Page 113 of See You There

“Just easy to forget the real world exists when we’re here,” she grumbled. “Did you hear what she said about Peachtree Pictures not knowing where I am? The studio is already trying to protect themselves from any bad press they might get because of everything that’s happened. They are throwing me under the bus. Matt’s making me look like a flake. Chandler is the hero, who despite his injuries is going to the premiere.” Dahlia shook her head in disgust and then looked at him, her eyes serious. “No matter what. I have to be there.”

Luke didn’t like the frustration in her eyes. “You will be. We just need to make sure you’re safe.”

“You need to understand. If I’m not there, front and center, for the premiere… It’s over. My career won’t survive, particularly if Victor leaks my past to the press. I’ll be damaged goods.”

“That’s not going to happen. It will work out.”

Dahlia set her jaw. “Luke, you have skills to fall back on. I don’t. My entire family is relying on me to make this work. Nothing is more important than making sure they are okay.”

“More important than living?”

She refused to break eye contact. “Yes, I owe them that.”

Luke’s face shuttered. “Okay, I’ll touch base with Brady about security for the night, and then we can find a place for—”

“The studio will handle security, too.”

“I’m not relying on Matt to keep you safe. I’ll see where we can go after.”

“Luke,” she stared at her hands. “That stuff I said about Chandler...” Dahlia pushed to her feet, setting the computer on the table. “This is my job. You know how I really feel about him… You and I…”

Luke waited for her to continue. It felt like he was waiting for the most important verdict of his life. But instead of continuing, Dahlia’s shoulders slumped. She looked exhausted. Now wasn’t the time to press her.

Luke walked to where she stood and wrapped his arms around her, the ache in his chest easing when her arms clamped hard around his back.

Dahlia tucked her face into his neck and sighed. “I’m so tired,” she whispered against his skin.

Luke ran his hand down her silky hair. “I know. That was a lot for just the morning.”

“It’s not just the interviews.” She stepped back and met his eyes. “I’m tired of living this role. Of pretending. I want to be Dahlia all the time. To live a normal life.” Her brows stitched together.

“What are you thinking?”

Dahlia stared over his shoulder and then her brow cleared. “Just an idea.”

“About?”

She gave him a mysterious smile. “I’ll tell you when I work it out.”

Luke brushed some of her hair back from her face. “Promise?”

“Promise,” Dahlia leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. His hands came to her waist, intending to deepen the kiss, but Dahlia pushed off his chest with a laugh.

“I still have appointments with all the lawyers.”

“Do you want me to sit in on those?”

Dahlia tilted her head. “I can handle it. It’s important to me that I take control of my life. I need to be the one responsible for making decisions that impact my future.”

An uneasy feeling spread through Luke’s stomach. Dahlia had told him not to track down her soon-to-be ex-husband, but surely she would understand why he had done it, anyway.

Dahlia wasin a great mood after her appointments with the lawyers and suggested they go for a short hike.

“At first I was really nervous,” she said, striding along beside him on the loop near the cabin. “I was worried they would think I was stupid—”

“You aren’t stupid.”

“Iknow that.” Dahlia rolled her eyes. “But sometimes you snotty college boys think I am because I don’t have a formal education. Anyway as I was saying, I was nervous at first, but by the end I felt pretty confident.”