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“Sure, but that was different and we know each other much better now.”

“I told you. My body needs a lot of work to look this way.”

I swallow what I’m about to say—that her body doesn’t need to look like an elite athlete’s. “I’ll stop complaining then.”

“See you tomorrow, Mimi. Sleep well.” Without further ado, Nora hangs up.

CHAPTER27

NORA

I’m both nervous and excited when Mimi arrives. When shooting, I wouldn’t usually entertain guests on a Friday evening because I’m mentally drained after a week on set, but I gladly make an exception for Mimi.

I walk her into the house and before I can guide us to the patio, she grabs my hand and pulls me to her.

“Hey,” she says, while looking into my eyes. “It’sreallygood to see you.” She leans in to kiss me and the plans I had for us threaten to go out of the window already.

“And you.” I wrap my arms around her shoulders. “I was thinking that, if you feel like it, we could watch my favorite movie together. I haven’t shown you my home theater yet.”

“Is that a euphemism?” Mimi asks.

“No.” I chuckle.

“Oh.” Mimi kisses my neck and I go weak at the knees already. “Pity,” she whispers in my ear.

Excitement is winning out over the nerves I feel about this, about jumping into whatever this is with Mimi headfirst—because I’m not a headfirst kind of person. I need to examine a proposition from all sides so I can make an informed decision—and after that much careful consideration, my answer’s usually no. I don’t yet know why I keep saying yes to Mimi. Why I let her waltz in here and kiss my neck like that, when I’m bone-tired after a week of work. But I do. And it feels good to do this, to not let the other part of me win for once. To throw caution to the wind and allow myself this heady feeling of falling in love. Because that’s what it is. It may have been a long time since I experienced it, but the sensation is unmistakable.

“I guess we can watch that movie any time,” I say.

“How about tomorrow?” Mimi’s hand snakes into my hair. “Or next week.”

All three dogs, even Rogue, do a little dance around our legs. “You haven’t said hello to the babies yet. They take great offense when you don’t.”

“I’m so very sorry. It’s hard to tear myself away from their mistress.” Mimi kisses my neck again, then pulls away and bends downs to pet the dogs. Izzy’s jumping up and down like a little lunatic. “Hello, you.” Mimi crouches all the way down and picks her up. “Is Izzy short for something?”

“She’s only named after the greatest singer of our time.”

“Isabel Adler?” Mimi asks.

I nod. “I love her so much.”

“Isabel Adler’s amazing.” Mimi looks into my dog’s face. “I bet you can’t sing like her.”

“She tries, but to no avail.”

Mimi puts Izzy down. “I used to know her manager. Back in the day, before Izzy hit the big time, Ira spent some time in LA. I met him a couple of times.”

“Really?”

“We’re of the same generation.” Mimi shrugs. “Have you ever met Isabel Adler?”

I shake my head. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Why not?”

“Because of my name, I could have something arranged. I could go to one of her concerts and meet her backstage. I’ve let myself be talked into things like that before. But some heroes, I believe you shouldn’t meet.” What would I even say to someone like Isabel Adler? Especially after what happened to her?

“My kids surely don’t regret meeting you,” Mimi says.