Page 27 of Daddy's Oath
Lana felt a little sadness. She wished she was going to work, too, even as great as the mansion was.
And as great as being with Ace was.
“If you all need anything, let me know,” Sheila continued. “I bet I could sneak you onto set and get you fixed up. But I don’t think any of that is coming off.”
Lana took the opportunity to study Ace once again. It didn’t even look like him. Sheila truly had done an amazing job. On the studio lot, she’d seen a lot of makeup artists’ work. But seeing someone she knew actually transformed into a whole other person was quite amazing.
“Goodbye. And good luck,” Sheila said as she left through the front door.
“I’m heading out, too,” Stryker said. “But call me if you need me. Can’t guarantee I can pick up while on set, but I’ll call you back on our breaks.”
“I think we’re good,” Ace said. “We just appreciate all the help.”
“I’ll check in on y’all tonight,” Stryker told them as he waved.
Once the director was gone and the front door was closed, Ace looked at Lana. “You slept good?”
“Great,” she said.
“Me too.”
There was something in his eyes that told her he’d slept great because he’d been lying next to her.
His presence was definitely the reason she’d rested so well. But she didn’t have the nerve to say that out loud.
Her stomach flipped an excited somersault, though, as she remembered one of the times she’d partially awoken during the night. She’d rolled up against him, her head on his hard chest, and it had been magical. Realizing it, though, she’d pulled away. She didn’t want him to think she was coming onto him. What if things got awkward? Besides, with someone potentially after her, now didn’t seem like the time to pursue a relationship.
Not that Ace would want a relationship with her. He was way out of her league.
“What are you thinking about, little girl?” he asked with a grin “You mind me calling you that? For some reason I kind of slide into Daddy mode around you.”
She kept her voice as casual as possible. “I don’t mind.”
“So, what were you thinking about?” he pressed again.
Shifting on her feet, her mind spun as she quickly tried to come up with a good answer. One other than the truth that she was thinking about the possibility of them together!
“Just the situation,” she lied. “I hate that you’re going to my place. It could be dangerous!”
That part wasn’t a lie. The moment he’d told her he was going to the apartment, she’d felt a sense of dread. She didn’t know Ace well. But already she couldn’t imagine anything happening to him.
She wasn’t sure she could even imagine life without him now.
“Honey,” he said, “we need to determine what’s going on. I can’t do that if I lock myself behind these walls. But I promiseyou that I will be careful. The guys will be with me, too. Come on. This is a good time to meet them.”
A sense of calm washed over Lana as Ace took her by the hand and led her deeper into the house. In the back den, she saw a group men hanging out, some of them playing pool while a couple sat on the posh leather furniture, chatting.
“You met Isaiah last night,” Ace said, pointing to the man sitting on the couch.
Isaiah lifted his hand in a casual wave. “Good to see you again, Lana.”
“Thank you. I’m so happy to be here,” she said.
It was true, though she wished she was visiting under different and better circumstances.
“And that right there is Kendrick,” Ace said, pointing to the guy next to Isaiah.
He had flawless, mocha-colored skin and mesmerizing green eyes. Lana assumed all the women went crazy for him.
