Hollywood Heir (Westerly Billionaire #4)(23)

“It’s not like that.”

“No? Then how is it?”

“I feel different when I’m with her. I smile more. Not just because she’s pretty. She just has . . . I don’t know how to describe it . . . a presence I could get addicted to. I like her.”

“That’s awesome.”

“No, it’s bad. I’ve already fucked it up.”

“In one week? That was fast.”

“I’m serious. She thinks my name is Wayne Easton and that this scar is real. I outright told her she can’t trust me. There’s no coming back from that.”

“Yeah, that is fucked-up. Well, on to the next woman.”

Eric punched the wall with the side of his fist. “I don’t want the next woman.”

Reggie looked as if he were weighing options. “I bet she’d forgive you anything if she found out you’re richer than hell.”

“I don’t want that, either,” Eric growled.

“I know, I know. You want to be loved for you. I was just throwing it out for consideration.” Reggie cracked his knuckles in front of him. “So, to recap: you’re living in a building with people you like but don’t know, and you’ve met a woman who makes you happy but you’ve lied to her about—everything.”

“Not everything. Just my name . . . and this.” He touched his scar.

Reggie made a raspberry with his lips. “I’ll make you a deal: come back and see your grandmother once, and I’ll help you figure the rest of this shit out.”

“What is up with you and Delinda all of a sudden?”

Reggie raised and lowered one shoulder. “She loves you, and you don’t make that an easy thing to do.”

Eric groaned. “I don’t want to hear the laundry list of what she thinks I’m doing wrong.”

“Tell her that.”

“I’ve tried. She doesn’t listen.”

Reggie clapped a hand on Eric’s shoulder. “One time. Meet with her one time. Give her a chance to be different. I like to think there’s hope for everyone.”

Eric turned to meet his friend’s gaze. “You really believe that?”

Under pressure, Reggie faltered. “No, but she’s camped out in London and has no intention of leaving until she knows you’re okay.” He looked around the room. “Go back for a few days. Smile, play nice. All this will still be here when you get back.” He kicked the frayed chair beside him. “It’s not going anywhere.”

Eric dreaded the idea of spending time with Delinda when he was already at a low point in his life. Visits with her were best done when he was feeling his most confident, and even then she could reduce a person’s confidence with one well-aimed criticism. If it were simply about Delinda, Eric wouldn’t go back. However, his friend had been holding her off for weeks now. It was time to go back and save Reggie from the evil queen. “Two days—tops.”

“Great. Do you want to meet with your publicist while you’re back?”

“Might as well.” Eric headed toward the door, with Reggie at his heels.

“Don’t you need a few minutes to pack?”

Eric turned and scanned the room. Just like the life he was returning to, there was nothing in it he would miss. He wondered where Sage was that evening and if she would be disappointed when he didn’t go to the coffee shop the next morning, then shook his head and walked out the door. Even if she did want to see him again, where could anything between them go? Eventually she’d realize his scar wasn’t real. He’d be forced to either lie more or tell her the truth. Neither scenario held much promise.

Reggie tossed him the keys of his Pagani as they approached it. Eric caught them and headed to the driver’s side. He ground the gears as he pulled out, just to see if it still made Reggie wince. It did. It was good to see some things didn’t change. “So, tell me about this surprise you’re working on for me.”

“It’s something you need to see to appreciate. I’ll give you a hint, though. Don’t drive up the main road to your house. Take Beasley Street and enter your property from the rear entrance. The wrought iron one.”

Reggie looked more excited than Eric could remember seeing him in a long time. Whatever he’d made, Eric would pretend to love it. Obviously, it meant a lot to his friend.

The drive to the estate was spent talking about the recent antics of Reggie’s children. Eric drove up to the back gate of his property, just as Reggie had instructed. As he approached it, the gate swung open. “Nice touch,” Eric said.

“Hold your applause until you see the rest,” Reggie said. “Go to the old barn.”

“Okay.”

“Now drive into that bush next to it.”

“You mean park in front of it?”

“No, I mean drive into it.”

The car was in perfect condition, but Eric was curious enough to do as Reggie said. He headed right toward the bush. Just before he connected with it, the foliage parted to reveal a tunnel that went beneath the barn.

A smile spread across Eric’s face. “You made me a Batcave?”

Reggie waved for him to drive inside. “Every superhero deserves one.”

As they drove, lights came on, illuminating their way deeper beneath the barn. Eric felt almost giddy. He couldn’t wait to see what the tunnel led to. “How did you dig this out?”