Page 59

Nineteen

Maddie pulleda button-down black shirt out of the closet to drape over her tank top, and glanced at Micah still half-asleep in the bed behindher.

As if feeling her gaze, he stirred. “What are you doing?” he mumbled.

“Getting dressed.”

“Stop it. Take your clothes off and get back in here withme.”

She grinned. It took every ounce of strength she had not to obey him. Not just because he made her horny as hell, but also because she liked being with him. Loved being with him. No matter what they did. In fact, after two and a half weeks of secret kisses during the day and passionate lovemaking at night, she was beginning to hope the two of them had something that would last beyond the shoot.

But since she couldn’t be sure he felt the same, she desperately wanted to hold on to each moment, including thisone.

Unfortunately, she had to leave for location in twenty minutes. “You know I can’t.” She relished in his pout then leaned over the bed to give him a swift kiss. “So, lover boy, what are you going to do with your dayoff?”

“Actually…” He paused, stretching his beautiful nakedbody.

Maddie’s eyes widened as if by a will of their own they wandered to the delicious v of his lower torso that peeked above the sheets. She was so distracted she almost missed his answer.

“…withLulu.”

Lulu? Did he say he was spending the day with his mother? “Excuse me, what did yousay?”

“My mother. She’s coming in this morning. Fudge is picking her up from the airport after he drops you off on theset.”

“Oh.” Micah’s mother was flying in. And this was the first she was hearing about it. “Oh,” she said again straightening.

She turned to the mirror and redid her ponytail, even though it looked fine already. “How long is she going to be here?” Maddie hoped her voice didn’t sound as choked as itfelt.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his reflection sit up and lean back against the headboard. “Today. Then I’m sending her off to a spa in Estes Park first thing tomorrow morning.”

She watched her brows furrow in the mirror. “That’s not very long. You won’t get to spend any time with her.” But what she meant was that she wouldn’t get to spend any time with Lulu. And as her interest in Micah was growing exponentially every day, she had a strong desire to meet his mother. She didn’t even know much about Micah’s mother except that she’d been a former actress and that she’d helped push his career. There was so much more to glean from knowingher.

And she wasn’t going to get the chance.

“I have all of today with her. Believe me, that’s enough.”

Realizing that she couldn’t pretend to fuss in the mirror forever, Maddie sat in the room’s armchair and tugged on her sneakers. Still unable to meet his eyes, afraid he’d see she was upset, she kept her focus strictly on her shoelaces. “How long have you been planningthis?”

“Um, a couple of days. I’m taking her to the fundraiser thing tonight.”

He meant the Evening with Joss Beaumont, a charity event sponsored by the Denver Film Society. Beaumont had decided to wrap early that day and bought tickets for all of the cast and crew. Actually, it had been Bree’s idea, but the director took the credit. Though all of the crew had been invited, the focus would be on the VIPs. Bree had arranged for a red carpet at the theater for their entrances and publicized their attendance, hoping to draw more interest in the event.

Maddie stood but sat back down to redo her shoes when she realized her laces were too tight. Or maybe that was her chest. Everything felt tense and off. “Maybe I should go to Beaumont’s thing afterall.”

“I thought you decided last week that you didn’t want to go.” Even Micah’s voice sounded tense. Had he picked up on hervibe?

She heard him moving and she turned to see his backside as he climbed out of the bed. “I don’t want to.” She didn’t. Not with even an ounce of her being. Sit through a night listening to the asshole talk about himself while a room full of people oohed and ahhed? She’d rather shoot herself.

Besides, she hadn’t packed any dresses for Colorado. Bree had overnighted one to her for the event, but it was more formal than she was used to. Though the thought of dressing up for Micah had almost changed her mind. He’d never seen her in anything but tanks and jeans and sweats. And naked. He’d definitely seen her naked.

“Then don’t go.” He walked over to her still in the chair and pulled her up to stand in front of him, then ran his hands up and down her arms. “Stay home, take a bath. Enjoy the nightoff.”

Now that sounded like a good time. Except, not so much without Micah there. And was he trying to keep her away? “Do you not want me togo?”

“I didn’t say that.” He sighed and pulled her into his arms. “It’s just, like you said, why would you go to honor a man youhate?”

“That’s why I wasn’t going to go.” Even as he comforted her she could feel the truth in her fear. He didn’t want her there. She didn’t like that. She wanted him everywhere with her. That he didn’t feel the same—was that an indication that he didn’t feel the same about where their relationship was going as shedid?