Текст книги "Take Two"

Автор книги: Laurelin Paige

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Текущая страница: 11 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

Chapter Nineteen

Maddie pulled a button-down black shirt out of the closet to drape over her tank top, and glanced at Micah, still half-asleep in the bed behind her.

As if feeling her gaze, he stirred. “What are you doing?” he mumbled.

“Getting dressed.”

“Stop it. Take your clothes off and get back in here with me.”

She grinned. It took every ounce of strength she had not to obey him. Not just because he made her horny as hell, but also because she liked being with him. Loved being with him. No matter what they did. In fact, after two and a half weeks of secret kisses during the day and passionate lovemaking at night, she was beginning to hope the two of them had something that would last beyond the shoot.

But since she couldn’t be sure he felt the same, she desperately wanted to hold on to each moment, including this one.

Unfortunately, she had to leave for location in twenty minutes. “You know I can’t.” She relished in his pout, then leaned over the bed to give him a swift kiss. “So, lover boy, what are you going to do with your day off?”

“Actually…” He paused, stretching his beautiful naked body.

Maddie’s eyes widened as they wandered to the delicious V of his lower torso that peeked above the sheets. She was so distracted she almost missed his answer.

“…with Lulu.”

Lulu? Did he say he was spending the day with his mother? “Excuse me, what did you say?”

“My mother. She’s coming in this morning. Fudge is picking her up from the airport after he drops you off on the set.”

“Oh.” Micah’s mother was flying in. And this was the first she was hearing about it. “Oh,” she said again, straightening.

She turned to the mirror and redid her hair’s ponytail, even though it looked fine already. “How long is she going to be here?” Maddie hoped her voice didn’t sound as choked as it felt.

In the mirror, she saw him sit up and lean back against the headboard. “Today. Then I’m sending her off to a spa in Estes Park first thing tomorrow morning.”

She watched her reflection’s brows furrow. “That’s not very long. You won’t get to spend any time with her.” But what she meant was that she wouldn’t get to spend any time with Lulu. And as her interest in Micah was growing exponentially every day, she had a strong desire to meet his mother. She didn’t even know much about Micah’s mother except that she’d been a former actress and that she’d helped push his career. There was so much more to glean from knowing her.

And she wasn’t going to get the chance.

“I have all of today with her. Believe me, that’s enough.”

Realizing that she couldn’t pretend to fuss in the mirror forever, Maddie sat in the room’s arm chair and tugged on her sneakers. Still unable to meet his eyes, afraid he’d see she was upset, she kept her focus strictly on her shoelaces. “How long have you been planning this?”

“Um, a couple of days. I’m taking her to the fundraiser thing tonight.”

He meant the Evening with Joss Beaumont, a charity event sponsored by the Denver Film Society. Beaumont had decided to wrap early that day and bought tickets for all of the cast and crew. Actually, it had been Bree’s idea, but the director took the credit. Though all of the crew had been invited, the focus would be on the VIPs. Bree had arranged for a red carpet at the theater for their entrances and publicized their attendance, hoping to draw more interest in the event.

Maddie stood but sat back down to redo her shoes when she realized her laces were too tight. Or maybe that was her chest. Everything felt tense and off. “Maybe I should go to Beaumont’s thing after all.”

“I thought you decided last week that you didn’t want to go.” Even Micah’s voice sounded tense. Had he picked up on her vibe?

She heard him moving and she turned to see his backside as he climbed out of the bed. “I don’t want to.” She didn’t. Not with even an ounce of her being. Sit through a night listening to the asshole talk about himself while a room full of people ooo’d and ahh’d? She’d rather shoot herself.

Besides, she hadn’t packed any dresses for Colorado. Bree had overnighted one to her for the event, but it was more formal than she was used to. Though dressing up for Micah had almost changed her mind. He’d never seen her in anything but tanks and jeans and sweats. And naked. He’d definitely seen her naked.

“Then don’t go.” He walked over to where she sat and pulled her up to stand in front of him. Then he ran his hands up and down her arms. “Stay home, take a bath. Enjoy the night off.”

Now that sounded like a good time. Except, not so much without Micah there. And was he trying to keep her away? “Do you not want me to go?”

