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“There is no need to apologize. It was me who was half awake earlier and didn’t know what I was saying. However, I didn’t intend to make you uncomfortable. I’ll be more aware of my actions in the future.”

“You didn’t.”

“Oh, that’s good,” he trailed off.

I hated the silence between us and asked, “So, what are you doing?”

My breath caught in my chest as his wide smile overtook his face. “Oh, I’m outlining a new story. You know that one that came to mind when I spotted Thomas yesterday? I want to pair him, or his character anyway, with his best friend’s older brother. Whenever I have a new idea for a story, I take detailed notes until I have exhausted my thoughts. Then, I build the rest of the story based on those initial notes.

I laughed. “You want to pair Sam and Thomas together in your story?”

Not able to believe my attraction could deepen for Ollie, but when he blushed, I wanted to trace my fingers down his cheeks and feel the heat radiating from them. But I held myself back. Only by clenching my hands into fists.

“Yeah, have you ever observed them when they’re in the same room? Thomas is bold and expressive, and so is Sam, but the way he reacts to Thomas is out of character. He’s meek and stares at the man when he thinks Thomas doesn’t know. The story I have in mind doesn’t mirror their potential relationship, but I’ve never seen two people more compatible and also oblivious to each other than those two.”

“You think Sam likes Thomas?”

Without hesitation, Ollie nodded. “For years, I’ve observed people, so I can tell by the way they turn toward each other, even when they’re across the room. Also, Sam’s body relaxes whenever Thomas is near, which leads me to believe he holds in a lot of stress and only feels relaxed enough around Thomas to let go.”

“And Thomas?”

Ollie smiled, wistful, and it made me miffed he hadn’t yet smiled at me in that manner.

“The way Thomas’ body coils tight when he and Sam are close reveals a primitive need to protect what he believes is his.Yeah, I’d say Sam’s effect on Thomas is profound. If you both need protection, he’ll leave you in the dust.”

A laugh escaped, grateful Thomas, who’d become my friend over the years, would protect my family.

“I’ll let you get back to work, but how about tonight we binge on some video game play throughs after dinner?”

He beamed at me, making my heart start in my chest, and I only just caught his answer.

“I’d like that.”

With a nod, I strolled out of his room and shut the door behind me. I leaned back against it as I caught my breath. He’d gone back to being the old Ollie; considerate, and lacking any fire that sparked between us with our earlier banter. I’d known I fucked up when I made the family comment, but I hated to think I shut down his light for good.

I wasn’t a vain man, but I knew you couldn’t make it in this business without being appraised for your beauty, physique, and charisma. People, more often than not, wanted to sleep with me because I was a movie star and I was rich as sin. And I invited their attention at every turn. Not to stay, but for one night before I disappeared the next morning.

But with Ollie, along with his genuine personality and happiness despite his circumstances, made me panic. When he blinked open his eyes, the surge to claim him, mark him as mine, overwhelmed enough the air became trapped in my chest.

I thought about all the times I would come to hurt him with my constant flirting, although it wouldn’t mean anything to me. I knew it would to him. And the weeks and months I’d be gone from home, leaving him behind as I craved him. Would I be strong enough to avoid temptation? Could I be faithful to one person? Since the answer didn’t make itself apparent, I would guess I could not.

But if it was Ollie who waited for me at home? What if he wanted me to be faithful, could I? Those questions were harder to answer.

Until I figured out what I wanted and how much of myself I could dedicate to another person, he was off limits.

4

OLLIE

The entire almost two weeks I’d been in the Blake family residence, I found both a new sense of peace and more than enough ideas and scenarios to write books for the rest of my life. Connor’s family ingratiated me into their tight-knit group, and it made me realize proper parents were the happiest when they allowed their children to find their own way in life.

Valentina turned out to be my biggest supporter; she sat in my room as she read my books while I created a new story using her oldest son as a proxy for my protagonist. There was nothing recognizable about Sam in my book, other than the way he reacted to Thomas whenever the older, muscular man was around.

And when I wasn’t working, she was teaching me how to cook. I’d never thought it would be something I liked; because before I came to live with them, I threw together whatever was in the kitchen or warmed up leftovers my parents wouldn’t eat. But the rhythm of the sizzling and bubbling relaxed me after a long day of being hunched over a computer researching and writing.

The triplets took me shopping during the middle of the week when they should’ve been with the rest of their senior class, celebrating the summer before the start of their last year in high school. Instead, they dragged me to Beverly Hills, which I balked at as soon as I spotted the designer boutiques. The thought of changing my look or even competing with Connor’s crowd held little appeal, so the twins gave up on the pricer stores and we hit thrift stores instead. Soon, I found several graphic tees and jeans along with sweats, since I didn’t have to dress up for my job, so I chose comfort rather than be fashionable.

I also asked them to help me pinpoint a friendly neighborhood for when I needed to move and room with Gracie, or live by myself in the worst-case scenario. But their horrified reactions made me change the subject, and instead, we spent the rest of the afternoon in Connor’s movie room, watching the TV miniseriesPride and Prejudicewith Colin Firth.