Page 87
“I’ll drive her home,” Micahsaid.
“No, I’ll meet you at the car,” Maddie growled, making sure Bree understood and didn’t drive off withouther.
Bree nodded as the elevator doors opened to the parking garage. “Take your time,” she said over her shoulder as she walked toward hercar.
Micah pulled Maddie by the elbow into the small lounge next to the elevator, a waiting area for when valet was available. Her skin burned under his grip, but too soon, he let her go, depositing her on an upholstered bench. He sat on the bench perpendicular to her and met hereyes.
He stared at her without speaking for several long seconds. Finally he spoke. “You’re mad atme.”
Maddie pursed her lips. “I’m not mad atyou.”
He cocked his head. “Then why are you avoidingme?”
“I’m...” She considered all the answers she could give including the stock I’m not avoiding you. She settled on the truth. Why not? She’d told Bree she would be honest with him if she had the chance. “Because I’m afraid if I see you again, I’ll never want to not see you again.”
He sighed, as though relieved by her response. “Then don’t not see me again.” He reached over and stroked her cheek. “I missyou.”
She leaned into his caress, her skin vibrating under his touch. “I miss you, too.”
“I tried to tell you, we can still see each other.”
She took his hand from her face and held it in her lap. There. She could concentrate better. “But you’ve already decided we won’t work out, Micah. So I didn’t see the point.”
“Forget what I’ve said.” He put his other hand around hers. “No decisions. No preconceived notions. One day at a time. I want to keep seeingyou.”
Her heart sped up at his admission. “Then you believe a celebrity relationship might workout?”
“I still don’t know that yet, Maddie.”
She pulled away before he finished talking, wrapping her arms around herself. “I can’t do this, Micah. I can’t be a test subject for your theory.”
“That’s not at all what you are.” He brushed his hand through his hair. “This is hard for me, Maddie. Why can’t you give me time to figure all of thisout?”
“How do you plan to do that? The shoot’s over. We can’t sneak around so easily. People will see us together and you’ll have to admit that we’re something. What will you say to the press?”
He answered her with a guilty stare.
“Oh, I get it.” Realization dawned on her. “You aren’t planning on telling anyone anything.”
“It’s nobody’s business butours.”
“How do you imagine that will work? Do we get hotel rooms? Or do I just act like I’m all into Fudge when we’re in public and hope the media just assumes I’m with him? Or do you just not say anything and let everyone think I’m just another one of Micah’s many girls?”
“Don’t make it sound so disgusting. It’s not likethat.”
“Then what is itlike?”
Micah stood and paced the room. “You don’t get it, Maddie. The press makes everything a whole other ballgame.” He stopped and faced her. “The minute they’re involved, they’ll descend onus.”
“You mean, the minute they’re involved, it’sreal.”
“No, that’s not what I mean.” He put one hand on his waist, his fingers resting at the band of his slacks. “I’m trying to protect you, Maddie. You can’t imagine the things they’ll say. They’ll dig up your Beaumont past. They’ll dismiss your movie because you’re Micah Preston’s girlfriend.”
“Or you’re afraid that I’ll take advantage of you because I’m your girlfriend.”
“That’s Lulu talking. You aren’t like that and I know it. And I couldn’t care less what the media thinks about my involvement with your movie. What I do care about is what they say aboutyou.”
She stood as if gathering her argument around her before delivering it full force. “But that’s what it means to be part of your life, Micah. And I want to be part of it! All of your life, not just the parts you think I’m ready for. How else will I ever know what it really means to loveyou?”