“I didn’t say that.” He sighed and pulled her into his arms. “It’s just, like you said, why would you go to honor a man you hate?”

“That’s why I wasn’t going to go.” Even as he comforted her, she could feel the truth in her fear. He didn’t want her there. She didn’t like that. She wanted him everywhere with her. That he didn’t feel the same—was that an indication that he didn’t feel the same about where there relationship was going as she did?

She couldn’t think about that now. It was too big. One day at a time. And this day, his mother was coming into town. “But now your mom is going to be there.”

“Why does that change anything?”

Maddie pulled back to study him. Was he really going to pretend that his mother’s visit was insignificant?

He met her eyes then sighed. “Look, I don’t want to go either. But I have to go, because I don’t know, somehow people will give more money if I’m there. And you and I decided no press events so I thought it would be easier to take Lulu. It was either that or go as Heather’s date.”

“No way.” She brushed past him and busied herself with gathering her computer into her bag.

“And that’s why I invited my mother.” His voice changed, as though he suddenly understood. “Does that bother you, Maddie? Did you want me to ask you?”

“No, no that’s not it.” She zipped her bag and spun to face him. “It’s that you didn’t tell me you invited your mother. You’ll be at that all night and I’m going to be on set all morning and then she’s going to be gone. I won’t even have a chance to…”

And then it clicked.

He’d planned the timeline of Lulu’s visit on purpose. He didn’t want them to meet.

The tightness in her chest increased tenfold, like a boulder was crushing against her. “Oh. I see.”

“Maddie…”

He stepped toward her, but she stepped back. “No, it’s fine.” God, how had she been so stupid? They weren’t committed to each other. Why would he want her to meet his mother? “It’s a big deal. Introducing someone to a parent. I get it. Seriously. I wasn’t thinking. It’s fine.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Totally fine.” Though the tears gathering in her eyes would beg to disagree. She turned back to mess with her bag so he wouldn’t notice.

“Okay.” She heard the resignation in his voice. “I’m jumping in the shower. We have reservations in Denver for dinner at five so I won’t be here when you get back.”

“Okay.”

She heard the door to the bathroom close and the first tear spilled.

Then at the sound of the door opening again, she swiped quickly at her face.

“Maddie.” He waited until she turned to look at him. He knew she was hiding tears—it read all over his face as he leaned against the doorframe. “I also really want you to know each other.”

The weight in her chest loosened. “You do?”

“Yeah. I do.”

“Then do I get to meet her?”

“I…don’t…know.”

The relief she’d felt a moment before was replaced with bone-deep hurt. Another tear trailed down her face, her voice gruff. “So what do you want me to do? Pretend I don’t know you? Do I need to get another hotel room?”

“No!” He crossed to her and wrapped her in his embrace. “No, I want you with me.”

His arms made her feel better. She could feel in his touch what he couldn’t say—that he was torn, that he didn’t know how to handle the situation any more than she did.

He pressed his lips to her forehead before tilting her chin up so their eyes would meet. “And I don’t want you to pretend anything. I can barely handle restraining myself on set. But my mother…it is big. For me. And I just thought we could maybe take it the way we’ve been taking everything else. See how things go. Maybe we can do breakfast tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She smiled. Surprisingly, a genuine smile. “We’ll see how things go. If breakfast happens, it happens. If not, I won’t take it personally. As long as I still get to sleep here tonight.”

“If you don’t, I’ll come find you and molest you in your sleep.”

“Promise?”

He kissed her deeply. When he broke away he said, “What do you think?”

“I think I need to be going.” She reached her hand around to fondle his ass. “And you need to get in the shower before I’m tempted to be late.”

They lingered a few more minutes in each other’s arms before saying their goodbyes. By the time Maddie stepped out in the hall, she felt better. A lot better. Even though she longed for Micah to be certain about them, as certain as she was becoming, she couldn’t expect him to be there yet. Not after less than three weeks. Not when he was so relationship-phobic to begin with.

She met Fudge in the lobby and together they walked down to the car he’d rented for Micah. He opened the passenger door for her like the gentleman he was, and she wondered if the photographer that she spotted sitting across from the hotel assumed she was hooking up with Micah’s bodyguard. She came and left the hotel more with Fudge than she ever did with Micah. And there were always photographers.

