound of the waves crashing against the sand.
I had so many questions that I wanted to ask her, but none that I felt I could articulate correctly at that moment.
“Did your parents support you when you wanted to become an actor? Or were they as disappointed as mine were with your career choice?” I asked.
I hadn’t planned for my voice to sound so… sad, but she heard it, and it made her pause and place her fork down on the table.
“I don't think anyone could ever be disappointed in you, Laura.”
Wrong.
My parents might not have been disappointed with my law career per se, but they certainly were that they could not be involved and take advantage of my position in the world or any of my money.
To be honest, I had been disappointed in myself a number of times.
When I lost. When the payout wasn’t as great as I expected.
But even so, her words caused something to expand in my chest. An emotion that I didn’t think I was capable of.
I didn’t let it show on my face and gave her a deadpan stare before taking another sip instead.
“My parents never supported me in anything,” she replied. “They never thought I was good enough. I was an embarrassment to the family.”
“I’m sure they’ve changed their mind with how famous you have gotten.”
She shook her head.
“Is that what you really wanted to ask me about?”
Oh, touchy.Which told me her parents were linked to some key thing she definitelydid notwant to talk about. That alone made me want to keep pushing the subject.
“This should look real, no?” I asked and reached out my hand to trail a manicured finger down her inner forearm. “I should know something about you.”
“The file your assistant pulled on me wasn’t enough?” Her tone was playful, but her expression made my heart skip a beat.
“Evidently, no.” I dug my nail into her smooth skin.How the hell did she know that?“So tell me,my love. Just how embarrassed are your parents of you?”
She leaned forward with such quickness my breath caught and I froze. My eyes widened as her lips brushed across my cheek, almost the exact same movement as that night in the alley.
The monster is coming out to play.
And I should be running, not enthralled.
