Page 8 of Burn the Script

Graham swallowed, hard. The fracture in his arrogance offered a glimpse of the gentleman I had met on the beach. And when he spoke again, it was with a quieter voice. “I’m not who the public thinks I am. Not really. I’m protective of my private life.”

“Private.” I scoffed. “You’re dating a famous singer.”

Not just any singer. He was dating Makenzie, and she happened to be the biggest pop star on the rise.

“Managing fame is like playing that whack-a-mole game. While the media spins the stories I feed them, I get to live my real life in peace.”

We were chess pieces, advancing and retreating around the stifling conference room. Somehow, I had ended up on the other side of the table with Graham blocking my path to the door. I inched sideways, keeping him in my sights.

“So you want me to be your little, gay Hollywood secret? How original.”

His eyes crinkled at the corners. At least one of us was enjoying the battle of wills. “I want to get to know you, Miguel. Join me for dinner. Then I’ll drop the lawsuit, and you can decide where we go from there.”

“That’s bribery. You’re a pretender and a shady character.”

My hip hit the bar cart. The glass bottles rattled. I jumped, plastering my back to the wall. Between my clumsiness, the toxic pheromones he put off, and his sultry stare, my flesh was on fire.

I pulled at my shirt collar. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m edible!” I snapped. Jesus Christ, my jacket had shrunk two sizes, and we were getting off track. Wiping my brow, I asked, “How did you even find me?”

“I had your name and occupation. Apparently, that was enough.” Graham’s disarming smile appeared, the one that had me sitting in the grass and dirtying up my nice pants. “One dinner. At my place.”

“What if I’m married?”

“My source tells me you’re not.”

“I could be in a committed relationship.” I straightened my shoulders, presenting a more dignified stance. The thought of any sort of romantic entanglement made me queasy.

“Are you? If so, I apologize for overstepping and hope we can at least become friends.”

He wasn’t selling the innocent tone while his feet crept toward me. I’d always been a terrible liar, and he saw right through my poor acting skills. And those luscious lips of his were a distraction.

Throwing my hands up, I said, “Fine. I’m single, okay?”

“Then have dinner with me. What harm could come of it?”

I was a daring person, to a certain degree. As long as my life and principles weren’t at risk, and no athletic skills beyond pedaling were required, I would dabble in adventure. Three months earlier, I had created a social media account to show off my sewing projects.

More recently, I indulged in conversation with a stranger who came to my rescue. Graham’s care and compassion piqued my interest, which was why I stuck around at the beach. If I had known he was a celebrity, I would’ve fled the scene without hesitation.

It was one thing to present myself on social media, where I had control of my narrative and could pull the plug if people judged me harshly. Linking myself to someone famous could expose me to broader, unchecked scrutiny. I had no interest in the spotlight, but I was curious to know the reason I had captured Graham’s attention.

“I’m not into casual sex,” I said, and it was the truth.

I was highly selective and slow to act with bed partners. If he was looking for a one-night stand or a booty call, he chose the wrong the guy.

“It’s not sex I’m after.” He paused with the unspoken yet resting on his tongue. When all he got in response were my erratic pulse and scorching cheeks, he carried on. “I want to know more about you. Everything from your darkest secret to your preferred brand of toothpaste.”

I raised my chin. “You won’t find any darkness in me. I’m too shiny.”

“Yes, you are. Brilliantly so.” The last two words danced on a whisper.

We stood inches apart. His heated, amber gaze touched all the contours of my face, like a lover’s caress. Or maybe this was what it felt like to be eye-fucked.

Notes of patchouli and sandalwood tickled my nose with every breath. His sweet, earthy scent was faint on the beach, but up close, he smelled like nature’s most poisonous berry.