“That’s gotta be hard. For both of you.”
“Well, mostly I just try to stay out of it.” His tone hinted he’d appreciate a shift in conversation.
“Sounds like a good move. My mom wasn’t single long before she met my dad.”
“He seems like an upstanding guy.”
“He really is. He and Mom started dating about a year after my father left, but Mom held him off for three years—my father had left her with a few trust issues. She and Dad finally married when I was eleven, and Dad adopted Sean and me right away. He’s a pretty mellow guy—even a couple teenagers couldn’t shake him up. He just kind of went with the flow. He’s good for my mom, I think. Balances her out in a lot of ways. I’m just happy she found someone who loves her so much, loves us all.”
There was a beat of silence. Then, “I envy you your family, Chloe.”
Was that a lonely note in his tone? But how could a man like Liam Hamilton—a celebrity with fans all over the world and women clamoring to be at his side—possibly be lonely?
“Even though I know the road wasn’t necessarily easy,” he added.
He didn’t know the half of it. But then, things weren’t always the way they seemed. “I’m definitely blessed.” She smothered a yawn. It was past midnight already.
“Well, hey, it’s late. I should let you get to bed.”
“All right. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’m not on the set until two. Wanna run lines in the morning, or are you going to the beach?”
The crew was filming at Holden Beach all day. She’d rather make sure Liam had those scenes down cold. “Sure, yeah, let’s run lines.”
“Why don’t you come over around ten and I’ll feed you before we get started.”
“Sounds great, but”—she glanced down at Buttercup—“maybe we should run lines here. I’ve been neglecting a certain feline lately and she’s very annoyed with me.”
He laughed. “Bring her over here. The rental allows pets.”
“But your allergies... I don’t want to bring pet dander into your space.”
“No worries. I’ve been taking an allergy med every day. You know, just in case.”
Sometimes he surprised her in the best of ways. “That’s... really sweet of you.”
“Well, when your girlfriend has a cat,” he said playfully, “you do what you must.”
Chapter19
Chloe knocked on Liam’s door for the fourth time. When he didn’t answer she cupped her hand on the sidelight and peeked inside. The sun poured through the back of the house, lighting the interior with buttery light. But there was no sign of Liam.
Buttercup meowed pitifully from her crate. “I know, I know. I’ll get you out of there as soon as I can.”
Chloe set down the crate and whipped out her phone.Good morning!I’m at your door.
She waited for those dots but they never came, so she pounded on the door again. Did she have the time right? They had agreed to run lines here, hadn’t they?
She was about to call him when the door opened and a tousled Liam appeared, wearing only a pair of pajama bottoms.
Do not look at his chest.
His shoulders were broad, his pectoral muscles well defined, and those abs rippled like an undulating wave. Clearly he took his workouts more seriously than she did.
“I’m sorry. I overslept.”
Her gaze shot to his face.
