Page 72 of The Boss I Can't Stand

“I’m serious about kissing you.”

I pressed against his chest with my hand, halting him. “After today…tonight? Whatever. What happens with us and this…relationship? Are we engaged through to the end of post-production? Until the premiere? What about…after?”

Finn sobered, his eyebrows colliding as he played with the collar of his shirt. “I mean…Jillian’s going to have worked out a plan for us through the premiere at least. Maybe even through the award season. We wouldn’t want to do anything that would detract from Oscar conversations.”

Like stage a breakup? I swallowed hard. That was andwasn’tthe answer I’d been hoping for from him.

As if Finn could sense that, he pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth, then my cheek, then my brow before dropping back down and capturing my lips. And as I fell deep into the spell that was Finn Lockhart, I decided to just put those questions aside and enjoy what I had for the moment.

Because why worry about the ending of a relationship that had been meticulously planned from the very beginning? This wouldn’t be like Trey. Finn wouldn’t up and disappear from my life at the drop of a hat. If things were going to end, I’d see it coming from a mile away. In fact, I’d likely receive a script for it and have to show up for rehearsals.

And then, knowing Finn, he’d probably give me notes on how to do it better.

25

FINN

“This is a big day for you,” I teased as I threaded my fingers through Sierra’s. “You’ve finally graduated from staged restaurant dates to staged excursions.”

“Is that what we’re calling the Santa Monica Pier?” Sierra joked as we wandered our way down the boardwalk, walking off our lunch. “An excursion?”

“That’s what Jillian’s plan calls it. Doyouwant to argue with her?”

Sierra grinned softly, her cheeks pink, and I squeezed her hand, tugging her until she bumped against my side. “I think an excursion requires more exertion. Like a hike.”

“Maybe Jillian has one of those on the list too. We could hike Runyon Canyon or something.”

“Not as likely torandomlybump into photographers out there,” Sierra pointed out.

Maybe I didn’t care all that much about bumping into a photographer. I knew they were around today, not on Hart of Gold’s dime, but I’dlargely been able to put that from my mind, letting myself forget for long stretches that this was all pre-arranged for the tabloids or to get articles aboutEvery Daytrending.

It didn’t feel like putting on a show. Not at all. Sierra had been entirely relaxed with me today, and I didn’t have to work nearly as hard to keep her from overthinking where the cameras were. Our conversation flowed as naturally as if I’d planned this date for us myself.

“Oh!” she said excitedly as we came upon the Pacific Wheel.

“Are you about to ask me to go on the Ferris wheel with you?” I said, kissing her cheek.

Her smile turned coy. “Don’t you think that would make the perfect publicity shot?” she said. “It’s the height of romance.”

“Mmm, I don’t know about it being the height of romance,” I said. “Though I agree itwheelmake for a very cinematic shot.”

“Was that supposed to be a pun?” she said, her mouth forming a tinyO.

“Did I succeed?”

“I will accept it,” she said.

I tugged her toward the Ferris wheel.

She tugged back. “No, we don’t actually have to. I was kidding.”

“I don’t think you were,” I said. “I think you want me to kiss you at the top of the Ferris wheel, and I intend to do just that.”

“Finn,” she said, catching her lip between her teeth for a beat. “Seriously, we don’t have to. It’s so busy. And I didn’t really mean?—”

“Wedohave to,” I said. “You wanted to. I can tell by how excited you got when you suggested it.”

“We don’t have time. We’re supposed to be done and over with this date in fifteen minutes so we can go back to?—”