Aprilnodded.
“But I love you for having my back.” She gave April a quick, one-armed hug that negated any sharpness in her previouswarning.
Maia picked up her dress and slipped her free hand into London’s. Her skin was velvety soft against his rough palm. Somewhere, in the vast realm of eternity, two cogs fit together and wheels began to turn. “Thank you forcoming.”
“Thanks for sort of inviting me,” heteased.
Maia’s smile inched fromprincess perfecttojust for London. “Do you wanna go see amovie?”
“Is there anything good playingtonight?”
She lowered her lashes, instantly shy. “You’ll have to tellme.”
He’d forgotten that she did that when she was nervous, and couldn’t believe that a woman of her accomplishments could be nervous. A protective instinct, one that he’d always had for her, jumped to the forefront of his consciousness. He used his knuckles to tip her chin up and waited until her vulnerable eyes met his. “Maia.” Her name came out rougher, huskier than he’d planned. “I feel blessed to be here right now, and I can’t wait to see yourfilm.”
She leaned into him slightly, and he forgot about the cameras and the crowd and the sneaky littleassistant.
“Miss Maia?” They turned to see an usher, dressed in the traditional short red jacket with tails and brass buttons, motioning them to move into the building. “If you’ll proceed into the theater, please. The next guest is about toarrive.”
“Right.” Maia moved herself to the side and picked up her dress again. “You ready to bedazzled?”
London winked. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” He walked toward the glass doors with Maia on his arm, wondering if he was ready to let her blow his heart wide open like only she knewhow.
Chapter Eight
“What a coincidence—ourseats are right next to eachother.”
Maia giggled as she moved sideways through the theater seats. She’d tried walking forward, but her dress prevented the movement, so she sidestepped her way to the middle of the row. “I’m so sorry about April. She’s never done anything like this before, and she is the best assistant I’vehad.”
She found her seat and then proceeded to arrange her dress so she could actuallysit.
London looked on, his eyebrowcocked.
She lightly slapped his arm. “Stop laughing atme.”
“I’m notlaughing.”
“You’re laughinginside.”
His eyes laughedharder.
“You!” She smacked him again before finally throwing herself down and landing in a heap offabric.
“Is it safe?” London circled his hand, indicating herpredicament.
She grabbed handfuls of fabric and shook it. “You neverknow…”
He shrugged and then hooked his thumb with his nose like a boxer. “I’m comingin.”
She laughed as he made a show of sliding himself into the seat without touching her dress. She hadn’t laughed this much on a date in some time. Most guys were too nervous around the photographers, or they tried to move in on her to make sure they were also filmed. Not London. He’d held back, being kind to those who approached him, but leaving the spotlight to her. Not that she’d mind sharing with him, but she appreciated hiscourtesy.
Maia had known the hand she took to step out of the limo belonged to London—even before she stepped out and laid eyes on him. Her cells recognized his cells, and they’d had a conversation in that moment, a reconncetion ofsorts.
After the initial swarm of butterflies passed, she’d gotten angry. Angry that he’d come without telling her. Angry that he thought a premiere was the appropriate place to reconnect. Angry that he hadn’t called in two weeks and that he’d gone on the gazebo date with his auction woman—not that he had hernumber.
And then she’d realized that April had set them both up—and she felt like a pawn and realized he must feel like one, too. In that second, she made the choice to make the best of it, because the other option—being miserable at her premiere—didn’t sound at allappealing.
“Maia, may I introduce you to my date?” Franz, her costar who played the handsome frog prince, made his way into the aisle. He had the charm of a diplomat. A stunning redhead clutched his hand for dear life. Her cheeks were tight, like she was forcing herself to keep a happy expression in place. “This is Trista Hamstom. Trista, this is the adorableMaia.”
