Maybe his plan was full of holes, but for once in his life, he was ready to open up his private life to a total stranger—he normally valued alone time and his home was his place to recoup from pretending.
If they were in the same place, without people and their phone cameras, he could do way more with Ashley, if she wanted. “Yes. My house, but you’ll have your own room.”
The last woman he’d had over certainly hadn’t, but he respected his employees.
She chewed on her lip which probably hurt but then she stopped and gave herself and him a curt nod. “All right. What about kissing and public displays… like now?”
Ashley’s fresh citrus smell made his mouth water in a way he hadn’t expected. He took her hand and stared into her eyes. “Yes, we needto kiss in public.”
Her face flushed and her lashes fluttered, sending his blood pumping faster as their faces drew closer. “We’re in public,” she said. “Are we going to test that?”
His heartbeat thrashed in his ears but he nodded and half-closed his own eyes. “Sounds perfect.”
His lips met hers and nothing else mattered.
Most of the time a pretend-kiss meant nothing,but Ashley knocked his heart out of its cave in his chest. Now, with Ashley, he was aware in a way he never was.
Having her as his own, conscious that she was a temporary girlfriend, made him want to draw out this moment.
Breathless, the kiss came to an end. Ashley broke the silence first as his skin was still too raw and robbed him of speech. She simply said, “Wow.”
Realmust be Ashley’s middle name. He searched her eyes to see if she was teasing him but saw only honesty and she made him feel… special. He tugged his ear to ground himself. “No one’s ever said that before.”
“I wasn’t expecting…” Her voice trailed off, and she didn’t finish whatever she’d been about to say.
He agreed, though. Her kiss burned into his soul.
His logical mind remindedhim that actually feeling for Ashley wasn’t the plan.
Matt and Ashley were a business deal and he’d be safer if he stayed uninvolved.
Involvement, for real, brought complications to his ordered life when he needed to focus on his career.
He sat back, stared at the menu until he was sure his voice would sound normal, even if on the inside the walls around his heart were shaking,and asked, “So is the salary for your employment acceptable?”
She also studied her menu and nodded. “It’s great, except-”
The waiter arrived and interrupted them. Matt was surprised when she really did order her own plate of spaghetti—no woman he knew would eat a carb. He blinked and ordered the same. Tomorrow he’d work it off at the gym. Once they were alone, he reached for herhand and said, “I’ll get you a car for your use so we can return the rental.”
“I’ll need my bag.”
“My staff will have it delivered.”
She flinched but then took a deep breath, “I guess I just need to see the room.”
Good. The plan continued. He’d actually have to guard his attraction near Ashley as he couldn’t afford to lose control. Love was something his sister andbrothers had, but for him, as a movie star, the last thing he needed was to be out of control, ever.
He picked up his phone as the waiter brought the plates, grinning as he set down their dinners. The staff was probably happy that they’d ordered real food and not just salads. Typing quickly he said, “I’ll text my lawyers to send the contract over to my place—they can meet us there afterwe finish our meal.”
The waiter left and he put his phone down on the table. As he picked up his silverware, Ashley said, “And all my things will be there by then?”
Rational. He texted his people and then tucked his phone in his back pocket. “Staff never lets me down. I pay well.”
They ate a few bites in silence. The cream in the Alfredo sauce made the dish tasty and he neverate this much unless he was bulking up for a role with hours at the gym. Ashley said, “You’re very efficient about all this.”
Efficient was how he got things done. He had no time for anything not in his career path, especially love. “I’m excited about the opportunity to land the series because it then it solidifies me as an action star.” He leaned closer. “Your job with Jennifer makes menervous.”
Ashley let out a small sigh. “I totally understand but I feel bad about leaving her when she just offered the job.”
