Page 56 of Ship Wrecked

In her experience, people generally didn’t offer to book transatlantic flights for a night or two of casual sex. And even if they did, theydefinitelydidn’t volunteer to meet their short-term hookup’s family.

It wasn’t everything she needed. But it was a start.

“Of course I’d like that, youknäppgök.” The prickle in her sinuses had entirely disappeared, and she lifted her head from his shoulder to smile up at him. “The extra bedroom is small, but it’s yours if you want it. Or there’s a nice hotel not too far from our home, if you’d rather have more priva—”

Both their pockets dinged at the exact same moment.

Peter groaned. “Again?”

“If it’s any consolation, I doubt it’s your father this time.” She paused. “Unless he hacked into your phone and got my number too. If so, I welcome further updates on his running club.”

“A toddler is likelier to hack my phone than my father,” he said dryly.

Without further ado, they unearthed their cells and checked the displays.

“Ron and R.J.” Peter groaned again. “Holy fuck, what now?”

She didn’t want to look. Hadn’t she suffered enough already? “I swear, Peter, if this is another critique of my body and its attractiveness to young male viewers, I’m going to sit beside one of the showrunners at each and every damn panel and awards show, wear sleeveless dresses, and keep my arms raised the entire time, just to fuck with them.”

After he scrolled through their message for a few seconds, Peter’s scowl faded. “Hold on, Pippi. No need to consult Sun Tzu’sThe Art of Armpit Warjust yet.”

Well, now she was curious again. Curious enough to threaten him with pickled herring for only a couple of pointed shakes before she put the jar away and read the message herself.

“They...” She skimmed their missive, then started back at the beginning. “They want us to do a last-minute press junket together? Starting in LA, with more stops to be determined?”

“Apparently.” His shoulder hitched in a careless shrug, but the smile creasing his bearded cheeks belied his feigned nonchalance. “In theory, because we’re the only main cast members who’ve already finished filming, which is true. Although that doesn’t really explain the urgent need for good publicity in the first place, does it?”

“Hmmm.” She drummed her fingers against her chin, cultivating a thoughtful air as she bit back her own smile. “It’s all very mysterious, Peter.”

“I’m sure it doesn’t have anything to do with those leaked scripts.”

“Thoseterribleleaked scripts,” she corrected primly.

He countered, “Those terrible andgenuineleaked scripts.”

She acknowledged that point with a raised forefinger. “And our sudden press junket is definitely unrelated to how they’re already getting reamed online by fans before the final season even finishes filming.”

“They certainly wouldn’t dispatch two of their more popular actors to combat nasty internet rumors.” He offered her a smirk. “Especially since they’ve never acknowledged the popularity of one of those actors, because they’re petty little assholes.”

She nearly choked on thin air. “Peter! How much wine did you have tonight?”

In all their years together, he’d never consumed alcohol. But he’d also never criticized the showrunners so openly. Not once.

“None.” He raised his brows. “I’m drunk on power. Power and freedom.”

Ah. Now she understood. “They need you. More than you need them, at least for now.”

“That’s part of it.” He inclined his head, his smile fading. “But not everything.”

“What’s the rest?”

His knuckles lightly stroked the curve of her cheek, leaving heat in their wake. “I’m finally free to be with you, Maria. After six years.”

They weren’t touching anywhere else, and it didn’t matter. Gods above, those strong, careful hands could persuade her into any amount of foolishness. Part of her must have understood that since their first night together.

No wonder she’d run.

But if she now intended to let him catch her, if she wanted him to see her for who she truly was, if she was willing to risk being a fool and breaking her own heart... yes. He definitely needed to come to Sweden and meet her family, and it was past time she knew more about his too.

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