Virtuous(67)

“What the hell is so funny?”

“You are. We are. I’m trying to tell you I want to sleep with you, and I’m bungling it badly.”

“Oh. You do?”

“Yeah. Is that okay?”

“Baby, that is the best news I’ve ever gotten.”

“I’m not saying I want to, you know, do everything. But I want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you, too, and I can’t wait to sleep with you in my arms.”

I shiver in anticipation of spending a full night with him—something I never thought I’d want from any man until this one came along and showed me what’s still possible despite everything I’ve been through. I also acknowledge that I’m falling in love with him, one sweet moment at a time. He seems to understand me innately, in a way that no one ever has. And that he’s willing to let me set the pace is a precious and priceless gift to me.

Flynn’s house is way up in the Hollywood Hills in a location I could never find again if I had to. He punches in a code that opens the big iron gates that guard the property and drives into a circular driveway, coming to a stop outside the front door.

A young woman with long blonde hair comes rushing out the front door to greet us. “You’re here! Welcome home.” She gives Flynn a huge hug before turning to give me the same greeting. “So nice to meet you, Natalie.”

“Um, you too.”

“Natalie, this is Addison, my assistant.”

I’m shocked by how young and beautiful she is.

“My friends call me Addie.”

“Nice to meet you, Addie. Flynn says he’d be lost without you.”

“Flynn had better say that.”

“I speak only the truth,” Flynn says, like the wise man he is.

Addie hooks her arm through mine. “We’re going to have so much fun this weekend. I’ve got stylists standing in line for a chance to dress you for Sunday. And two weeks from now, too. Is she coming to the SAGs, Flynn?”

He follows us into the house, hauling the luggage. “We haven’t gotten that far yet.”

I look over at him. “SAGs?”

“Screen Actors Guild Awards. They’re at the end of the month. ’Tis the season.”

“Oh, well, I doubt I can do two weekends in one month, with work and everything.”

“That’s what I figured, but I did plan to ask.”

“Sorry if I beat you to the punch,” Addie says with playful chagrin. “Anyway, I just wanted to be here to say hello when you got home. I hit the grocery store, so you’re all stocked up. I’ll be here tomorrow around ten so Natalie can choose her dress. Sound good?”

“Sounds great.” Flynn kisses her on the forehead. “Thanks for everything and for getting the car to the airport for me.”

She waves off his thanks. “Johnny did that.” For my benefit, she adds, “He won’t let me drive the Aston.”

“I’m only protecting the car.”

“A girl has one or three fender benders in a year, and suddenly no one will let her drive their two-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar car. It’s so not fair.”

I laugh because how can I not? She’s hilarious.

“It’s more than fair. Now get out of here before I kick you out.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m going. I got better things to do on a Friday night than deal with you.”

Listening to them, I get much more of a brother-sister vibe than I do a lover vibe, and I’m relieved.

Addie takes off, leaving me alone in the gorgeous one-story house with Flynn.

“How about a quick tour?”

“I’d love it.”

He leaves our bags in the foyer and takes my hand to lead me into a warm, cozy kitchen that I immediately fall in love with. “This is fabulous!” It’s all dark wood and cool marble that I run my hand over reverently. A center island is surrounded by barstools, and I can picture gatherings happening right there.

“The kitchen is new, but I should start with the pedigree. This house once belonged to Marlena Davis. She sold it to Frank Thompson, and his estate sold it to me.”

“That’s some pedigree. Three of the biggest movie stars in history have owned it.”

“Check out the view.” He leads me over to floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over an in-ground pool with Los Angeles spread out in all her glory far beneath us. “It’s even better than your view in New York.”