Page 336 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
“Patience, Audrey,” he says. “I’ll find the perfect movie for you. But this isn’t a process you can rush.” He gives my arms a quick squeeze before his hands fall away.
Oh, he’s good. Too good.No wonder all of America is in love with this man.
“Come on,” he says, taking a step toward the door. “There’s ice cream pie, and I’m not sure my brothers will save us any if we don’t grab a piece while we can.”
“Oh, I couldn’t,” I say quickly. “You’ve already been so generous. I don’t need anyone to save me a piece of anything.”
He shrugs. “Suit yourself. But you’re here. And it’sreallygood ice cream pie.” He holds out his hand in invitation. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want you to have a piece.”
I shake my head and slip my hand into his, letting him tug me into the kitchen. He doesn’t drop my hand until we’re halfway around the enormous kitchen island. “Is this how you treat everyone who trespasses on your land?”
“Only the biologists.” He smirks and glances at my shirt. “Even if you do want me toleaf you alone.”
I smile, my gaze lifting to his blue eyes, which are sparkling with mirth. I shake my head, letting out a small laugh as I look down at my navy-blue T-shirt. There’s a leafy sugar maple on the front and the very caption Flint just read:Leaf Me Alone.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, Idoprefer to be left alone. I am nothing if not a solitary creature.
But maybe company isn’t so bad.
Even if that company is a movie star.
Chapter Eight
Flint
Claire McKinsey is goingto be the end of me.
Or maybe just the end of my career. I close my laptop, cutting off the latest video Kenji sent over. Claire is still talking.Hinting.Making it seem like some time apart was good, but now we’re in a good place, and we’reveryexcited about promotingTurning Tidestogether. She isn’t being explicit enough for me to call her a liar, but the innuendo is strong, and right now she’s dominating entertainment news. Every possible public event she could attend, she’s attending, talking to the press every time they call her name. And don’t even get me started on her Instagram feed.
My team is getting daily requests for comment on the status of our relationship. Simon is fielding those requests, but he isn’t doing much else except irritating me.
“You look happy,” Joni says from the doorway.
I turn to see her leaning against the door jamb, arms crossed.
“My life is stupid, Joni,” I say, dropping back into my desk chair and closing my eyes. I hear her move into the room and sit down across from me, but I don’t move or look up.
“Did you talk to Simon?”
I nod.
“What did he say?”
I sigh and look up. “Just more of the same. He doesn’t think I have any reason to worry.” I crack my neck, tilting my head from side to side. “Says I need to get off social media and try torelax.”
Joni rolls her eyes. “You know, there are other publicists.”
I huff out a laugh. “Don’t tempt me.”
“I’m serious. He annoys you every time you talk to him. Why not cut your losses and let him go?”
“Maybe after the premiere,” I say. “He’s too involved with everything to cut ties before then.”
Joni scoffs. “I think we would manage just fine without him. Most of the hard stuff is done already anyway. Did he push the fake relationship thing again?”
“He did. But he thinks I’d need to be back in LA to truly sell it. Says we would need to orchestrate a few well-timed appearances in public places with a woman who isn’t Claire. I see his point, but honestly Joni, the thought of reviewing a list of names and picking one like I’m ordering a woman out of some sort of catalog, it feels so…”
“Misogynistic?” Joni says, her expression smug.
