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I turned, and there she was. The one woman I worried I’d have an issue with all weekend—Starla, the show villain herself.
How she and Keaton even ended up together was beyond me. I saw through her from the beginning, but I’d wanted Keaton to win so badly, and Starla was a superb actress, playing the role of his love interest well, at least on screen.
Stunning, of course, she tossed her glossy blonde locks too often. In a dress cut to show off exactly the right amount of everything, her ice-cold eyes zeroed in on Keaton like a heat-seeking missile.
“So you showed up. Thanks for letting me know. And with this on your arm,” she said, voice syrupy sarcastic.
Keaton stiffened.
“Contractual obligation to be here, you know that. Didn’t mean I had to bring you,” he said coolly.
Starla’s gaze slid to me, assessing, calculating. “And you are?”
“Sophie,” Keaton said shortly. “My girlfriend.”
His lips were suddenly on mine, in a swift move I hadn’t expected, sending prickles of heat down my spine. We were on display for the world to see. I relaxed into it after the initial shock wore off.
He kissed me like he meant it. The heat, the pressure, the ownership in it rocked me to my core. Pretending got a whole lot harder.
Starla’s mouth twisted, but she covered it quickly. “Charming,” she said, tone dripping with insincerity.
Keaton’s hand tightened at my waist, warning me and reminding me. This weekend would be a challenge, but we’d get through it together.
11
GAME ON
KEATON
The doorto our suite clicked shut behind us, and for a second, the quietness blissfully surrounded me. No Melanie with cameras sticking mics into our faces. No more fake smiles, and no Starla lurking around corners.
Just Sophie and me. And whatever the night ahead might bring.
“We survived that. So far.” She tossed her clutch onto the desk, kicked off her heels, and surveyed the room with her hands on her hips.
“Glad it’s behind us.” I came up behind her and kissed her bare shoulder on a small freckle that appeared there. I’d eyed it all night, the sexy little spot, and I reserved that kiss just for us in private.
“No one’s watching, Keaton. You don’t have to do that,” she lowered her voice as if someone was lurking nearby, like Starla did all night, watching us with her evil eyes.
“That was me spontaneously thanking you for showing up tonight.”
“You flew me all the way across the country. Figured I might as well join you in the fun. That was our deal, wasn’t it?” She swiveled to face me, chuckling.
“No, I meant being there forme.You made sure Hops shined tonight.” I held her gaze as long as she’d let me, hearing her breath hitch.
“So mission accomplished so far in leveraging all the opportunities here?” Her beautiful blues gleamed.
“In terms of Hops, yes.” But for me and the hard cock I tried to control in my pants, we hadn’t even begun to leverage anything.
I added a touch to her arms, testing the waters. The simple brush of my knuckles brought a wave of goosebumps across her skin. I liked this effect I was having on her.
“You dazzled people tonight, Soph. Definitely dazzled me.” My voice dipped husky and low.
“Are you saying I’m in the wrong profession? I could have gone into acting like you?” She teased, and I knew it, but I took it to mean she was performing this weekend, that was all.
What a wake up call, and a reminder that all I might get out of this would be a few good laughs. I asked her to pose as my date, nothing real. What did I expect?
It wouldn’t stop me from pushing the boundaries though. After all, I’d be in this room for the next two nights with her, bathing in her flowery scent, captivated by her every move. I wanted to press my mouth to hers again and chase this heat until it burned out. But I knew if I started something tonight, I wouldn’t be able to stop.