L.A. Cinderella by Amanda Berry

though. Tomorrow was Monday, after all.
    While this fantasy had been fabulous and she never wanted it to end, Monday changed everything. Back to the real world. Back to being an accountant beneath notice and an actor on the cover of People .
    “Whoa, what happened to that smile?” Chase in only a pair of boxer briefs stood in the doorway, balancing a tray. “There it is.” He set the tray on the massive nightstand and joined her on the bed. “I’m sorry to inform you that I’m out of chocolate, but I found some protein instead.”
    He produced a plate with a turkey sandwich cut into squares. “Eat. You need your energy.”
    She smiled and pushed her glasses back up her nose. “Thanks.” Taking a sandwich, she smiled at him.
    He lay down beside her on the bed and rubbed the hem of her shirt between two fingers. The back of his fingers brushed her skin, fanning the ever-present flame.
    He helped himself to a sandwich square and a chocolate-covered strawberry. She couldn’t keep her mind from their shared bath last night or the morning spent in this bed.
    She picked off a corner of the sandwich and chewed it thoughtfully. “What are we going to do about tomorrow?”
    He dragged his finger lazily up her leg. “What about tomorrow?” He kissed her thigh and looked up at her with his lazy grin.
    Her heart leapt, and her body responded with a pulsing need. She needed to focus. “Work. Chase, stop that. We need to talk about work.”
    He picked up her plate and set it on the table. He handed her a bottle of water and sat up on the bed with her. “What about work?” This time his eyes were serious as he watched her drink.
    She almost spilled from the intensity of his gaze. She capped the water before it ended up all over the bed.
    “Well?” He took the bottle from her and set it aside.
    “Well, what do we do about this?”
    He scooted behind her and pulled her back to his front. She leaned her head back against him. He wrapped one arm around her shoulder and the other around her stomach, pulling her tight against him.
    His voice was quiet and soft when he asked, “What do you want?” His arms tightened around her.
    She turned her head so that her cheek rested on his bare chest. His heartbeat echoed in her ears. He made her feel warm and safe and beautiful.
    She sighed. She wanted to stay like this forever, but that wasn’t likely to happen. A whole world waited outside those doors. “I…I don’t know.”
    “Stay with me.”
    “I can’t do that. What about the media?”
    His cheek rested against the top of her head. “What if I weren’t famous and a line of paparazzi didn’t hang on my every move?” His voice had an edge to it.
    “I—I don’t know. I—I—” She’d almost slipped and said “love.” “I like you, Chase. I like spending time with you, but this can’t possibly work.”
    “What if we didn’t go public? What if we kept this to ourselves?” It sounded reasonable, but how many other girls had thought the same thing and ended up as tabloid fodder.
    “Has that ever worked? It seems like those relationships always get caught. I can’t be that girl. I don’t want that kind of attention.”
    Desperation filled her. She didn’t want to stop seeing Chase, but what choice did she have? She wasn’t made of the stuff needed to be a Hollywood star’s girlfriend. Shewould be compared to all his ex-girlfriends. There was no way she could measure up against the likes of Alexis Brandt. Eventually Chase would realize the mistake he’d made by being with Natalie.
    His arms squeezed her. He shifted them until she lay under him. In the move, the soft T-shirt had bunched up at her waist. He lowered his mouth to hers. Afraid this could be over, she met his lips with all the desire she felt. Her hands grabbed his head to hold it there.
    His hands skimmed down her sides to her panties, and her body arched up into his erection. This could be the last time. She didn’t want this to ever end.
    He