My family push in the door behind us. We’re wedged in like a tin of sardines. My mother and father are introducing themselves to Holly’s parents, while my sisters make a beeline for Savannah, of whom they’re apparently huge fans.
‘You’re crazy,’ Holly murmurs into my ear.
‘Crazy about you.’ I nuzzle the top of her head, inhaling her familiar lime shampoo.
Jayden will kill me when he sees the footage. It’s possibly career suicide, but it’s a chance I’ll take. Because that void in my chest when I realised Holly was gone was like a crater had blown through it. I don’t care if I never shoot another film, as long as I have her in my life.
I ball up the Santa hat and throw it onto Holly’s kitchen worktop, glancing around the place that she called home for the past six years.
‘Will you give me the tour of your house?’ I’m desperate to get five minutes alone with her after everything.
Holly beckons me down the small corridor and into the next room, a cosy living area with an L-shaped couch and a rocking chair. A narrow mirror runs the length of the wall above the couch. I barely recognise the man staring back at me. He’s actually grinning.
The emotionally stunted ogre has well and truly left the building.
‘That was quite the performance.’ Holly traces a finger over my bare chest and my nipples stiffen.
I yank her hips towards me and line them up against mine, staring down at the woman of my dreams. ‘It wasn’t a performance. It was the truth.’
We stand toe-to-toe, her azure eyes swarming with emotion. ‘The media will crucify you for this.’
‘I don’t give a single fuck. As long as I have you.’
‘You have me.’ Her throat bobs as she swallows.
‘Oh, Nate, I can’t believe you just did that.’ Her fingers thrum over her mouth in disbelief, but not before I see her moist lips lift in a smile. ‘Where the hell did you get the fire engine from?’
‘Niall, Sally-Ann’s husband.’
‘You mean your ex’s new husband?’ Her voice hitches in surprise.
‘Yeah, Niall and I used to be best friends. He and Sally called over when they saw the commotion outside. They know exactly what it’s like. They wanted to help.’
‘No one has ever done anything like that for me before.’ Her voice cracks with emotion.
‘I’d do it every day for the rest of my life if it was the only way to keep you from bailing on me.’ I brush her hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. ‘I didn’t want to hound you when you were out with the girls, but I should have sent security after you. No wonder you panicked.’
‘It’s my fault.’ Holly’s earnest eyes fill with unshed tears. ‘I immediately jumped to the conclusion that I was such an embarrassment that you wouldn’t want me. I didn’t want to ruin you with my mistakes. I’m sorry.’
‘Holly, how many times do I have to tell you? You were a victim. If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to make sure Dan Hargreaves serves time for what he’s done to you. A lawsuit just doesn’t cut it.’
‘My mother and Uncle Richard have saved you a job. Apparently, they’ve spent the last few weeks doing a bit of digging, and it turns out Dan has done a lot worse. He will serve time.’
‘Good. He deserves to rot for what he did to you.’ I rub a hand over the thick stubble lining my jaw. My razor finally died this evening. ‘There are always going to be people like Dan trying to get to us, though. It’s like the world thinks fame and fortune equals a lack of feeling. If you can’t handle it, I need to know, because I can’t bear to lose you.’
‘You won’t lose me. I promise.’ Earnest eyes bore into mine, reflecting a newfound clarity.
Finally, I think she realises what she means to me. ‘Good. I was thinking, if it’s too much to ask you to come to the States, I can come home. We can buy a house here.’ I don’t care where we live once I have her. She might think she can handle the attention from the press, but I’m not sure it’s a risk I’m willing to take.
‘I want to go to the States with you.’ Her fingers smooth across my pecs. ‘Besides, what about your career?’
‘To be honest, I’m not sure there will be much demand for a singing Santa in the New Year, but you never know.’ My lips quirk.
Once upon a time, all I dreamt about was the next movie. The next big hit. Now all I’m dreaming about is playing house with this stunning creature in front of me and lying low for a while.
‘We can try it and if you don’t settle, we’ll come home.’
Home.
