Come A Little Bit Closer (The Sullivans #7)(44)

Chapter Sixteen

Valentina had barely gotten home, stripped off last night’s clothes, and thrown on leggings and a sweater, when she heard the front door open.

Knowing she was most definitely not the actress in the family, even though there was absolutely no reason for her sister to think anything had happened between her and Smith beyond a friendly visit to Alcatraz, she still found herself plastering a stiff smile on her face as Tatiana popped her head in the door.

“Sorry, Val, my plane was delayed. I called the spa and told them we’d be a few minutes late.”

Valentina’s lips pulled even wider across the front of her teeth. “Great, I can’t wait!”

As her sister ducked into her bedroom to put away her carry-on bag, Valentina felt like she had a neon sign around her neck flashing LIAR. Because even though she hadn’t actually outright lied to her sister, she couldn’t help but feel that omission was nearly as bad.

A few minutes later, when they were en route to the spa in Tatiana’s cute little Mini Cooper, Valentina asked, “How was the event in L.A.?”

“Good.” Her sister smiled. “I honestly had no idea how much working with Smith would change things, though. Everyone kept telling me what a big deal it is that Smith personally chose me for Gravity. You know, because he wrote it and is also producing and directing. None of them have even seen the movie yet, and they kept talking about Oscars.”

“It is a big deal,” Valentina agreed. “And since he’s told me again and again how much he’s enjoying working with you, I know he’s really happy with his choice.”

Her sister smiled. “The thing is, considering the way everyone clearly worships him, even though I personally know how easy he is to work with, I almost started getting nervous. Although maybe that was just because everyone also kept saying—”

Tatiana shot Valentina a quick look before suddenly clamping her lips shut.

Valentina worked to keep her voice light and easy as she asked, “What else were they saying?”

“Stupid stuff.” Tatiana rolled her eyes. “You know how Hollywood is about thinking co-stars are all jumping into bed with each other. But I swore to them all that he and I are just friends.”

Valentina’s hands clenched on her lap as she said, “I’m sorry you have to deal with that, T, especially when you’re putting in such long hours on set.”

“We both knew from the start that co-star-romance rumors come with the territory,” her sister said in a soft voice. “I can deal with it, because I know the truth. The thing is, if Smith is seeing anyone, I’d hate for her to think that he’s not being completely faithful to her, when he definitely is.”

Valentina wished they could talk about something else. Anything else. But she could tell that her sister was waiting for her to say something.

God, she wanted so desperately to confide in Tatiana. But what could she possibly say? I slept with Smith last night. And then when I started freaking out this morning and tried to run, he half-attacked me to keep me in his bed...and I loved it.

No. She couldn’t say that. Couldn’t say anything at all to Tatiana about being with Smith. It would be too great a risk on all sides of the equation. And really, what was there to say? It had only been one, beautiful, perfect, sinful night, hadn’t it?

One that she would never, ever let happen again.

Finally, she replied, “I suppose any woman who decided to date an actor like Smith would have to decide to trust him no matter what...otherwise, she’d end up going crazy.” That is, if the media hounding her didn’t send her to the loony bin first.

“Hey,” her sister suddenly said, “I almost forgot. How was Alcatraz?”

“Fabulous!” Valentina replied in a voice that was just a little too bright. And then, before her sister could so much as ask one question about her companion for the evening, she began to recite the Alcatraz history she’d learned from their guide Sam.

* * *

“Tatiana, thank you so much for inviting us!”

Valentina was just signing her name on the spa register when she turned and saw Vicki Bennett, who had supplied the sculptures for the movie and was engaged to one of Smith’s brothers, walk in with two women who looked remarkably alike, except for the fact that one was very pregnant. Not only that, but the twins also happened to bear a striking resemblance to—

“Hi, I’m Lori Sullivan.” Valentina’s hand was shaken by the un-pregnant twin who moved so gracefully and was obviously the dancer in the family. “This is my sister, Sophie.”

Valentina worked to keep her panic at bay. It was bad enough that she’d had to keep what had happened last night from her own sister. But now both of Smith’s sisters were at the spa, along with his soon-to-be sister-in-law, Vicki.

“It’s so nice to meet you both, and to see you again, Vicki.” They hadn’t spent much time together, beyond Valentina admiring the other woman’s absolutely beautiful sculptures on the day they were first introduced.

Just twenty-four hours ago, Valentina would have really loved this chance to meet more of Smith’s family. Unfortunately, now she was going to be worried about saying the wrong thing the whole time and accidentally giving away that she and Smith had gotten closer than anyone could possibly imagine.

“Come on,” Lori said, “let’s go soak in the mineral baths first. Soph, you can just dip your feet in so you don’t boil the babies.”