Virtuous(40)

“You weren’t going to call me, which means you were going to survive the whole rest of your life without me in it. Remember that?”

“We’re going to forget all about that.” After two hours with her, I understand I was crazy to follow Hayden’s advice. The more time I spend with her, the more I want her. I want her to be mine. It doesn’t matter that I might not be good for her. I can be someone different for her. I’ll be anyone she needs me to be if it means I get to have her in my life.

I’ve never had these sorts of thoughts about any woman. Ever. I ought to be scared shitless, but I’m not. I’m exhilarated by her and determined to show her the time of her life in Hollywood.

She leans her head against the back of the sofa and studies me intently.

“Do I have something on my face?”

“No,” she says, releasing that husky, sexy laugh that makes me hard every damned time. That laugh is dangerous and potent.

I’m thinking about kissing her again when my stomach lets out an obnoxious growl.

“Someone is hungry,” she says.

“We need food. What do you feel like tonight?”

“You don’t have to feed me. I need to get home to let Fluff out anyway.”

“We could go to your place, take Fluff for a walk and then grab something in your neighborhood.”

She seems incredulous. “You want to take Fluff for a walk.”

“Well, I want to spend more time with you, and she’s part of the package, so yes, I’d like to take Fluff for a walk.”

“What if she bites you again?”

“I’m willing to take my chances. It’s important that Fluff get used to me, because I’m going to be around. A lot.”

“Are you?”

“If you’ll have me.” I reach for her hand, and she curls her fingers around mine. “Shall we go?”

“How do we get out of here without the photographers seeing us?”

“I’ll show you.”





When he emerges from his bedroom wearing dark sunglasses and one of those fur hats that Soviet KGB officers were known for during the Cold War, I laugh so hard that tears run down my face. “I want a picture of that.”

“Not happening. There’s a Russian diplomat in the building. He’s about twenty years older than me, but his build is somewhat similar to mine. The hat hides his gray hair. Every time I leave the building wearing this, they think I’m him and they leave me alone.”

“Does he know you’ve stolen his identity?”

“Shhh, no. Don’t tell.” He holds my coat for me and then pulls the hood up and over my head, enveloping me in a cave of obscurity. “That ought to do it.” Then he goes to the phone by the elevator and asks the doorman to get us a cab. The whole thing is handled so smoothly and competently that I begin to see the advantage of celebrity. People do things for you simply because you ask them to.

We make a clean escape from the building into a waiting cab. The photographers camped outside the main door are too busy smoking and bullshitting to notice their prey has escaped undetected.

“That was awesome, Mr. Gorbachev. Well played.”

“Avoiding them is a game I’ve gotten rather good at over the years.” He removes the hat and waggles his brows. “Wait until you see my other disguises.”

“I look forward to that.” I look forward to everything now that I know I’ll see him again after today, now that I’ve committed to what promises to be a magical weekend in LA. Excitement courses through my body, making my nerves hum with anticipation. I’ve never felt more alive in my life than I do with him sitting next to me, holding my hand. I wonder if he’ll kiss me again before the evening is over.

I hope so.

After a slow trek through rush-hour traffic, we arrive at my place. As we head up the stairs, I wonder if Leah is home and what sort of scene she’ll make when she sees Flynn. I can hear Fluff going nuts in the apartment. “Are you ready for this?” I ask him.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Here goes.” I open the door, and Fluff goes into her usual tizzy at the sight of me, but when Flynn comes in behind me, she loses her composure immediately, growling and snapping and hissing. I’ve never seen her behave this way. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. Fluff! Stop it!”

Flynn takes it in stride, his expression showing amusement even as he keeps his distance from the growling ball of fur.