Page 27 of Heart Set on You

“Adam!” she hollers at her boyfriend. “Miles Bennett is falling for Rylee. Like, heart-eyes and hot and bothered and shit.”

“Are you serious? Stop it,” I say, interrupting her. “He is not falling for me. He is not even my boyfriend. I don’t know what he is, so you just need to relax.”

I exhale. I haven’t breathed a word of any of this to anyone. Not even Abby. I doubt Miles has either. Something about keeping us a secret makes it feel safe.

“Rylee, a guy like Miles Bennett doesn’t go out with a girl more than once if he isn’t feeling her. Think about it. When have you ever seen him photographed twice with anyone?”

“Exactly my point,” I tell her. “I’m the flavor of the month. This is not going to last. And that is why you need to keep it on the DL,” I say, my stomach twisting, wondering if what I just said was true. I’ve tried to avoid the tabloids and gossip about Miles, showing super-human restraint to stop myself from incessantly Googling him. I wanted to get to know him on my own, without the media’s skewed perception.

“You are nobody’s flavor of the month. Those other girls could never measure up to you. You need to remember that. This is big, Ryls. Speaking of big, I need to know how-”

My reaction is immediate. “Not for a second. Nope. Besides, I wouldn’t know.”

“You’re no fun. Geez. You need to get that man naked, and when you do, I want the deets. You get to know everything there is to know about Adam. Fair is fair?”

“I know way more than I ever cared to know about Adam, thanks to your love of oversharing. I’m still traumatized over what I know. I can barely even look him in the eye.”

“Oh, whatever,” she says. “So, are you guys sneaking around Vancouver or what? Who knows about you two?”

“Nobody knows, and it needs to stay that way, Meg. I can’t even imagine the shitshow it would be if the media found out. Small-town girl and Hollywood’s biggest star. Cliché is an understatement,” I say, hating how the words sound.

“It’s so romantic. I literally have goosebumps. It’s your story. Your love story,” she gushes and as she says the words, I wonder if she might be right. I have real feelings for Miles. I like him more than I ever thought possible.

“I gotta run, Megs. Do not breathe a word about this to anyone.”

“Never ever, ever. Lock and key, doll,” she says. “And Ryls. Go for it. Don’t hold back.”

Easier said than done.

Chapter Twelve

Miles

“You want to tell me what the fuck is going on with you?” Matthew’s voice blares at me through my iPhone. Squeezing my eyes shut, I pull the device from my ear. My agent’s underwear is clearly in a knot, but I have no idea why. It’s not the first time.

“I’d like to buy a vowel, Matt. I don’t have a clue what the fuck you are talking about,” I say, slumping onto a bar stool in my rental kitchen. I look around the room – all sleek lines and shiny surfaces. It’s top of the line, but it’s too cold and too empty. It’s not me at all.

“Who’s your girlfriend?” he asks.

“Oh my God. If this is still about Violet, I’m hanging up. I already told you-”

“Not Violet, dummy. The girl you almost got pregnant with your eyes today at the hospital. Josh Lucas’ PA. The one with the-“

“No.” I stop him before he can go any further. “It’s not like that. I’m not sleeping with her.”

Matthew snickers. “Yet.”

“Think what you want, but she’s not that kind of girl. Besides, I do know how to have a conversation with a woman, you know. It’s not always about sex.”

“We’ll see. I saw the way you looked at her.” He pauses for effect. “I know that look, Miles. I know it better than anyone. The press hasn’t let up on the Viles bullshit yet. The last thing you need is another story in the press with another new girl. I need you to focus, do your job and keep your eyes and your hands off of her. Don’t make my job any harder than it already is. Just behave. Miles. I mean it.”

“Yes, boss,” I grumble, to get him to stop talking.

I end the call and drop my phone on the counter. As much as I hate to admit it, Matthew is probably right. Lusting over Josh Lucas’ PA and risking having it splashed all over the tabloids is not professional. This is the role of my career, and I can’t fuck it up. Besides that, I’m aware of the effect all of this could have on Rylee. She’s not like the other women I’ve dated who love the publicity and being in the spotlight. Being with me could make Rylee’s life more difficult, and that’s the last thing I want.

I lean against the kitchen counter, feeling a tightening in my chest. I know what I should do, but it’s very different from what I want to do. Who am I kidding? I’ve got it bad for this girl, I can’t stop thinking about her. When I’m with her, I feel like I can let my guard down, just be myself. That’s a feeling I don’t have often. Staying away from Rylee will take a level of self-control I know I don’t possess.

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