“So we’re in new territory.”
“I guess we are. It’s new to me as well,” I whisper.
He’s still holding my hand, playing with it, his fingers threaded through mine.
“We’ll have to learn as we go.”
“Hmmm. I’m a quick study.”
“Me too,” he says.
We’re so close now, our mouths are inches from each other, our eyes locked together. I tear my gaze from his and stare at our entwined fingers, his hand so much larger than my small one. His touch is making me remember all those places his hands were last night. All the electricity his calloused fingers could spark on my body. I yank my hand away and settle it in my lap because I can’t think properly when he’s touching me.
“But we need rules. Ground rules.”
“Do people make rules to date?”
“We’re not normal people. You’re, as you say, an international star, and I’m Daisy Lane, paparazzi darling. Plus, we have Chase to deal with. He’s already freaking out about the viral video. I don’t think he’s going to be happy about this.”
I wait, heart in my throat, to hear his response. If he doesn’t want to tell Chase about us, then he’s hedging his bets.
He’s silent for long minutes. “Maybe we shouldn’t tell Chase, at least not right away,” he says.
My heart sinks. At least I have my answer. If I do this, I need to accept that this will likely be nothing more than a short, fun adventure with a man I’ve dreamed about forever. And when this summer and job are over, that will be it. I have a house in London and a few extraordinarily large dogs waiting for me to pet-sit them. The only way to keep me from falling hard for Ryder all over again is to establish firm boundaries.
I take a deep breath and stand up, needing distance to think.
“Okay. We’re doing this. But like I said, we need ground rules. So, number one. We won’t tell Chase that we’re really together. He can think we’re fake-dating for the paparazzi. He wants us to do that anyway because that’s what the PR companies suggested. He’s been threatening to fly over here in the middle of his production if I don’t comply with their suggestions. And I don’t want to distract him. The movie he’s directing is a tremendous opportunity. The biggest of his career.”
Ryder frowns, but nods. I have no idea why he seems unhappy with the rule. Keeping our dating status from Chase was his idea. I’m just running with it.
“And you don’t do relationships, right? You don’t do long term. It’s what you always said.” I hold my breath, waiting for him to answer.
He nods with a frown. My heart dips. It’s what I thought.
“Then rule number two. To keep this manageable, we understand up front that this ends when you leave Rockhaven. Which is when?” I ask.
This is for the best, I tell myself. If I know there’s an expiration date, I won’t be hoping for more.
He massages his neck, his mouth in a flat line. “I have to leave in two weeks.”
Two weeks. I grab that like a lifeline. “Two weeks is good. Boundaries are important, so things don’t get confusing. Sowe’ll explore whatever this is between us,date, for the next two weeks until you go. It’s almost August, when Mrs. Halle will be returning and I’ll be off for London, anyway.” My heart constricts in my chest, but I ignore it. He doesn’t want anything long term. He’s made that more than clear. This time is supposed to help me lose my obsession with Ryder. Not fall harder and pine for life.
I shrug. “Then that’s settled. Okay, rule number three.”
“I think we have enough fucking rules.”
“Rule number three. For as long as this lasts, we’re monogamous.” I couldn’t handle seeing him with another woman, not when I’m with him for this short time. Later, it will be hard enough.
The tension in Ryder relaxes. He gives me a wry smile. “Finally. A rule that makes sense.” He stands up, reaches out, and pulls me to him. “I could never want another woman when I have you. It’s not possible.” His words, his arms around me, melt my defenses. I close my eyes and wish I could stay right here, with the soft sun and cool wind, surrounded by rock and ocean and strong arms, listening to words I’ve always wanted to hear, spoken by the man I’ve always wished was mine.
But melting defenses are absolutely against the rules.
I pull out of Ryder’s embrace. “Okay. It’s settled. Two weeks.”
“Two weeks,” he agrees, his face pensive. “Minus tonight. I have to fly to New York later today. My label wants me at an event. Just for the evening. But I’ll be back by morning.”
“Oh, okay,” I say. It’s scary, because he hasn’t left, and I’m already missing him. “Archie’s getting impatient. We better start walking again.”
