Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 145746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“Yes,” I cry out, rocking into his touch, nearly sobbing. “So much, constantly since the last time. I missed—”
I choke the words down. I shouldn’t have said it. It’s too much. I’m too much. He’s not here for that.
He pulls back and searches my eyes. “I missed it, too.”
We both said I missed it, but his eyes seem to say I missed you, and I bet mine say the same. I have to remind myself this is not what it feels like. It’s familiar affection, sizzling attraction, and the best sex of my life, yes, but this isn’t college. Our past may be water mostly under the bridge, but there’s no real future for us. Not one I feel comfortable counting on. Am I lonely? Yes, sometimes, but when it’s just you, there is less collateral damage if things go off the rails. The last time it felt like this, I took Monk down with me when I crashed, when I burned.
I won’t do that to either of us again.
FORTY
Monk
A few cars ahead, Verity climbs out of her navy-blue Audi Q5, then hands the keys to the hotel valet with a smile. She doesn’t seem to notice all the eyes following her progress toward the entrance. On set and around the house, her hair is often pulled into a topknot or scraped back, but tonight the curls are liberated, floating in thick, loose coils to frame her face and brush her shoulders. She shadowed her eyes in violet and smoke, outlined in coal. Nude lipstick completes the look. Her floor-length dress is gold and glittery, the strapless style baring her arms and shoulders. A split stops mid-thigh, exposing the coppery brown length of one leg with every step. Sparkling hoops decorate her ears and peek through the strands framing her face.
Something twists in my chest as I watch her disappear and wait my turn in the queue of cars. Judging by the way half the men gathered out front can’t keep their eyes off her, it’s going to be a long night. I try to ignore the surge of possessiveness, the primal instinct to hiss and bare my teeth at anyone who might take what’s mine.
But she’s not mine.
“You did this to yourself,” I mutter under my breath, handing the valet my keys. “You came up with this stupid arrangement.”
When I enter the hotel lobby, the elevator doors are closing, but someone holds them for me.
“Thanks,” I say, stepping in, only to roll my eyes when I see who caught the doors. “Well, damn. I thought I’d have at least a few more days before you started disturbing my peace again.”
“Happy New Year to you, too, Monk.” Jill grins, bright blond hair slicked back and her colorful tattoos on display in a sleeveless party dress. “I thought you’d be in some other country for the holidays.”
“Not this year.” I greet her with a hug before turning to the tall, quiet man beside her. “Good to see you again, Seth.”
Jill’s husband nods. “Happy New Year, Bellamy.”
Seth is one of those call men by their last name kind of dudes. His smile is much more subdued than Jill’s. His everything is much more subdued than hers, which seems to be why they work. She’s the sunshine to his grumpy. He’s the tech bro to her creative, but in fifteen years, they’ve made three beautiful kids and a wonderful life together. Marriages like theirs surviving, thriving, especially in Hollywood, are rare.
“So can I expect the entire Dessi cast and crew here tonight?” I ask. “Or just you?”
“Galaxy invited a lot of the above-the-line team,” Jill says, “so probably some. I did see Lawson Stone and Linh arrive as we were pulling in. At first I thought Lawson was another studio exec setting his family up with a job someone else deserved, that he probably forced Canon to use Linh. But then I saw her work. She’s incredibly talented.”
“So is her father,” I say, smiling at the memory of Dr. Garrison’s Chap Brody exhibit at Finley. “So the kids let you two out tonight?”
“Those little monsters. The grans are in town from Chicago, God bless.” Jill fist-pumps the air. “So we get to dress up and drink.”
“Not too much drink,” Seth rumbles from the corner of the elevator. “Remember what happened last New Year’s Eve. I’m pretty sure we’re banned at the Grove.”
“Who wants to do repeats anyway?” Jill asks with a wink. “You heard from Canon? Think he’ll show?”
“I don’t think so. Not tonight,” I reply as we exit the elevator and step onto the rooftop, where Galaxy Studios’ New Year’s Eve party is already in full swing. “We spoke briefly on Christmas and he was with his mom’s people in San Diego. I think he wanted to get out of town for a few days before we’re back on set, though.”