My stomach drops, the white party is the last thing I want to think about. “I will. Love you.”
“What’s wrong with your face?”
I playfully narrow my eyes. “It’s my annoyed face. My mom brought up the white party, reminding me I might see Rachel again.”
He rubs the inside of my thigh and pulls the car over to the side road, turning his attention fully in my direction. “Jules, baby, my goal in life is to make sure you’re taken care of. If I can help it, I will never put you in a situation where I think you’d be too uncomfortable.” He pushes back some of my windswept hair, smiling softly, as he pulls me in for a quick peck. “I promise we’ll stay far away from her. She hates Jackson with a passion, so I’ll have him stand guard. And something tells me after your Oscar-winning performance yesterday, she won’t want to be anywhere near you either”
“Who could hate Jackson?”
Harrison’s smile drops. “Don’t.”
I roll my lips. “Jealous?” I tease. “Oh, can you turn it up? This is a great song.”
Harrison turns up the music, then glances at me with a twinkle in his eye and revs his engine.
“Yeah, baby. Let it rip!” I yell.
He lets out a booming, carefree laugh, and then we’re off. The ocean breeze hits our faces as we speed through the empty early morning streets, listening to “Real Love Baby” by Father John Misty.d
The lyrics say, “I’m in love, I’m alive.” And I feel the words wholeheartedly, deep within my bones.
My eyes close, and I throw my head back, letting my hair fly free in the wind as I sing my heart out. I reach down and squeeze Harrison’s hand with meaning, and when I open my eyes and find him looking over at me, I know he feels it, too.
Harrison lets out a low, frustrated breath. “Can you stop fidgeting?”
“I’m nervous,” I finally admit.
I’ve been trying to play it cool all day.
I walked around the property twice, sat under a tree, and started a new book. I made Harrison play backgammon six times, and then I swam laps in the pool while he worked on his tan, which then turned into some fun when he fell asleep, and I surprised him with a blow job.
But who am I kidding? It was all a distraction.
Now, we’re in line to be dropped off, and undoubtedly, all eyes will be on us when we get out.
“Look at me, Jules,” his deep voice commands, then he lifts my chin when I don’t look him in the eyes. “You’re not a stranger to the spotlight, and you know better than to let people’s opinions get to you. The only ones whose matter tonight are mine and yours. We’re in this together, fuck everyone else.”
“You’re right.” I lean over and kiss him lightly. “And you’re sure I look all right?” I rub my hands up and down my legs.Shit, I’m still nervous.
Harrison’s face falls. “Do you not like your dress?”
“Like? Are you kidding me, H? I love my dress!” I look down at the new dress Harrison surprised me with.
It’s a floor-length, white linen dress with spaghetti straps and a high slit up the side. He’s obsessed with my legs, so that part didn’t surprise me.
A peek-a-boo hole at my midriff shows a bit of my stomach, and extra fabric on the top that’s tied in a large knotted bow covers my chest.
It’s a one-of-a-kind dress and the one thing I’m not worried about tonight. I feel amazing in it.
“So what’s the issue? You are absolutely stunning. Normally, I like your hair down, but the way you slicked it back in this wet-looking bun is fucking sexy as hell, and it accentuates your beautiful face and your freckles I love.”
He takes my hand and rubs it over his crotch.
“Harrison.” I snicker. “Why are you hard right now?”
“Because I can’t keep my eyes off you, it’s taken all my strength to keep my hands to myself. That is how unbelievably sexy you are to me.”
I duck my head and feel the blush creep up my neck. “Thank you, Harrison. You always know how to make me feel good about myself. And you don’t look too bad yourself.” I wink playfully. Then the car comes to an abrupt stop. It’s our turn to get out. “Holy crap, Harrison!” I let out a slow whistle. “What kind of freaking house is this?”