“Sounds like you have a busy day off,” Maddie said as Fudge strapped himself into his seat.

“Day off, my ass. My days off are when Micah’s on set. Days away from set, he turns me into his driver, his errand boy, his personal shopper. So annoying.” But he smiled and Maddie knew his complaining was mostly talk. “You’re still not going tonight?”

“No.” She still had doubts about her decision to stay behind, but she’d made up her mind.

As if the conversation had cued it to go off, her phone buzzed with a text.

I want pics of u in that dress!

Maddie grimaced as she typed her reply to Bree. Not going. Bree was going to be pissed. She’d believed she was doing the crew a favor getting them invites to the shin-dig.

I’m calling u.

Her phone rang before she’d even finished reading her text. “Sorry about this,” she said to Fudge. Then she answered her call. “I hate Beaumont. Why would I go?”

“Free drinks.” What had she expected from Bree? She had always been the quintessential party girl—had always believed life was better with liquor.

“The free drinks is a good draw,” Fudge agreed. Leave it to Bree to talk so loudly that Fudge could hear her.

“I don’t want to go,” Maddie said firmly to both of them. “And Micah doesn’t want me there.”

Bree gasped. “Then that’s exactly why you have to go!”

“Your friend has a point,” Fudge added. “You can’t let Micah get away with acting like chickenshit.”

“Exactly,” said Bree. “Who is that awesome advice coming from anyway?”

“Fudge. Micah’s bodyguard. I told you about him.” Realizing she was going to be ganged up on whether she wanted it or not, she put her phone on speaker. “Bree this is Fudge. Fudge, this annoying voice is Bree. My whacko best friend.”

“Hello, Bree,” Fudge said.

Instead of exchanging a greeting, Bree said, “Don’t you think Maddie should go, Fudge?”

“I don’t know. I can see benefits to both options.”

“Fudge, don’t say any more unless it’s to agree with me.”

Maddie gave Fudge her best I’m-sorry-about-my-friend look. She’d perfected it over the years of knowing Bree.

“But his mother will be there,” Maddie said, back on topic. “I really won’t be able to talk to Micah at all. It’ll be awkward and not any fun.”

Fudge nodded. “Well, that might be true.”

At the same time Bree said, “No, it will be highly informative and you need to go.”

“What do you mean by informative?”

“His mom, Maddie.”

“He’s not ready to introduce me to his mom, Bree. We’ve barely been dating.”

“He doesn’t have to introduce you as the love of his life or anything. But just being there and seeing her—you’ll find out stuff.”

“Meeting Lulu could actually be a real trip,” Fudge said. “She’s made a big impact on his relationship mumbo-jumbo shit.”

“Thank you, Fudge,” Bree said. “Listen to him, Maddie. Fudge knows. And also, Maddie, you’ve only ever been with Micah in one setting, and it’s not a permanent one. There’s so much more to his life than that. Not your life, but his.”

“Uh, thanks.” But that wasn’t far off from the truth. Maddie’s life was always working on a film. There was no press, no big celebrity events, no fans. There were wrap parties, of course, but that wasn’t the same as big charity fundraisers or award show receptions.

“I’m sorry, Maddie, but that’s the truth. You need to see Micah in his realm. You know, the world of flashbulbs and red carpet and pretty people saying pretty things to pretty people with microphones.”

“It’s a totally different side of Micah,” Fudge agreed.

Maddie chewed the inside of her lip, considering. Though she was certain she’d still be attracted to Micah in his realm, she didn’t have any idea where she fit in it, if at all.

“You need to know what it would be like,” Bree continued softly. “If you stay together.”

And that was the real reason Maddie hadn’t wanted to go. She was happy being Micah’s secret girlfriend on the set, but that didn’t translate to girlfriend in real life. She was afraid to find out what that would be like. Afraid it would be awful. Afraid that he wouldn’t be able to make room for her there.

“I get that you’re scared, Maddie. But you have to find out. Please respect yourself enough to know what you’re getting into.”

