and talking are you?”
“No, no. An old, uh, family friend picked me up.”
“Should I be jealous?” Another forced chuckle.
He had to be teasing. If she wasn’t so close to tears, she would’ve laughed. “Not at all.”
“Good.” His voice dropped lower. “I meant what I wrote in the note. I was really sorry I had to leave so early.”
Rachel frowned. She hadn’t really given it much thought when she’d read the message, chalking the words up to platitudes. But… “Why didn’t you mention it last night?”
“Well ,” another heavy exhale, “I didn’t exactly plan that whole thing, and I certainly didn’t know how it was going to end or that I’d be addicted to your laugh, throaty moans, and screams before the evening was over. Then you looked so peaceful and,” he cleared his throat, “uh, exhausted. I couldn’t bear to wake you.”
As memories of their sexcapades flashed through her mind, she squeezed her thighs together and shifted in the leather seat, which protested the movement. Conscious of Nate beside her, she said softly, “Thank you for being so thoughtful. At least you left a note.”
“And don’t forget , I snagged one of your business cards from your desk so I’d have your number.”
“Ah, I was wondering .” Why had he bothered though? Did he want someone to call on when he was in town, or was he looking for something more permanent? Her heart stuttered. Did it matter either way? She glanced at Nate, who was white-knuckling the steering wheel. With him here, it wasn’t like she could ask Stephen what his intentions were, though she wasn’t sure in the cold light of the day-after that she could be the bold woman of yesterday.
“Sorry, the news your dad’s in the hospital threw me. ” His voice had lost some of its huskiness and become more no-nonsense, but the raspiness of it still vibrated across. “I was calling because I should be back in New York Sunday and wanted to know how dinner sounded, but I guess you probably won’t be there.”
She stared at the approaching downtown skyline. As long as traffic cooperated, they’d probably reach the Med Center in fifteen minutes or so. “Probably not, but I would have said yes.”
“Rain check?”
Another date with the movie star who would now star in the personal sex tapes stored in her head? That was a no-brainer. Who needed an imagination with those kinds of memories? “Definitely.”
No way would she pass up the possibility of adding more footage to the reels, but w ould he forget her if she was gone too long? Not that she’d abandon her parents for a man, and given Stephen’s own past, she doubted he’d ask her to. She could only imagine the emotional toll for having to care for parents who’d abandoned him, but obviously, family meant something to him.
“Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime?” Once again, concern colored his tone.
She chewed the inside of her cheek . It had been…well, she couldn’t think of the last time anyone had asked her if she needed anything. Stephen Raymond was not only a sex-god movie star, but he was one of the most considerate people she’d ever encountered. A fresh wave of tears threatened, and she swallowed hard then sniffed. Damn stress-induced emotional rollercoaster. “Not that I can think of, but thanks.”
“Is it okay if I call later?”
Considerate and persistent, like he was worried about her. S he gave a watery laugh. “I’m sure you have better things to do than check on me.”
“No. No, I don’t.” The seriousness in his voice sent a shiver down her spine.
Did that mean he was alone in LA, or that regardless of who he had for company, he’d rather spend the time talking to her? At the last thought, warmth spread through her chest. “That would be nice. Thank you.” And if it turned out he was lonely, well, there was nothing wrong with being the person he turned to.
“Trust me. It’s no hardship.” His words echoed a brief
“No, no. An old, uh, family friend picked me up.”
“Should I be jealous?” Another forced chuckle.
He had to be teasing. If she wasn’t so close to tears, she would’ve laughed. “Not at all.”
“Good.” His voice dropped lower. “I meant what I wrote in the note. I was really sorry I had to leave so early.”
Rachel frowned. She hadn’t really given it much thought when she’d read the message, chalking the words up to platitudes. But… “Why didn’t you mention it last night?”
“Well ,” another heavy exhale, “I didn’t exactly plan that whole thing, and I certainly didn’t know how it was going to end or that I’d be addicted to your laugh, throaty moans, and screams before the evening was over. Then you looked so peaceful and,” he cleared his throat, “uh, exhausted. I couldn’t bear to wake you.”
As memories of their sexcapades flashed through her mind, she squeezed her thighs together and shifted in the leather seat, which protested the movement. Conscious of Nate beside her, she said softly, “Thank you for being so thoughtful. At least you left a note.”
“And don’t forget , I snagged one of your business cards from your desk so I’d have your number.”
“Ah, I was wondering .” Why had he bothered though? Did he want someone to call on when he was in town, or was he looking for something more permanent? Her heart stuttered. Did it matter either way? She glanced at Nate, who was white-knuckling the steering wheel. With him here, it wasn’t like she could ask Stephen what his intentions were, though she wasn’t sure in the cold light of the day-after that she could be the bold woman of yesterday.
“Sorry, the news your dad’s in the hospital threw me. ” His voice had lost some of its huskiness and become more no-nonsense, but the raspiness of it still vibrated across. “I was calling because I should be back in New York Sunday and wanted to know how dinner sounded, but I guess you probably won’t be there.”
She stared at the approaching downtown skyline. As long as traffic cooperated, they’d probably reach the Med Center in fifteen minutes or so. “Probably not, but I would have said yes.”
“Rain check?”
Another date with the movie star who would now star in the personal sex tapes stored in her head? That was a no-brainer. Who needed an imagination with those kinds of memories? “Definitely.”
No way would she pass up the possibility of adding more footage to the reels, but w ould he forget her if she was gone too long? Not that she’d abandon her parents for a man, and given Stephen’s own past, she doubted he’d ask her to. She could only imagine the emotional toll for having to care for parents who’d abandoned him, but obviously, family meant something to him.
“Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime?” Once again, concern colored his tone.
She chewed the inside of her cheek . It had been…well, she couldn’t think of the last time anyone had asked her if she needed anything. Stephen Raymond was not only a sex-god movie star, but he was one of the most considerate people she’d ever encountered. A fresh wave of tears threatened, and she swallowed hard then sniffed. Damn stress-induced emotional rollercoaster. “Not that I can think of, but thanks.”
“Is it okay if I call later?”
Considerate and persistent, like he was worried about her. S he gave a watery laugh. “I’m sure you have better things to do than check on me.”
“No. No, I don’t.” The seriousness in his voice sent a shiver down her spine.
Did that mean he was alone in LA, or that regardless of who he had for company, he’d rather spend the time talking to her? At the last thought, warmth spread through her chest. “That would be nice. Thank you.” And if it turned out he was lonely, well, there was nothing wrong with being the person he turned to.
“Trust me. It’s no hardship.” His words echoed a brief
Similar Books
