Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
When I got home, Tommy pulled in behind me a minute later. He’d obviously been on my tail and had seen my bizarre behavior. I just didn’t know if he’d figured out what I’d been up to.
“Everything okay?” he called from behind me as I was about to enter my house.
I stopped short of my front door and stared down at the ground. “Yeah. Everything is fine.”
“I saw you looking in the window of that café.” He paused. “I also saw Wes there with someone.”
Damn. I turned to face him. “I don’t know what to say, except that I don’t want to talk about it.”
“There’s no way he moved on that fast, Juliette. There’s got to be another explanation. I mean, all the flowers he planted outside this house? The man is crazy about you.”
“Yeah, well, there’s a lot you don’t know. This situation is more complicated than you could imagine, Tommy.”
“Complicated? When it comes to your situation?” He arched a brow. “You don’t say…”
I sighed. “I’m pretty sure Wes just realized he’s better off without me.”
“Well, like I’ve told you before, if you need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
“Thank you.”
I was about to open the door when he called out again. “Juliette?”
“Yeah?”
“No man is better off without the woman he loves.”
***
A week later was the official premiere for Autumn’s Husband. This was an even bigger event than the early screening, and much more formal. Since I’d totally blown off Allan last time, when he asked me to accompany him again tonight—just as friends—I decided to give it a go. I figured it was one way to try to forget about Wes moving on. Try being the operative word. Plus, showing up alone seemed miserable.
Unfortunately, though, once we arrived, I realized quickly that there would be no forgetting about Wes tonight. I spotted him across the red carpet, this time looking even more gorgeous in a tux. I should’ve known he’d be here. He was working for Bradley, after all, who was expected tonight. And not only was Wes in attendance, but he was on the arm of the same beautiful blonde I’d seen him with at the café. I didn’t realize security guards could bring dates when they were on the clock.
Was it rude to leave the premiere of a movie you’d adapted? Because I was this close to getting the hell out of here. My head spun with jealousy. But I reminded myself that this was the bed I’d made when I’d refused to give Wes a chance after he returned to LA. And anyway, Wes was probably better off with someone else, since my father would make it impossible for us to live in peace. That thought hurt my chest.
When he and the blonde moved to a central spot on the red carpet for photos, a flurry of flashes surrounded them. It occurred to me for the first time that she must’ve been a celebrity.
I leaned over to Allan. “Who is that blonde over there in the pink gown?”
“That’s Shelby Warner,” he replied. “She’s on that new show that’s doing really well, the one about the wives who cheat on their husbands with each other. The name escapes me...”
Wes is dating an actress? I supposed I shouldn’t have been surprised in this town.
I let out a long exhale as I waited for my turn to be photographed. My red evening gown complemented my dark hair, but I felt like I was suffocating in it. Poor Allan once again unknowingly found himself the victim of my preoccupation with Wes.
As we entered the theater, I remained in a daze over Wes’s red-carpet debut. After the introductory speeches, the lights dimmed in the theater, and the opening credits began to roll.
About fifteen minutes into the movie, I nearly flew out of my seat at what sounded like a gunshot behind me. My adrenaline spiked, and the lights in the theater flashed on. The movie stopped and chaos erupted.
Next thing I knew, Wes came rushing through the crowd toward me. He reached out and wrapped his arms around me. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I spoke into his chest, feeling my nervous system calm from just being in his arms.
He looked around. “What the hell was that noise?”
“Speaker malfunction,” someone shouted.
He panted as he looked down at me. “I thought…”
“I know what you thought.” I cradled his face. “Thankfully, this time it wasn’t that.”
“I was so fucking scared,” he admitted.
“How the hell did you get to me so fast?” I asked.
“I’d been watching you the entire time.”
Our eyes locked. I was hopelessly in love with him.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “Are you dating that actress?”
He chuckled. “No, Juliette. I couldn’t stand working for that asshole Bradley any longer. One more day and I was going to end up injuring him myself. So I requested a reassignment. They put me with Shelby. I just met her the other day, and this is my first assignment with her.”