Page 24 of Memories of You

“Chugging along,” Carson said. “Am I going to see you tonightat the wrap party?”

Carson Donnelly was the most talked-about director inHollywood, and Renly had worked on his most recent film, Juggernaut,staring Francesca Muratti, who, though not exactly Renly’s ex, had definitelybeen in his bed.

“Gotta be honest,” he said. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

“Come on, man,” Carson said. “I miss working with you, andso do a lot of other folks. Come for a while, make the circuit, then we canslink away and catch up.”

“For you, I may drop by. At Matthew’s?” Matthew Holt was abig-shot Hollywood producer and major player in all things entertainment. Heowned what Renly called a party house. A place that sometimes hosted tame parties,and sometimes hosted gatherings that were significantly racier and required aspecial invitation to get in. On those days, the house served as theheadquarters for a sex club called Masque.

Whatever type of party was in the house, the back room wasalways the Masque annex, though oftentimes people in the front room didn’t knowthe sensual option even existed. Renly wouldn’t have if Francesca hadn’t takenhim there once. If he did go to the party tonight, that wasn’t going to be aroom he visited.

“Seriously,” Carson said. “The crew misses you. Don’t abandonus to the exotic world of international intelligence and security. Come by andshare your stories.”

“Fine,” Renly said. He really did enjoy the people. EvenFrannie had her good points, at least when she dialed down bitch mode. “I’llswing by for a few hours.”

“Excellent,” Carson said. “And you might want to bring adate. Frannie’s already broken up with Micah—”

“That was fast.”

“—and you know as well as I do that she’ll latch on to youif you don’t have a buffer.”

“You’re making me think I shouldn’t come at all.”

“Come on, buddy. It’ll be fun.”

He didn’t protest again, because Carson was right.Especially if he could get Abby to go, too. She might not be a celebrity hound,but he doubted she’d been to many Hollywood parties. A few, maybe, consideringshe was Nikki’s partner, but surely going to one of Carson Donnelly’s wrapparties would be something she got a kick out of.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll be there. And I’ll bring a friend.”

Chapter Ten

“I’m both jealous and sad that you’re going to Dubai,” Itell Renly as we step into the party. It’s being held in a stunning house inthe Hollywood Hills with a huge entrance hall filled with people in dark suitsand colorful gowns. I pause just inside to take it all in, amazed that I’m actuallyat an A-list Hollywood shindig celebrating the wrap of a film intended to benext year’s summer blockbuster.

“It’s the kind of assignment I signed on for. But,” he adds,squeezing my hand, “it’s only an assignment. I’ll be back.”

“You better. I lost my best friend once. I don’t intend tolose him again. Especially since he can get me into such cool parties.”

I’ve never been one to follow Hollywood gossip, but even Iknow who Matthew Holt is, the huge entertainment mogul who owns this house. AndI’ve heard of Carson Donnelly too, the director who invited Renly and kindlysuggested that he bring a date. Bonus for me.

“Do you miss it?” I ask. “Working in Hollywood, I mean.”

“I haven’t been gone that long,” he says. “But no. Honestly,I like where I landed. It was fun in Hollywood, and it was exciting in themilitary. But it’s nice to have the freedom that I have working at StarkSecurity. I have opportunities and agency here that I wouldn’t have working asa SEAL.”

That makes sense to me, and I’m about to say as much when mypurse vibrates, signaling a text. I pull it out and check the screen, hopingit’s not my stalker.

It’s not. I frown, because instead it’s work. Specifically,it’s Darrin.

I make a face as I look up at Renly.

“Work?” I nod, and he laughs. “Well, welcome to the land ofgrownups.”

I roll my eyes.

“Is it urgent?”

I skim the text. “He talked to his boss and has a few tweaksthat he wants to work out. He’s hoping that we can get together tomorrow.” Igroan. “I hate going into the office on Sunday.”

“I’ll go with you,” he says. “Tell him you can carve out anhour, and then we’ll go grab brunch afterwards.”