Page 43 of Vain

She nods. “I know exactly what kind of woman she is. I’ve met plenty of them in my line of work. If things between us turn into something more?—”

“When, not if. It already is something more for me.”

She swallows before offering me a blinding smile. “When this becomes more and she finds out who I really am, she seems vindictive enough to go to the press. Are you ready for that? It can get nasty, and nobody seems to care about the truth. You’ll be everything from the manipulated hero to the deceitful villain. She seems like the kind of woman who hates to lose.”

“That’s the thing, though, Tilly. She’s already lost. No matter what happens or what people say or think about us, I’ve already won. And I’ll keep on winning every day that I wake up with you beside me.”

Chapter Eighteen

MATILDA

His words ring in my head all the way to the hospital. I just don’t know how to process them. I’ve been in a dozen movies, a handful of them book adaptations with the dreamiest of male protagonists who say things made to make audiences swoon. But until now, I thought things like that were all make-believe.

And then there’s Aiden. He’s everything teenage me dreamed about. It’s making me wonder if he’s just that, something I dreamed up to escape the shitshow of my life. I’ve been taught that if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. It’s that mentality that makes me hold myself back. I want to let go. I want to free fall into the arms of this downright confusing man who seems to want me for me and couldn’t give a shit about my wealth or my fame. But is it real?

“You’re quiet. Did I freak you out before?”

“I’m not sure. When I’m around you, I feel like I need to pinch myself all the time to make sure I’m actually awake.”

He chuckles, sliding his fingers through mine as he leads me to the elevators. “I’m lulling you in. Gotta make you fall in love with me before you realize what a pain in the ass I can be.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. I’m stubborn, possessive, and a moody bastard sometimes.”

“Well, thank god for that. You were starting to give me a complex.”

He grins before pushing me into the corner, where we make out between floors, avoiding all the panic from yesterday. When the elevator dings and the doors slide open, I can’t help but chuckle. “Oh, you’re good.”

“You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Taking my hand once more, he leads me to the waiting room, where I see Wade and another guy who looks like a real-life Texas Ranger with his brown jeans, navy blue button-up shirt, and white cowboy hat. I’ve never had a cowboy fetish before, but yikes, if I did, this man would star in many a fantasy.

“Wade. Mathews.” Aiden holds out his hand and shakes each of theirs before indicating to me.

“Mathews, this is Matilda. Matilda, Mathews. And of course, you remember Wade.”

“Ma’am.” Mathews tips his hat.

I feel my cheeks flush. “Hi.”

“It’s the hat, I swear,” Wade mutters, making me blush even more.

“Still worried your wife will come to her senses and run away with me?” Mathews grins at Wade.

“Why is everyone always trying to run off with my woman?” He throws his hands up in exasperation.

“Maybe because she’s a ten and you’re a two. We feel sorry for her, bro,” Aiden chimes in. I bite my lip so I don’t laugh at the affronted look on Wade’s face.

“Do not make me shoot you, motherfucker. I hate doing paperwork.”

“Now, now, children,” Mathews wades in, looking at Aiden. “You sure Kellen’s up for this?”

“Only one way to find out,” Aiden replies before looking at me. “You good if I leave you with Wade?”

“Of course. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”

He kisses my temple before nodding at Wade and heading off with Mathews. I watch them both leave because I’m a red-blooded woman, and those men have asses I could bounce coins off of.