Page 127 of Charming Like Us

Oscar breaks a kiss. “Sorry.”

I breathe hard.

His concern tightens on me. “Was that…here?” His thumb brushes the tender skin along my jawline. A Canon made impact with my chin.Paparazzi hazard.

“Yeah.” I try to catch my breath. Partly in need of oxygen because I’m too attracted to this guy. Partly because of the media mess we left behind. Hot, I unravel the scarf and let the ends hang against my chest.

He glares at the deck, then at the icebergs. “I’m not sure I can protect you and Charlie at the same time, and it’s driving me nuts.”

“You’ve done enough.” He’s caught more than one projectile headed for me.

His eyes return to the bruise on my jaw. “Let’s go count your bruises, Highland.”

I let out a weak laugh. “I’m notdelicatelike you think. This is now a casualty ofmyjob, and I’m choosing to stick it out.” I grip his shoulders. “I’m not going to pretend to be a bodyguard. I’m not one. I probably can’t hit a man to save my life, but your job is to protectCharlie.Just let me film.”

He nods, then grins, “Did I just get a Jack Highland pep talk?”

I begin to smile. “Did you like it?”

“I didn’t like the part where you put yourself down,” he admits. “If you need to hit a man to save your life, I know you could save yourself, Highland.” He turns my hat straight but lifts up the brim. “But I’ll be your hottest back-up.”

I believe that.

He reaches for my hand. “Come here, I want to show you something.” He brings me to the edge of the deck, our elbows meeting the railing. The sun hovers just above the horizon, casting an orange glow on the sea. “Check the time.”

I pull out my cell and click into the local time.

No?

“That can’t be right,” I whisper.

“It is.” His mouth curves. “Midnight.” He leans a hip against the railing. “It’s called a midnight sun. It only happens during the summer in places around the Arctic and Antarctic Circles.”

Wow.

My eyes try to paint the portrait in front of me. The sun coasting along the teal iceberg-scattered sea. A whale splashes in the distance, spraying water overhead.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmur.

“Charlie asked me where I wanted to go,” he breathes. “I wanted you to see this.”

My lips part in surprise.

He takes a deep breath. “It reminds me of you.”

A noise between a shocked breath and an overcome laugh escapes me. My stinging eyes are on him. No one has ever made me feel like the focal point. The center of attention. I’m never the subject.

He doesn’t justseeme. He acts like I should be the lead of not just one movie but every movie, and fuck if that doesn’t feel good—I don’t know what else could.

I take another glimpse of the midnight sun. “The brightest light shining during the darkest hour,” I smile. “That’s pretty good.”

“I’m only doing my best work with you, Long Beach.”

I smile, but my lips fall gradually. “What happens when the light dims? You’ll still be interested then?”

“Oh yeah.” Oscar nods. “I’m every star circling around you. You need a spark, I’m there.” He says it like a promise.

It wells up in me. My eyes redden, my smile more overcome. I’m always a positive force for others, and to have someone be mine is everything and more.