“You calling me ‘baby.’”
He presses his lips to my forehead, then takes my eyes prisoner with his. The look of pure adoration on his face makes my heart skip a beat, then he says, “I love you so much it scares me. When I saw that fucker manhandle you, I was ready to rip his head off. My feelings for you just keep growing. I’m overprotective of you. I’m overly possessive of you.” His hands frame my face again. “You’re ingrained into my fucking soul, Nova.”
Hearing how much I mean to him has happiness flooding every fiber of my being.
Chapter 30
Easton
I memorize the expression of unadulterated happiness on Nova’s face as she looks up at me with awe and love.
“Easton,” she whispers, her voice filled with emotion. “Thank you for choosing to love me.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t have much of a choice. You walked back into my life and laid claim to my heart with your shy smiles and selfless nature. Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It feels natural and right, like you’ve always belonged with me.”
“Always and forever.” She says the words Rachel loved to use. Lifting herself onto her tiptoes, she kisses me tenderly before pulling back to stare into my eyes again. “You’ve owned my heart since I was fourteen, and it will only beat for you until the day I die. I’ve never loved another man. It’s only ever been you.”
Hearing that she’s only loved me and not the other bastards she dated fills me with great satisfaction.
“The selfish asshole in me likes hearing that,” I admit. I let out a sigh as I step back. “Let’s head out before Amy comes looking for me again.”
“Amy?”
“The set manager.” My eyes glide over Nova, and I struggle to keep the anger from flaring up inside me because some fucker hurt her right in front of me. I take a calming breath, then ask, “Are you ready to meet everyone?”
When she nods, I hold out my hand to her, and the moment she places her palm in mine, I link our fingers together.
Opening the door, we barely have time to step out of my trailer before Amy hurries closer. With an apologetic smile on her face, she holds out her hand to my girlfriend. “Hi, Nova. I’m Amy, the set manager. I’m so sorry about what happened. I can assure you the problem has been dealt with. Again, please accept my apology.”
As Nova shakes her hand, she says, “I’m totally okay. Please don’t worry. I should apologize for keeping you all out of work.”
“We were due to take a break. Can I get you anything to drink or eat?”
Nova shakes her head, then glances up at me. “I dropped your smoothie.”
“Don’t worry about that. I already had it cleaned up,” Amy replies. “Should I have them prepare a smoothie for you, Easton?”
“No, I’m good,” I decline the offer. “Let’s introduce Nova to everyone.”
Keeping a tight hold of her hand, I pull her toward the set where everyone is working to prepare things for the next scene.
Sean, who’s playing the main villain, notices us first. Even though most of the roles he acts in are bad guys, he’s a jokester at heart, and everyone loves working with him.
He’s actually the closest thing I have to a friend and a total work addict like me.
“Holy shit, Easton wasn’t lying,” he shouts for all to hear as he saunters toward us. “Hot damn.” He gives Nova a cocky grin before winking at her. “When you grow tired of Easton, I’m available.”
When it looks like he’s going in for a hug, there’s an instant surge of possessiveness in my chest. Like a fucking caveman, I let go of Nova’shand, and wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I yank her into my side. Giving Sean a look of warning, I mutter, “No hugging.”
He lets out a bark of laughter. “Okay.”
I gesture at him. “This is Sean Russell.”
“Hi,” Nova says, her tone filled with nervousness. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” he replies while giving her his signature smirk that usually has women falling all over themselves for him.
Jealousy surges through my body, making me tighten my hold on Nova. Steering her away from Sean, I spend the next hour introducing her to everyone. She slowly relaxes and even jokes with a few of my costars. When it’s time to get back to work, Robert, our producer, has her sit beside him while Amy hands her an iced latte.
