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“Are you kidding? We’re going to have a great time.” Of course, Liam was already starting to doze off, which would make her night a lot easier.

After kissing him, I turned to Jackson with a raised eyebrow. “All right, Mr. Bennett. I’m yours for the night. What are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing I can tell you about in public,” he replied, taking me by the waist and pulling me in with a growl. “So why don’t we get the hell out of here and get started?”

“You mean we’re going to abandon the cast and crew at another party? Sebastian is going to start complaining,” I reminded him, looking back at the revelry inside the restaurant.

“Somehow, I doubt it,” he replied with a laugh, steering me toward his Mustang. “If we don’t hurry, I’ll have no choice but to attack you in the car. You look too good tonight.”

Now I was glad I had decided to wear a short, powder blue dress for tonight’s dinner. I was afraid it would be a little too much, but considering how he looked at me like I was on the dessert menu after helping me into the car, I had made the right choice.

“I’m glad everyone is happy,” I said with a contented sigh, resting my head against the seat while Jackson drove. “I remember those days, wondering how long the show would last when I’d have to start looking for a new job.”

“Who knows? If you decide to take Vaughn up on that residency offer, a lot of people could celebrate some job security.”

I hadn’t answered yet, a few weeks after Vaughn suggested a second show at one of his casinos. “I need to get in on this phenomenon,” he said at the time. “And I always prefer working with friends.”

Jackson’s hand found my leg, taking advantage of how short my dress was by sliding up my bare thigh. “You know, whatever choice you make, I’m behind you. You have a say in this too.”

“I’m a little nervous,” I admitted. For the first time, I felt brave enough to say it. “Now I understand what people are talking about when they say they’re afraid to follow up on a successful project. What if it’s no good? What if everyone is disappointed?”

“For one thing, I don’t produce flops, and if it were no good, I would tell you. Lovingly, of course,” he added with a chuckle. “But I would, so you don’t have to worry about that. Second…” We came to a stop in front of the Luxor, a place that was now as familiar to me as any home I ever lived in. Instead of getting out right away for the valet to take the car, he turned in his seat and took my hands in his. “It would come from you, whatever it is. So long as you stay true to your vision, you can’t miss. I’ve already seen what you’re capable of, and I know there’s more of that inside you.”

I was almost too overwhelmed to speak. When I found my voice, I replied, “Look at you, Jackson Bennett. I never thought I’d hear you say something like that.”

“What can I say? I’m in love with an artist.” I was laughing when he opened his door, then jogged around the car to open mine before letting the valet park.

“Mr. Bennett!” One of the girls at the front desk waved a hand over her head when she spotted us walking through the lobby together. “A delivery just came in for you. I was about to have it sent up to your suite.”

“I didn’t order anything,” he murmured, changing direction while the girl lifted a gift basket onto the counter. It was full of fruits, cheeses, crackers, and other tasty items that might come in useful later on, considering how many times we ended up a breathless, sweaty, hungry mess by the time we finished going crazy on each other.

“Oh, fuck me,” he murmured when he read the card, which he handed to me.

Congratulations on your extension. Returning home soon, hope to celebrate. I would love to start again, but I leave it up to both of you. Mom.

Diana.

My skin prickled.

It was only a matter of time before she reared her ugly head again.

“I don’t have the energy for her right now,” Jackson decided, though he did take the basket and carry it to the elevator.

“It was a nice gesture,” I pointed out once we were inside.

He snorted, his head snapping back before he looked down at me. “Excuse me, who are you? Did aliens come down and replace you with a pod person?”

“Listen, she took a lot away from both of us, but who does it help to hold a grudge? Not me. I’d much rather focus on everything that’s going right,” I explained. “She already took up too much of my energy, you know? I don’t want to give her that power anymore. So, if you ever wanted to fix things with her, get past everything she did with the business and all, I will not stand in your way.”

He let out a thoughtful sigh as we stepped into the hall and walked the familiar number of steps to his front door. Sometimes, he offered the suite to visitors from out of town who came in to see the show, but tonight it would be all ours, just the two of us.

At the moment, there were three of us since Diana was on both our minds. She didn’t even have to be in front of us to steal our focus. “I’m just saying. Think about it,” I urged once he put the basket down on the desk, wrapping my arms around his waist and kissing him. I felt his indecision and saw it written all over his face.

“She took Liam from me for years.”

“And she thought she had her reasons for it. Don’t let her poison you,” I whispered, kissing him again, pressing my body against his. “Look what you have now. Let’s focus on that instead… a hit production, financial solvency, a little boy who adores you. And I adore you too,” I concluded, glad when he finally smiled.

“You’re right,” he murmured, kissing the tip of my nose. “Why don’t you get the champagne from the bucket, and we’ll toast to that?”