Page 42 of Single Mom's Bodyguards
I hesitate.
Behind him, I can feel my bodyguards shifting. Calculating. I turn, glance at Sean. He shakes his head. Huck raises a judgmental brow. Wesley mouths,Don’t.But I do.
Because if I say no, he’ll be the one to make a scene, and I won’t give Friedburganyreason to second-guess me tonight.
So I place my hand in David’s and let him lead me to the floor. His hand is warm against mine. Gross. The music is soft andcinematic, all string instruments and swaying bodies. Around us, producers and actors and people with power are smiling and spinning and sipping.
And I’m dancing with the man who once made me crawl to amuse himself and strangers.
I keep my hand light in his. He pulls me in closer than necessary. Like always. This time, I don’t fight it. I keep my smile tight and my voice lighter. “This better go better than the last time you tried to dance with me.”
He raises a brow. “You mean when you accused me of threatening you?”
I raise mine back. “Youdidthreaten me.”
“You’re so dramatic,” he says, chuckling. “That’s why you’re such a great actress.”
I freeze for half a beat. Not because of the gaslighting. Because of the word.Great.
He’s never called me that. Not once. Not in ten years of auditions, callbacks, script readings, and performances that broke my body open. He’s called me difficult. He’s called me pretty. He’s called me selfish.
But nevergreat.
He sees the surprise in my face and smiles—almost sheepishly. “I always thought you were. But I didn’t say it then. I thought if I pushed you harder, you’d prove me right.”
I stare at him. This is wrong. This issowrong. He’s buttering me up for something.
He softens his voice. “You look incredible tonight, Bailey.”
I start to pull back.
He tightens his grip. “Don’t make a scene. Not here. Not whenhe’swatching you.”
I follow his gaze.
Friedburg. Of course.
I try to smile. “You don’t control me anymore, David.”
He leans in, just enough that no one else can hear. “If you walk away now, I’ll make sure you don’t get that role. Friedburg’s people are already whispering. I’ll give them something to scream about.”
I stiffen.
“Come with me. Two minutes. You do that, I walk away clean. No leaks. No drama. No more lawyers. No more court orders. We resume normal ex-spouse activities. I let the renaming of my children drop. I won’t say a word to Friedburg.”
This is a bad idea. I know it. He’s dangling everything I want in front of me for a reason.
But itiseverything I want from him. “Let me tell them I’m?—”
“No.” His voice sharpens. “Don’t alert your little guard dogs. Or I’ll take this party down with me. I want a private moment with the mother of my children. Is that too much to ask?”
I don’t look at the guys. I don’t move. My heart pounds like a war drum in my throat. He laid out the conditions. If he’ll give me everything I want, then I can give him a few minutes of my time. I’ll just keep my distance from him, and that will be that.
“Two minutes. Starting now.”
He smiles like he’s already won. He keeps his arm at my waist, guiding me to the elevator. “I remember how much you enjoy the stars.”
“What about it?”
