Page 63 of The Movie Star and the Spy
His eyes narrowed. “Can’t or won’t?”
“Can’t,” she said firmly. “My life is too complicated. Let’s forget this conversation ever happened and enjoy the evening.”
“I’m sorry.” He sat back. “I can’t just leave it at that.”
Not good.He’d mentioned searching for information on the Internet. If he looked long enough, he would discover a dozen red flags – maybe not who she was, but definitely who she wasn’t. “Are you planning to investigate me?”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“Invasion of privacy,” she retorted. “Stalking laws. Common decency. I’d think you’d know all about that.”
“I do,” he countered, “but I’m not stalking you. I want to help.”
“I don’t need your help.” Not only didn’t need, but couldn’t afford. His investigation could blow her cover and put them both in danger. Although the criminal had never been violent before, who knew what would happen when the authorities closed in on him? How could she convince Julian she had nothing to hide? “You’ve got it all wrong.” She relaxed into her seat, lifting apotato wedge covered in melted cheddar. “I’m just an aspiring actress. I have no problems.”
Not quite true. Soon he would return to his world, back to the gorgeous starlets with their glamorous careers and matching millions. She might be a nice diversion, but in the end he would remain true to his kind. That was the Julian Starcroft from the magazines, the larger-than-life actor who ruled social media. Just like the actor from her past, the one whose calls were harder and harder to ignore.
Only a tiny inner voice protested that Julian wasn’t anything like that.
And that other actor? Perhaps he wasn’t like that anymore either.
“If you have nothing to hide, do you mind if I ask a few personal questions?”
Not unless they had to do with field training.She smiled widely. “Of course not. You can ask me anything. I… hey!” She gasped as the floor beneath her shifted. The landscape beyond the boat drifted – notheywere drifting. “Are we moving!?”
He sipped his wine. “It would appear so.”
The chair clanged as Cheyenne shot up and ran to the side of the boat. She gripped the cool railing, gazed at a coast already some distance away. For a brief instant, she debated swimming for safety, but the water was inky black, swirling in dangerous depths. She pivoted back to Julian. The scoundrel was relaxing in his chair, munching on an appetizer. “Where are we going?” she hissed. “Are you kidnapping me? I could arrest you for this!”
Oh. My. Goodness.
His gaze sharpened. “You could arrest me?”
“I mean they’ll arrest you. The cops will arrest you.”
“You saidyou’darrest me.”
Yes, she had. “Well, maybe I will arrest you. A citizen’s arrest. Have you heard of those?”
The speculative light never left his eyes. “You asked for this date,” he finally said. “It’s just a boat ride.”
She released a low breath. He wouldn’t really be stealing her away. “Okay, fine, you’re not kidnapping me.”
“I didn’t say that.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Which is it? Are you kidnapping me or not?”
He stood up, rising to his full 6’3 height. Silhouetted by the twilight sky, he appeared an avenging warrior. “Perhaps I am kidnapping you. Traveling to a world just for you and me, with no interruptions, no responsibilities, no obligations. No one else and no secrets.” His voice turned to a murmur. “Just us.”
Sensuality replaced anger, excitement replaced fear. Even as danger lurked, her body – and her heart – urged her to stay with him, to embrace the emotions he wrought. Around them, glistening waves played a night symphony, as they journeyed a path to the horizon.
Breathe. Stay calm. Relax.She was overreacting, as logic and reason rejoined her world. A movie star wouldn’t actually kidnap her. He was probably just taking her on a brief sightseeing cruise. “It’ll be a short ride, right? We’ll come back in an hour or two?”
He shrugged. “That or the kidnapping thing.”
Of course. She wasn’t a character in one of his rom-coms, where the hero steals the heroine until she admits her love. They were just on a romantic evening out. “I’m sorry. I’m a little stressed.”
“Perfectly understandable,” he commiserated. “You should relax and enjoy yourself. Cruising is much more entertaining than sitting at port, and this is the perfect night for it.”
