Crash Into Me(69)

"Are you okay?"

Silently, I nodded. I was fine. The same old Nina I'd always been and always would be. It had been fun and the thought of being Tristan Stone's girlfriend had been very seductive, but it was over now.

"Tristan, I think I should go back to my room now. I don't feel so well."

"You should stay here where I can be sure you're okay," he said so sweetly with that tender smile that melted my heart.

I looked up at him and suddenly everything came flowing out of me. "Why? I know what you're going to do. My falling shouldn't stop you. I understand. Guys like you don't need or want just one woman. You can have anyone in the world, so why stick with just one?"

His eyebrows lifted as I spoke and he grimaced. I guess the truth hurt. Well, I understood that.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me. You're breaking up with me. Don't worry. I'll be fine. It's not like we were together for years. I won't make any trouble for you either."

"Oh. Well, that's good. I wouldn't want to have to sic my lawyers on you."

Before I could tell him that I thought he was acting really shitty, he smiled and smoothed my hair from my face. "I wasn't breaking up with you. I just wanted to talk after the awkward business the other day."

I sat up and stared at him, confused. He wasn't breaking up with me? "What do you mean? I thought I scared you off with the L word."

He sat down next to me and hung his head. "I have to admit I did freak out a little when you said it. Sorry about that."

"I just said it because you kept writing it in your notes. It wasn't like it was a big deal."

Tristan turned to face me. "It is a big deal. I don't say I love you to every woman I date."

"That's good to hear," I mumbled.

"I don't think one word is a reason for two people to stop spending time together, Nina."

"I guess not." Sitting up, I blew the air out of my cheeks. "So what do we do now?"

"We could forget anything like this ever happened and continue like we were," he said in a hopeful voice.

"What were we doing, Tristan? You meet me one night, convince me to work for you, make me move in here, all the while sleeping with me. I haven't dated thousands of men, but I can safely assume most people don't call that dating."

"I'm not most people, Nina." He leaned toward me and pressed his forehead to mine. "I need you to trust me. This is the only way I can do this. Can you trust me?"

I closed my eyes and imagined not having Tristan Stone in my life. Suddenly, my chest felt hollow, like my heart had been drained of every drop of blood and all that was left was an empty, useless part of me. I didn't want to lose Tristan. I wasn't sure what this was we had together, but being with him was so much better than not.

"Yeah. I can."

He kissed me long and deep, making my legs go weak all over again, but for a good reason this time. We may not have been at the place where we said we loved each other, but it felt like it.

And I loved that.





Chapter Fourteen

The summer went by and every day Tristan and I grew closer and closer. By the time we'd known each other for four months, I could honestly say I loved him. I loved the way he left flowers in my room some mornings and surprised me with jewelry other days. I loved how he slowly withdrew from attending events with the actresses to spend time watching movies with me.

I loved how attentive he was, even if I didn't understand it sometimes. Like why after he shot down one of my choices for a penthouse or suite he always deposited more money in my bank account. Or why he made sure Jenson watched over me when I went back to Brooklyn to see Jordan. I'd asked him about these things once or twice, but he always just smiled and said something about how much he enjoyed taking care of me.