Page 6 of Vain (Tempest #2)

Chapter Six

MATILDA

I’m not agoraphobic, but I’d be lying if I said my house wasn’t like my security blanket. I felt safe there. It was a place I could lick my wounds and heal emotionally more than anything else, and then one stupid Post-it note shattered that feeling of safety in one single moment.

Whoever is doing this has left nothing inside the house, but I’m not stupid enough to think they won’t break in to get to me eventually.

That’s where Aiden comes in. This guy has proven he knows how to get around guards and cameras.

With Aiden close by, it wouldn’t be so easy for anyone to get to me.

And if they did, one scream and Aiden would be there, ready to rip the guy’s arms off and beat him to death with them.

That doesn’t mean I don’t feel an underlying sense of panic as I wave at Phil when we pull through the gates and head toward the studio.

The sun is shining, but the temperature is a good ten or fifteen degrees lower today than yesterday, which makes a nice change. We’ve had some bizarre unseasonable weather extremes lately, so it’s nice to have something calmer and more pleasant for a change.

“You’re quiet. You doing okay?”

I look at Aiden, catching a strand of hair as it blows across my face and tucking it behind my ear. “Just thinking about how nice it is today.”

“Better than yesterday, for sure.”

I turn to look out the passenger-side window, keeping my head tipped down, more out of habit than anything else. Though up here in the gated community, everyone pretty much keeps to themselves. “You mind if I put the music on?”

“Have at it.”

I reach over and turn on the local radio station, which is playing the latest pop-country song featuring two up-and-coming artists. I’m not a huge country fan, but I do like this one, so I find myself humming along.

“Do you sing?”

“Hmm?” I turn to look at him, my eyes landing on his forearms as they flex, his grip tightening on the wheel. I have no idea what it is about forearms that I find sexy, but man, there is just something about them?—

“Tilly?”

“Huh?”

“Do you sing?”

“Oh. I can hold a tune, but I’m not going to be storming the charts anytime soon. My mother insisted that I take a bunch of classes, and singing was one of them. I’m also proficient in tap dancing and jazz hands, if the need ever arises.”

“Good to know. Nothing worse than being in a situation that calls for jazz hands, and nobody knows how to do it.”

“I know. So tragic.” I sigh.

He grins, making my ovaries spin and twirl like synchronized swimmers going for gold.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret. Acting was never really my passion. Sure, I liked it, but it never drove me. That was all my mom. I wanted to be a Formula One driver. I pictured myself as the next Desiré Wilson.”

“Desiré Wilson? I don’t think I know who she is.”

“She was the only woman to win a Formula One race. I wanted to go one better and win a world championship, of course.”

“Of course. Go big or go home.”

My smile slips as I remember asking my mom if I could try racing. She laughed in my face.

“Wasn’t something I could do. Too many of my contracts had clauses that prevented me from doing anything dangerous.”

“Makes sense. If something happened to you, it would shut down the whole production process.”

“Yeah.” I look back out the side window.

“I wanted to be a ninja when I grew up. Still do, actually.”

I chuckle and look at him. I don’t know if he’s being serious or just trying to lighten the mood. “And what would you use your ninja skills for?”

“That answer has varied a lot over the years. At eight, the aim was to sneak into the kitchen, eat the cookies, and sneak back out without getting seen. But my mom must have ninja skills herself because I always got caught.”

“You didn’t give up the dream then and there?” I tease.

“Nope. I started dressing all in black and hiding in the shadows.”

“And a creeper was born.”

“I’d like to argue that fact, but a few years later, I used my ninja skills to sneak into the girls’ locker rooms and steal a different kind of cookie.”

“Ew, gross.”

“Don’t knock it until you try it. High school girls are very bendy. There was this one cheerleader that could?—”

I slap his chest, laughing. “You grew up to be a pervert.”

“Meh, the ninja gig was harder than I thought it would be.”

My laugh bursts out, and I don’t stop until we pull up at the studio gates. I can’t help it. He looks so serious that it almost makes me start all over again. I pull out my ID and pass, then grab Aiden’s before holding it to the guard at the gate.

The guard searches them both before his eyes land first on Aiden’s, then mine. “Okay, you’re good to go, Miss Carson. Have a good day.”

“Thanks, you too.”

As I direct Aiden to where he needs to park, I feel my nerves kick in again. I rub my damp palms against my jeans before taking a deep, steady breath.

“You’ve got this, Tilly. I’ll be right there with you.”

I nod. “Okay, I’m ready.”

His phone pings as he climbs out. Looking down at it, he walks around the car before opening my door. “The MIB is parked down the street, so if we have any issues, they’re on hand to deal with them.”

“Do you think we will have issues?” I take his hand without thought when he offers it to me and let him help me out of the car.

“No. I think we’ll be fine.”

He closes the door after grabbing my bag and handing it to me.

He pops the locks before taking my hand once more.

I swallow. I should let go. His helping me out of the car is one thing.

Him holding my hand like we’re lovers is something else altogether.

But try as I might, I can’t make myself let go.

“Tell me what to expect.”

“Um. We’re not shooting anything today. We’re doing a final read-through after the script changes. I want to see what the chemistry is like in person instead of over Skype because shooting starts next week.”

He frowns, looking down at me. “You gotta see what the chemistry is like between you and your co-star? Shit, I did not think this through.” He mumbles the last part, making me grin. Was that a hint of jealousy I detected?

“I’m not starring in this movie. I’m directing it. It’s my first solo venture, and I’m pretty freaking nervous about it.”

“Okay, firstly, that’s pretty fucking cool, Tilly,” he tells me quietly, making me blush.

“It is, isn’t it?”

“Very. You know what’s even better?” He tugs me closer, making me gasp as he presses the front of his body against mine.

“N…no…What?”

“That I don’t have to watch some other fucker kiss you.” His head dips, his mouth an inch from mine.

What in the heck is going on here? I’ve experienced insta-lust before, but this is something else.

I’m not sure if him feeling this possessive is a good thing or a red flag. I’m in way over my head and not sure I can even remember the rules of dating. My current boyfriends are all of the book variety.

“Don’t get me started on what the thought of watching someone else touch you does to me.”

I gulp loudly, making him grin.

“Nobody touches me,” I whisper.

“Nobody but me.” His lips hover over mine, but he doesn’t close the distance, and neither do I, thank god. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to push him away. And I would. Probably. Maybe.

Oh boy, I’m in trouble.

Eventually, I pull back. If he’s disappointed, he doesn’t show it.

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be feeling.

I couldn’t crave his lips on mine any more, even if they were dipped in chocolate.

But kissing would inevitably lead to other things, and I’m not ready for that.

I’m not sure I ever will be. Besides, there is something about Aiden that tells me to be cautious.

Not because I think he’s out to hurt me on purpose, but I could get hurt all the same.

I already know he’s not the kind of guy you fuck and forget.

He’s the kind of man you measure all others against.

As much as I hate to admit, I’m not the woman I used to be. I always believed things had a way of working themselves out. After getting slapped with a cold, hard dose of reality, I know the truth. One day, he’ll walk away without looking back. When he does, he’ll leave me behind.