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A few moments later, Leo marched into the room with Peter at his side.
Peter shrugged his broad shoulders as he finished buttoning his shirt, leaving the top two undone displaying a hint of his smooth chest. When he rolled up his sleeves, I suppressed the slight shiver that raced down my spine at his corded forearms. I’d drooled over them more times than I could count.
He was so damn handsome.
“I did what I could,” Leo shrugged.
Peter gave me a sheepish grin. “I’m sorry, Tris. I got my days mixed up.”
I shook my head and crossed my arms, forcing myself to not give in to his classically beautiful face. At least not too much. His deep brown gaze pleaded with me to forgive him. “Peter … ”
“I know. It won’t happen again.” His earnest expression almost made a believer out of me, but this wasn’t the first time he’d promised just that. Yet, I couldn’t help but hope this might be the turning point. Maybe he’d finally get his act together.
I rolled my eyes to let him know I wasn’t buying his explanation.
“I swear.” Peter leaned in and slid his arms around my ample waist. He tugged me until I fell into him, my hands resting lightly on his firm torso. He gave me a quick kiss on my forehead before pulling back.
My heart thumped erratically even as I reminded myself that this kiss was just as platonic as all the ones that came before it. I searched his familiar gaze, looking for the sincerity in his words. I wanted to believe so badly that he was done throwing away his career. The one thing he’d worked so hard for. Because no matter how often I begged, he wouldn’t sharewhyhe’d started going off the rails.
A throat cleared. I could tell it was Ms. Halliway and that she was unhappy with how long the sound went on. “Three minutes, Ms. Byrd.”
Leo, the gentle giant of a man, knew the drill. He draped an arm over Ms. Halliway’s shoulders and led her away while asking questions about the set. Her bewildered voice floated back to us, and I sighed in relief.
“Okay, we have less than three minutes to get you picture-perfect.” I tsked slightly as I reluctantly backed out of Peter’s embrace.
A sexy smirk lit up his face as I reached into my fanny pack. Peter thought it was hysterical that I used my ‘old lady’ purse to keep track of all the ‘Peter essentials.’
I pushed my ereader out of the way and snagged the bottle of eye drops. I swore this stuff was magic. With one hand, I gripped Peter’s chin. “Tilt your head back.” It helped that I was five foot ten in flats and could easily reach him.
He grumbled good-naturedly, but did as I instructed. The second I finished the drops, I grabbed my strongest mint. Peter dutifully opened his mouth so I could pop it inside. I only wished he was this obedient on a regular basis. Next, I whipped out my brush and ran it through his chestnut locks. For this very reason, I purposely had his hairdresser cut his hair in a more messy, casual style. Last, I dabbed on a concealer clearly made with sorcery because it covered any and every imperfection.
“Mr. Young. You’re up,” Ms. Halliway intoned from the doorway. She’d at least given me enough time so that it didn’t look like Peter had just rolled out of bed.
I sniffed, and Peter laughed. His spicy-scented body spray was a little overdone, but at least he didn’t stink.
Peter tapped my nose with his pointer finger. “Leo was a little enthusiastic this morning.”
“I’m sure it’s better than what you smelled like when he got you up.” I raised my eyebrows, not able to stop the twitching of my mouth.
He grinned, and my stomach fluttered at the sight of his lips curving up as a result of something I said.
I couldn’t help it. I smiled back.
Then I grabbed a fistful of his shirt and tugged him behind me as we followed Ms. Halliway and Leo to the stage. Voices grew louder as we approached.
The hosts announced Peter’s name, and I reached up to brush my hands over his shoulders. I hastily straightened his collar and slid my fingers down his arms. “You’ve got this.”
“Only because I have you.” He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. “Luck?”
“Always.” My body thrummed with awareness. The gentle tickle of it slid through my core as I sighed for an entirely different reason. These little moments were why I couldn’t let go of my feelings for Peter. They gave me hope.
Peter was home to me in a way no one else was.
With his trademark swagger, Peter was off to charm the show’s hosts, Veronica and Ron, just like he always did. Thunderous applause echoed through the studio. Once I heard him greet the two of them, I leaned against a nearby wall and let out another deep sigh.
Leo approached and claimed a spot on the wall next to me.
“Thank you,” I said.