Page 74 of A Simple Love

“Still doing Wong Man for dinner, right?”

She laughed, looking up from my shoulder where her head nestled perfectly under my chin. “Is that all you think about, Olly? Sex. Food. Rinse. Repeat.”

“No,” I replied. “I think about the script for tomorrow. Dessert after Wong Man.” I traced my finger down her cheek. “I think about you a lot when you’re not with me.”

“Oh.”

“I worry my performance in front of the camera will fall flat. That I’ll fuck up something. I constantly second-guess myself about business decisions. Investments. If I’ve listened to the right people. If I’m too old for this game.”

She met my gaze, the air suddenly serious. “Wow, you’ve got a lot of stuff going on up there.”

I scratched my chin, then leaned my head back, looking at the sky. “You do in this business. A lot of second-guessing. The what-ifs and whys. The people. I’ve been burned enough to know how easily you can slip up and trust the wrong people. Have to start over again.”

A noise came from the side, and I glanced over to the fence. The cedars were moving in the breeze, but I could see nothing else. Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling of once again being watched.

“I think I’ve had enough tub for now,” I muttered.

“Okay,” Kassie agreed easily. “You can lie on some ice for a while.”

I made her stay in the tub while I climbed out and wrapped a towel around my waist. Then I held one up, draping it around her as she climbed out. She looked at me, confused, but I shrugged. “Being a gentleman.”

Inside, I was glad to close the door behind us and let her draw the blinds. The bed was comfortable—supportive but soft under my aching back—and the ice felt good after the long soak in the heat. I shut my eyes, feeling sleep pull me in, listening to Kassie move around the room, humming softly. She stopped by the bed, running a hand over my head. “I’m going to go do some more fun tax stuff,” she murmured. “You rest. I’ll check on you later.”

I captured her hand and kissed it. “Thank you.”

She bent and pressed her lips to mine. “I’m here, Olly.”

Somehow those words were the most comforting ones ever spoken to me, and I drifted away with a smile on my face.

20

KASSIE

Oliver was out quickly. I knew the combination of the hot tub, the pain meds, and simply the shock of his body dealing with the fall had worn him out.

Not to mention how I’d ridden him in the tub. I should have told him off and climbed out, leaving him alone, but I couldn’t say no to him. And as I promised, I did all the work. Watching him fall apart under me, his head back, his low grunts of pleasure, the way his hands gripped my hips, was incredibly addictive. I felt powerful. I loved hearing him groan out my name as he climaxed, then felt his complete adoration as he held me close after, his hand splayed across my back, not letting me move away.

I had to admit, that was one of my favorite things.

I bent lower and brushed a long strand of hair off his forehead, smiling sadly as he followed my fingers, liking my touch, even in his sleep. We were both becoming attached again, and it was dangerous. Yet neither of us seemed to be able to stop it. I should have known better. My heart had always been his, and even with the years apart, it still was. When I’d thought he was hurt badly earlier, my chest had been so filled with pain, I realized how deeply I had fallen again.

I straightened, knowing there was nothing I could do. I’d agreed to this relationship, to the rules. Oliver had been honest with me. He would be able to return to his life once this was over far easier than I was going to be able to pick up the pieces. His world when he left was overflowing with celebrities and exciting places. More great movies to make. More fame. A life filled with people with no association with me. I wasn’t present in that world—there would be no daily reminders of me. But I knew when he walked away, this house would feel empty. My bed would be cold. I would see him everywhere, no longer the ghost of a memory but a fresh new heartache I would have to live with. People I saw daily would remind me of him, because he was now woven into their memories too.

I bent and kissed his cheek then headed to my office, knowing one simple truth.

Pain and heartache once again waited for me when he left. And I could never allow him to see that.

I had made my choice, and I had to live with it.

Oliver

I woke up, groggy and disoriented. The sun was high in the early evening light, and I was in Kassie’s bed. A glance at the clock showed me it was just after six.

Why was I in bed at six in the evening?

I sat up, flinging off the blanket, and stood. Immediately, the reason hit me.

Jesus, the pain.