Fauxmance (Showmance #2)(88)

I gave a small smile. “Thanks. She’s definitely a lot of fun to write.”

“Hey, can I get a macchiato?” she asked the catering guy. I thought it was pretty down to earth of her to come order her own coffee. I always imagined big stars had a team of assistants to do that sort of stuff.

“Coming right up.”

I heard a tiny bark and then saw Sheila running up to me, Julian chasing after her. He scooped her up before she could jump on me. “You’ve gained a new fan,” he chuckled.

“I think she just likes having a warm lap to sit on during filming,” I said and reached out to pet her.

“Oh, she’s just darling,” Alicia crooned, bending close and letting the dog lick her whole face. “My makeup artist is gonna give me hell for this, but I just can’t resist doggy kisses,” she continued on a chuckle, then glanced at Julian. “I may end up stealing her before the shoot wraps.”

“I better keep an eye on you then,” he replied.

Alicia waggled her eyebrows. “You better.”

Julian turned to me, placing a hand on my shoulder for a second. The touch was warm, thrilling. His voice was low and intimate. “Can we talk later?”

My tummy flip-flopped. “Sure. I have a car taking me home at five if you want to share it?”

His expression heated. “I’d like that. See you then.”

Alicia eyed him as he walked away, then looked at me. “Are you two…”

“No! No, we aren’t. We’re, um, neighbours,” I said, rambling a little. It was a lie, but I didn’t want her speculating.

“Oh, right. Well, Julian’s an amazing guy. We actually used to have a thing, but it didn’t work out.”

“You did?” I said, hoping she’d keep talking. I was stupidly eager to have my heart broken with details of her and Julian’s relationship.

She sighed. “He’s incredible in bed, but he just wasn’t what I was looking for relationship-wise, you know?”

“Oh, well, that’s too bad.”

She knocked back her macchiato in a few gulps. “Yep. Well, I better get back. They’ll need to redo my makeup after little miss cutie pie licked my face off.”

I nodded and waved her away, exhaling once she was gone. This shoot was going to be a lot more tumultuous than I anticipated. I remembered the flowers Daniel sent this morning and realised I hadn’t yet sent a text to say thank you.

Ellen: Thanks for the flowers. They’re lovely :-)

His response came quickly.

Daniel: My pleasure. Are you free for dinner tonight? xxx.

I frowned at the kisses, unsure how to reply. He definitely wanted more than friendship, but I just wasn’t in a place to date anyone. Yes, it had been months since Julian and I were together, but I still had feelings for him. It wouldn’t be fair to Daniel to start something when I was still getting over someone else. There was also the fact that he was my agent. We had a professional relationship and that complicated things.

Later on, I found Julian chatting with several members of the crew. I managed to catch his eye and he approached.

“I’m leaving now if you still want to have that talk.”

“Of course, lead the way.”

Julian opened the door of the car for me and I climbed inside. It was a town car, and the driver was wearing earphones, which made me feel more comfortable to chat. My heart still raced though. I had so much I wanted to say, so much I wanted to ask.

And I had absolutely no idea where to start.





Chapter Twenty-Five





Ellen





I fiddled with the sleeve of my cardigan. “So, um, how have you been?”

Julian tilted his head to me, his gaze running from the hem of my dress that reached just above the knee, all the way up to my mouth. I felt exposed. He laid me bare with nothing more than a glance.

Instinctively, I pushed my thighs together, and a low heat simmered between us. Perhaps having this conversation in the confines of a car wasn’t my finest idea. Sheila settled in on the other side of Julian, curling up into a ball and closing her eyes. I sort of wished she was in the middle so that we’d have a little more space. As it was, we were right next to each other, and it made everything feel that much more amplified.

Julian’s expression was devastatingly handsome yet sad. It made my heart go whump. “Do you want the honest answer or the airbrushed one?”

“The honest one?” My words came out sounding like a question.

Julian sat back, his head falling against the seat as he exhaled heavily. “In that case, I’ll tell you, I’ve not been doing marvellously well, I’m afraid.”

I didn’t speak, only stared at him. I hadn’t been doing marvellously well either, emotionally speaking, but I didn’t tell him that. Not yet.

He levelled me with those ruinous hazel eyes, his lashes impossibly long and thick. “I’ve missed you, Ellen. More than you can imagine.”

My voice was a whisper. “I’ve missed you, too.”

His expression was wistful and a little melancholy. “Even when you were off on your solo travels?”

“Yes, Julian, even then.”

Neither one of us spoke for a minute. The journey back to the city was going to take over an hour, maybe longer in evening traffic. And it was going to be pretty uncomfy if we had to sit in silence the whole time.