Spencer smiled and lowered his fedora before turning to me. “I’m going to the premiere ofGold Diggers of Broadwayat Grauman’s Theatre tonight. Will you come with me?”
It would be the first movie released by Warner Bros. Studios in Technicolor, and it was all anyone could talk about. “We’ve already met our quota of dates for this week.”
His eyes were gentle as he said, “Then come with me because you want to, not because you have to.”
Did I want to go with Spencer on a real date?Wasit a real date?
“Come on,” he said. “We’ll have fun. I promise. No surprises.”
I smiled and nodded. “If we get done filming in time.”
“You know”—he grinned and set aside his hat, his voice lowering—“we still haven’t practiced that kissing scene.”
“There is no kissing scene, Spencer.”
He leaned closer and whispered, “There should be.” And then he kissed me.
My lips parted in surprise, which only encouraged him to deepen the kiss.
I’d been kissed before on-screen, but this was different. Spencer was practiced and polished like all the other actors I’d kissed, but when his hand came up to the side of my face, his touch was tender. Hesitant.
Sincere.
I should have stopped him immediately, but it felt good to be cherished—chosen.
“Ally.”
Vicky’s voice sounded strained and upset.
Spencer pulled away from me, and I sat up quickly, embarrassed to be caught.
“We were just practicing the kissing scene.” Spencer grinned as he rose from the chaise lounge and offered his hand to help me stand.
“There is no kissing scene,” Vicky said, her mouth tight.
“That’s what I told him.” I tried to laugh it off, but my embarrassment turned to shame for some reason. I hated the look in Vicky’s eyes, as if I had betrayed her even though she had no claim on Spencer.
But the shame wasn’t just because of Vicky. It was also because of Sam. He didn’t have any claim over me—or I him—but I was still ashamed to think about him catching me in this moment. It would have been far worse.
“Thereshouldbe a kissing scene.” Spencer winked at me and then stepped off the stage. “I better get into costume. Your dad will want all hands on deck.” He whistled as he walked away, but how much of it was an act? Had he been affected by the kiss, or had it just been a joke?
Vicky stared at me, and when the door closed behind Spencer, she asked, “Do you love him?”
I liked Spencer and might even have a little crush on him, but I didn’t love him. “No.”
“Are you falling for him?”
Did having a crush mean I was falling? I wasn’t sure, and I didn’t want to think about it. There were too many other things pressing on my mind and heart.
“What about your other path?” she asked. “I hear the way you talk about Sam Kendal. Aren’t you supposed to marry him?”
“I don’t know.” I moved past her, not wanting to answer her questions.
“Do you love Sam?”
I opened my mouth to answer her as quickly as I had about Spencer, but something made me pause before I said, “No.”
“Are you falling forhim?”
