I’d arranged for us to enter at the back of the venue so that when we came out, she’d feel the size of the place. As we turned into the bowl, she gasped. “It’s huge.”
As I’d planned, the stage was lit in blue, as if someone was about to come out and perform. “Let’s make our way down to the front,” I said, tugging her hand.
As we got closer, we slowed, taking in the lights and the stage. She twirled. “I can’t believe we have this entire place to ourselves.” She slid her hands up my chest and around my neck. “Thank you for planning something so special. If only your screaming fans knew how adorable you really are.”
I spanned her waist with my hands and dropped a kiss on her lips. “I look after the people who are important in my life, that’s all. Come on. I have something arranged.” I turned and led the way to our left.
“Glass of champagne?” I asked as we came to a table covered with a white cloth. On it was an ice bucket and two glasses, along with two hot dogs from Carney’s. I loved that she’d spotted the restaurant on our way here.
“Champagne and hot dogs?” Her eyes were bright with excitement. “This is too much.” She held out her hands as if welcoming the food and alcohol.
Seriously, she might just be the perfect woman. Or my perfect woman anyway.
I poured two glasses of champagne and handed one to her. “To hiding in plain sight,” she said.
“With the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known.”
She tilted her head. “You have all the words, my friend. All. The. Words.”
What she didn’t realize was that I wasn’t trying to tell her what she wanted to hear, I was just saying what I felt. There was no one on the planet I’d rather be with right there and right then.
I sat and pulled her onto my lap.
“It’s true, champagne does go with everything,” she said, setting her glass back on the table in front of her. “Even hot dogs.”
“Are you enjoying LA?” I asked. I hoped it wouldn’t be long before she came out again.
“Yeah. It’s different than I thought it would be. It feels less like a city than New York.”
I chuckled.
“You know what I mean—it’s more about the outdoors than Manhattan.”
“I’d like to think this won’t be your only trip.”
Her gaze darted from my mouth to my eyes and she just smiled.
“I was talking to Sinclair about the pictures taken in Maine.”
She glanced back at the stage and leaned into my chest.
“Audrey and I are going to announce our breakup on Tuesday after you fly home.”
“Really? Before the publicity tour for your movie?” She linked her fingers through mine.
“Yeah, the studio thinks it might create good buzz if they spin it right. It’s just there will be additional scrutiny on Audrey and me after the photos.”
“I’m sorry if I ruined that for you.”
“You didn’t do anything. And maybe it’s for the best. Audrey won’t have to wait as long to get married. And, you know, things are going well between you and me so . . .”
She stopped stroking my wrist. “But Audrey isn’t the only reason why you and I aren’t public.”
“No.” I took a deep breath. “But maybe now we have options.”
She put her hand on my chest and turned to face me, her eyes narrowing. “Options?”
“Well, I won’t be with Audrey. And Sinclair is talking about another contracted girlfriend.” She raised her eyebrows. “I said that we were together so I didn’t need another girlfriend.”
“What did he say?”
“Well, he wants me to be in a relationship. Thinks it shows me as being mature and reliable.” Sinclair might want me going out with a star, but if Lana was amenable, I’d rather it was her.
“So you’re going to get another girlfriend?”
“Well, I was hoping you were going to tell me that I’m already taken,” I said, pulling her closer. “I want you to be my girlfriend.”
Her frown deepened. “I don’t understand.”
“Look, I don’t want another fake girlfriend when I have you.” I paused, wanting her to agree, but her face was frozen. “The thing with Audrey was easy,” I explained. “I was single and she had a serious boyfriend. But now that the shoe’s on the other foot, I can’t imagine why she signed up. Not when she was with someone else.”
“What are you saying? You don’t want a contracted girlfriend?”
“I’m saying, let’s go public. I don’t want to have to hide.” Her eyes widened in shock. “Not right away. There needs to be some time after my breakup with Audrey.”
She tried to wriggle away but I held her tight. “Would it be so bad for people to know I’m your boyfriend?”
“Let go of me. I need to—”
I released her and she scooted off my lap and onto the chair next to mine. “You know I don’t want that sort of attention.”
“But you’ve seen how my fame can be a good thing—think of the positives.”
“It’s not something I’d ever choose. You know that. I feel like you’re changing the rules on me here.”
“How did you think this was going to play out? We can’t stay a secret forever. Not if we’re serious. And I’m here to tell you I’m serious. I really like you. I haven’t dated a woman since high school—I’ve never had the urge. But I want to spend all my time with you, whether I’m in the house or going to a premiere.” It felt good to tell her.
“A premiere?” She looked at me as if I’d suggested we boil ourselves in acid.
I shifted my body toward her and brushed her hair behind her shoulders. “You’d look beautiful on the red carpet.”
She pressed her palm flat on her chest. “I can’t breathe.”
I made sweeping circles on her back. “I’m not saying that we need to issue a statement. I’m just suggesting that when the Audrey thing has died down, in a couple of months, then we could just not make such an effort not to be seen together.”
“In a couple of months?” Her question sounded hopeful.
Maybe she was open to this. “Yeah, nothing has to change right away.”
She took a deep breath. “A couple of months is almost as long as we’ve known each other.”
“Exactly. I just want you to think about it. Sinclair’s asking me to meet this new girl for a contract and I just—”
“Maybe you should.” She dragged her fingers through her hair. “Anything could happen between us in a couple of months. You’re going to be travelling to promote this movie. I’m going to be busy in Maine . . .”
“Hey,” I said, ducking down, trying to catch her eye. Her stare was planted firmly on the ground. “Just because I’m going to be abroad doesn’t change anything. I can arrange for you to come out to wherever I am on the junket, and if I have some down time, I’ll come back to Worthington for a few days.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You don’t want me to come to Maine?”
She sighed. “I do, but not while your profile is going to be higher than ever. You’ll have just announced your split with Audrey and the press is going to be looking for the reason why. I don’t want to be the answer.”
“Fair enough. And Sinclair would probably have a—”