table. “I understand. I’ll head to the airport.”
Evan jumped toward her. “No, that’s not what I want. I never want that.”
She whipped around, her eyes firing into his. “What do you want? You didn’t want me last night. You fell asleep. Then I overhear this morning that my surprise trip has ruined your big PR plans. It’s obvious I don’t belong here. I shouldn’t have come. I’m just in the way. I can pack up and be out of here in ten minutes.”
“No, no, no. You don’t get it. I don’t give a damn about the movie PR. I’m doing it for you. I want to keep them away from you. If we give them just one photo op, your life will be a living nightmare. If I keep the spotlight on Emmy and me, it takes it off you. That’s all I want. I want to keep you safe.”
It may have sounded sensible, but it didn’t cure the burn that had invaded her body. All the jealousy, the embarrassment, and the suspicions he wanted her to stay in the shadows had taken hold, and no logical explanation was going to unwrap their talons.
“I’ll head back to Austin today, and you won’t have to worry about it.” She turned toward the bedroom, hoping she could make it before the tears started sliding down her cheeks.
“Haven.” Evan grabbed her arm, spinning her to face him. “I don’t want you to go. You can’t go.”
She couldn’t look at him. “I think it’s the best thing for both of us right now. We can talk about it later when I’m gone.”
“You don’t really believe that. How can the best thing for either of us be you leaving when we can’t stand to be on opposite sides of the room from each other?” He dropped his grip. “You’re like a magnet to me. I won’t be able to think about anything but you. I can’t think about anything but your blue eyes, your laugh.” He paused. “Your stubbornness.” He chuckled. “Girl, you have lost it if you think I would be happier with you back in Texas. I can barely breathe when you’re gone.”
“But I heard what you said to Jeff. And I know about ‘Evmy.’ I can’t stay.”
Then before she had a chance to stop them, the tears fell.
“Baby, don’t cry. I know this was a horrible start to your L.A. trip, but we can turn it around.” His thumb brushed a tear that had descended toward her chin. She felt the warmth in his touch, and it stirred hope she thought was lost. Little flickers of hope that just needed fanning.
“How are we going to do that?” She looked at him, needing answers from him that would soothe all the confusion and hurt she felt.
“First, we’re going to start by me loving you like I should have last night.” He stepped closer, filling all her senses.
“I-I—”
“And don’t argue with me.” He scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom, proving for the next two hours that he was a man of his word.
F OUR DAYS later, Evan watched his jet take off east, carrying Haven and her suitcases back to Austin. He shook his head. Somehow, they had managed to salvage the trip, but he didn’t feel any better about putting her on that plane and sending her home. He already missed her. Most of the time he was on the set, but she seemed to be coming around to the idea. It was better she never visited the set location. He had to keep her far from Emmy.
He pointed the car onto the freeway. Shooting started in twenty minutes, and he barely had enough time to make it to the studio. He dialed Emmy’s number.
“Hey, babe. Where are you? We’re getting ready to start and I just stopped by your trailer.”
“I’m running a few minutes late. I’m on my way. Cover for me?”
“Of course. See you soon.”
He tossed the phone in the console. Emmy had her moments.
Today they were shooting a hospital scene, so for once he didn’t have to wear his birthday suit to shoot the damn movie. If he could just get through the rest of this, he promised himself he would never do another film like this again. He didn’t care what doors it
Evan jumped toward her. “No, that’s not what I want. I never want that.”
She whipped around, her eyes firing into his. “What do you want? You didn’t want me last night. You fell asleep. Then I overhear this morning that my surprise trip has ruined your big PR plans. It’s obvious I don’t belong here. I shouldn’t have come. I’m just in the way. I can pack up and be out of here in ten minutes.”
“No, no, no. You don’t get it. I don’t give a damn about the movie PR. I’m doing it for you. I want to keep them away from you. If we give them just one photo op, your life will be a living nightmare. If I keep the spotlight on Emmy and me, it takes it off you. That’s all I want. I want to keep you safe.”
It may have sounded sensible, but it didn’t cure the burn that had invaded her body. All the jealousy, the embarrassment, and the suspicions he wanted her to stay in the shadows had taken hold, and no logical explanation was going to unwrap their talons.
“I’ll head back to Austin today, and you won’t have to worry about it.” She turned toward the bedroom, hoping she could make it before the tears started sliding down her cheeks.
“Haven.” Evan grabbed her arm, spinning her to face him. “I don’t want you to go. You can’t go.”
She couldn’t look at him. “I think it’s the best thing for both of us right now. We can talk about it later when I’m gone.”
“You don’t really believe that. How can the best thing for either of us be you leaving when we can’t stand to be on opposite sides of the room from each other?” He dropped his grip. “You’re like a magnet to me. I won’t be able to think about anything but you. I can’t think about anything but your blue eyes, your laugh.” He paused. “Your stubbornness.” He chuckled. “Girl, you have lost it if you think I would be happier with you back in Texas. I can barely breathe when you’re gone.”
“But I heard what you said to Jeff. And I know about ‘Evmy.’ I can’t stay.”
Then before she had a chance to stop them, the tears fell.
“Baby, don’t cry. I know this was a horrible start to your L.A. trip, but we can turn it around.” His thumb brushed a tear that had descended toward her chin. She felt the warmth in his touch, and it stirred hope she thought was lost. Little flickers of hope that just needed fanning.
“How are we going to do that?” She looked at him, needing answers from him that would soothe all the confusion and hurt she felt.
“First, we’re going to start by me loving you like I should have last night.” He stepped closer, filling all her senses.
“I-I—”
“And don’t argue with me.” He scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom, proving for the next two hours that he was a man of his word.
F OUR DAYS later, Evan watched his jet take off east, carrying Haven and her suitcases back to Austin. He shook his head. Somehow, they had managed to salvage the trip, but he didn’t feel any better about putting her on that plane and sending her home. He already missed her. Most of the time he was on the set, but she seemed to be coming around to the idea. It was better she never visited the set location. He had to keep her far from Emmy.
He pointed the car onto the freeway. Shooting started in twenty minutes, and he barely had enough time to make it to the studio. He dialed Emmy’s number.
“Hey, babe. Where are you? We’re getting ready to start and I just stopped by your trailer.”
“I’m running a few minutes late. I’m on my way. Cover for me?”
“Of course. See you soon.”
He tossed the phone in the console. Emmy had her moments.
Today they were shooting a hospital scene, so for once he didn’t have to wear his birthday suit to shoot the damn movie. If he could just get through the rest of this, he promised himself he would never do another film like this again. He didn’t care what doors it
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