a fan by dispelling the myth?”
“What myth?”
“That you’re utterly irresistible and every woman you meet ends up in bed with you.”
He choked out a cough that turned into a rich laugh. “Ah, that myth. I take everything I said back. I don’t know what possessed me to lie to you just now.”
She smiled because he was genuinely amused by the madness of his life. “Apology accepted.”
Her focus switched to the gates of her house as they were swung open by unknown minions. The media surged forward, several trying to make it through the gap, others taking their chance to snap photos and shout questions and bang on the windows and doors of the van. It was a similar atmosphere to a protest rally, but these people were on her property.
“I don’t know how you cope with this.”
He didn’t respond, his attention fixed on the gates as he waited for a path to be cleared. His life seemed devoid of anything worthwhile, but she stomped on the pity that swelled inside her.
He’d chosen to live this way and probably didn’t know what he was missing.
Jake unlocked his door and slid across the bench seat toward her as a security guard climbed into the driver’s seat. Their driver appeared to have little regard for human safety, and within a few minutes they made it through the gates to the comparative safety of her yard. Without a word, the guard pulled the van to a halt near her front door and alighted to open her door for her.
She dashed to the front door and fumbled the key in the lock, the air between her and Jake thickening as the front door closed, offering complete privacy for the first time in hours. Question time was probably over, but she couldn’t let it drop.
“Can I…ask you one more thing?”
“Before you decide I’m irresistible and climb into bed with me?”
Heat rushed to her face but laughter accompanied it. “Yes, before that. Today has raised some questions for me.”
“I thought it might.” He held his hand out to her and she took it, digging her heels in when he tried to hustle her down the hall.
“Wait, I need to show you a couple of things.” She pointed to a series of discreet scribbles on the closest doorframe to where they stood. “These are mine. They’re a record of how tall I was on each birthday till I was sixteen, and I adore them because they’re in my father’s handwriting. We stopped after…we decided sixteen was a good enough number. And these photos here on the crystal cabinet are special too.” She pointed again. “That’s my mum, and my grandpa crafted this three-way mirror as an anniversary gift for my nan. This dress—”
“Was your mother’s. It’s beautiful, Beth, but why are these things significant?” He looked at her carefully then rephrased.
“They’re special, I can see that. Why are you sharing them with me?”
“I wouldn’t be the same person without them. I can run my hand over almost anything in this house and recognize its texture.
Put it all together and they make up my reality. I have an affinity with this collection of inanimate objects and I wondered what you hold close. Is it your family, something you’ve bought, an old baseball glove from your childhood…anything?”
Her hand squeezed his as she struggled to articulate her thoughts. “You have the luxury of living among my things, but I’m not getting that same privilege and I can’t reconcile what I’ve seen and heard of you and your life so far. I’m hoping you’ll give me a bit of insight so I know what’s important and what’s just for show.”
He shook his head.
Shock coursed through her. “Fine.” My voice just had to wobble, didn’t it? “Keep your famous secrets, but at least tell me this. Is anything in your life real? Or is it all just smoke and mirrors?”
“My music is real.”
Had he just admitted that his music was the only real thing in his life? She raised one brow to prompt him to continue, but he didn’t. An
“What myth?”
“That you’re utterly irresistible and every woman you meet ends up in bed with you.”
He choked out a cough that turned into a rich laugh. “Ah, that myth. I take everything I said back. I don’t know what possessed me to lie to you just now.”
She smiled because he was genuinely amused by the madness of his life. “Apology accepted.”
Her focus switched to the gates of her house as they were swung open by unknown minions. The media surged forward, several trying to make it through the gap, others taking their chance to snap photos and shout questions and bang on the windows and doors of the van. It was a similar atmosphere to a protest rally, but these people were on her property.
“I don’t know how you cope with this.”
He didn’t respond, his attention fixed on the gates as he waited for a path to be cleared. His life seemed devoid of anything worthwhile, but she stomped on the pity that swelled inside her.
He’d chosen to live this way and probably didn’t know what he was missing.
Jake unlocked his door and slid across the bench seat toward her as a security guard climbed into the driver’s seat. Their driver appeared to have little regard for human safety, and within a few minutes they made it through the gates to the comparative safety of her yard. Without a word, the guard pulled the van to a halt near her front door and alighted to open her door for her.
She dashed to the front door and fumbled the key in the lock, the air between her and Jake thickening as the front door closed, offering complete privacy for the first time in hours. Question time was probably over, but she couldn’t let it drop.
“Can I…ask you one more thing?”
“Before you decide I’m irresistible and climb into bed with me?”
Heat rushed to her face but laughter accompanied it. “Yes, before that. Today has raised some questions for me.”
“I thought it might.” He held his hand out to her and she took it, digging her heels in when he tried to hustle her down the hall.
“Wait, I need to show you a couple of things.” She pointed to a series of discreet scribbles on the closest doorframe to where they stood. “These are mine. They’re a record of how tall I was on each birthday till I was sixteen, and I adore them because they’re in my father’s handwriting. We stopped after…we decided sixteen was a good enough number. And these photos here on the crystal cabinet are special too.” She pointed again. “That’s my mum, and my grandpa crafted this three-way mirror as an anniversary gift for my nan. This dress—”
“Was your mother’s. It’s beautiful, Beth, but why are these things significant?” He looked at her carefully then rephrased.
“They’re special, I can see that. Why are you sharing them with me?”
“I wouldn’t be the same person without them. I can run my hand over almost anything in this house and recognize its texture.
Put it all together and they make up my reality. I have an affinity with this collection of inanimate objects and I wondered what you hold close. Is it your family, something you’ve bought, an old baseball glove from your childhood…anything?”
Her hand squeezed his as she struggled to articulate her thoughts. “You have the luxury of living among my things, but I’m not getting that same privilege and I can’t reconcile what I’ve seen and heard of you and your life so far. I’m hoping you’ll give me a bit of insight so I know what’s important and what’s just for show.”
He shook his head.
Shock coursed through her. “Fine.” My voice just had to wobble, didn’t it? “Keep your famous secrets, but at least tell me this. Is anything in your life real? Or is it all just smoke and mirrors?”
“My music is real.”
Had he just admitted that his music was the only real thing in his life? She raised one brow to prompt him to continue, but he didn’t. An
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