Hollywood Heir (Westerly Billionaire #4)(32)

She blushed but held his gaze.

He could barely breathe. He knew what she wanted, because his body was throbbing and hungry for the same. He would tell her the truth, but couldn’t it wait until after they had this day together? “Come on, let’s go check out what’s here, then we’ll head to Bath.”

She nodded.

It wasn’t easy to pull away from her, but he sprinted over to the passenger side to open her door. Her hand was back in his a second later. They stood there for a moment simply looking into each other’s eyes.

She licked her bottom lip. “Are you ready?”

Eric lost the battle raging within him and pulled her to him for a rough, deep kiss that left them both shaken. “I am now.”

Hand in hand, they followed the crowd toward a path. As he always did, he kept her on his side without the scar. She was too smart to not realize what it was if he let her have an extended look. “Even if the stones fly up and start circling us, it wouldn’t compare to how good kissing you feels.”

“I agree.” She laughed and leaned against him as they walked. “However, full disclosure: if the stones start flying around, I’ll probably piss myself.”

He echoed her laugh and hugged her closer.





Chapter Eight

Later that day, Sage waved away a waiter’s offer of another glass of wine. Wayne wasn’t drinking, and she was already laughing so hard her sides hurt. He had a way of describing a scene and mimicking the voices of the people involved that brought his stories to life. After a while their conversation grew more serious. She asked him about his family. At first he looked as if he would tell her he didn’t want to talk about them, but then he seemed to change his mind.

“I have two brothers and two sisters. Brett is the oldest. He’s ultraresponsible. He’d drop everything to help any member of the family, but there is a price for his assistance—a long, mind-numbing lecture meant to ensure you don’t make the same mistake again.”

“And your other brother?”

“Spencer is a carbon copy of Brett but in denial about it. Not as helpful. No long lectures, but every bit as determined to prove he is king of the hill. It was exhausting to watch.”

“Sounds like you don’t get along.”

“I don’t see them enough to feel one way or the other.”

“Never?”

“Weddings, funerals. That kind of thing.”

“What about your sisters?”

“I have two: Nicolette and Rachelle, but only one that I see lately—Rachelle. You’d like her. She reminds me of you in some ways.”

Sage held her breath. This was an entirely new side of Wayne; she didn’t want to say anything that would close a door to it.

He continued, “She sees good in everyone—even when there isn’t any there.”

“Did the two of you get close when—when . . .” Sage left the question unfinished when Wayne turned the scarred side of his face away from her again. She sat back in her chair and decided to lighten the mood. “This was the most fun I’ve had on a date in a long, long time.”

The corner of his mouth twitched with humor, and his eyes narrowed. “Not ever?”

She would let him wonder. A little challenge would be good for him. “Well, Allen Bickerby did take me frog hunting.”

“That’s my competition?” He turned her hand over, caressing the inside of her wrist.

“It was really entertaining. We released them all at the end, but we counted our stashes first. Of course, I caught more.”

“Bastard. He let you win just to soften you up.” Wayne leaned in until his lips hovered over hers. “Tell me you didn’t kiss him.”

“Is that any of your business?” she asked playfully, although when he looked at her that way, it was difficult to remember what they were talking about.

His grin was wide and irresistible. “I’m beginning to think it should be.” He traced the line of her jaw. “I don’t like the idea of you with anyone else.”

“I was twelve. And I wasn’t with him.”

He bent closer still. “I still don’t like it.”

“I hear he’s married now and already starting to bald.”

“How bald?” he asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

She laughed. “You’re bad.”

“You brought it up. Married, huh? I bet he can’t bounce a quarter off his abs.”

“And you can?” Sage rolled her eyes. This was another side of Wayne—the strutting-peacock one. Was that who he was before his accident? In an attempt at humor, she gave him a once-over, but as she did she realized that he kept the scarred side of his face angled away from her.

“You’re welcome to try later.” The purr was back in his voice.

Rather than answering, she picked up her glass of water and gulped some down. Slow. We’re taking it slow. Her body had other ideas. It was humming for his touch.

A waiter cleared away their plates and offered a dessert menu. They both declined. When the check came, Sage reached for it. Yes, she was short on rent money, but she did have a credit card she kept with her for emergencies.

He took hold of the check. “I have it.”

“No,” she said, not releasing it to him. “You paid for Stonehenge and the Roman baths. Let me get this.”