Maddie’s resolve was diminishing despite her protest. “We haven’t even discussed a future.” But she thought about it constantly, despite her one-day-at-a-time promise. And now that their time on the shoot was running out, they’d have to make a decision about going forward. Could she handle his real life?

She needed to find out.

“All right,” Maddie sighed. “I’ll go.

Chapter Twenty

Maddie took a sip of rosé wine as she scanned the doors of the Buell Theater lobby for the millionth time. Still no Micah. Who made up the stupid rule that actors were supposed to show up to charity functions so late anyway? Probably the same person who decided that the production crew had to show up on time.

God, she was nervous. She had thought about texting Micah to tell him she was coming, but she wasn’t sure what his reaction would be. At least she looked good. Even though she wasn’t a girly-girl, she could clean up. The silver organza baby-doll dress Bree had sent her hit mid-thigh and, thanks to running, she had nice legs. The sweetheart bodice embellished with rhinestones did awesome things for her boobs and matched the rhinestones that decorated her black stilettos. Yeah, she looked damn good.

“You have to try these crab cakes.” Joe balanced a handful of hors d’oeuvres he had swiped from one of the trays.

“I’m not really hun—” He popped one in her mouth before she could finish. The cake melted on her tongue and surprised her with its deliciousness. “Okay, that was good,” she said after she swallowed. Truth was she hadn’t been able to eat much of anything. She was too anxious about the evening, about spending the night with hundreds of people she didn’t know and the one person she was starting to know pretty damn well. Especially because she had to pretend she didn’t know that person so well.

“The bruschetta is awesome too,” Joe said around a mouthful of crab cakes. “Grab some when the next tray comes along.”

Maddie felt a hand at the small of her back and she turned, hopeful, to face the owner.

“Wow!”

Sam. Not Micah.

If Micah had arrived, there’d be more buzz. And he wouldn’t touch her in public. He didn’t on set, and he definitely wouldn’t here.

“You look stunning.” Sam’s blue eyes sparkled, not in the lustful way that Micah’s did when he looked at her, but in a way that spoke volumes about his admiration for her.

She blushed, unsure how to handle his crush. “Thank you. You look great in a tux.”

“Ah, this old thing?”

He said more, but Maddie didn’t hear it over the commotion at the front doors. Cameras flashed and people pressed against the ropes that created a mock red carpet for the VIP attendees. She had a good view from where she stood at the bar, and crowds began to gather as Heather Wainwright made her entrance.

Maddie tensed. Fudge walked in, wearing black sunglasses in full-out bodyguard mode. He held the door open for Micah, who strode in with a beautiful brunette on his arm. He was handsome as ever in his black tux and tie. He seemed untouchable and godlike. Like the president or a celebrity.

Of course that was exactly what he was—a celebrity. Sometimes Maddie forgot.

It wasn’t hard to forget now. Micah posed and waved as he walked down the carpet, his smile wide and his eyes twinkling. Lulu stepped aside with Fudge to let Micah have his glory alone, though Heather stood by him in many of the shots. She looked beautiful at his side, her blonde hair standing out against the red floor-length gown that hugged her tightly around her curvy parts.

Maddie felt an undercurrent of jealousy spark under her calm exterior as she watched the spectacle over Joe’s shoulder, despite all that she and Micah had worked through. Their tryst in the woods had worked to make filming the sex scene a non-issue. Maddie knew she’d had the real deal and that everything on set was acting.

But she couldn’t say that now, because even though Micah had brought his mother, Heather was the one who got to walk down the carpet with him. Heather was the one who could lean over and whisper in his ear and laugh at some interviewer’s question, her arm casually resting on Micah’s shoulder. Heather was the one who could be photographed with him.

Maddie got to admire from a distance. Like a fan. Like a mistress.

“Hey, was that shrimp cocktail?” Joe followed the caterer, stepping out of Maddie’s sightline, giving her a clear view of the man she was fucking on a regular basis.

She recognized the minute he saw her. He was joking for the press with a fellow actor, when he stilled mid-laugh, his brows raised in surprise, his stare piercing her like a hot laser. Jaw set, his eyes swept up and down her body, devouring her.

She straightened as the electricity that passed through his heated gaze ignited every nerve in her body, warming her. Her face flushed with desire, her lower belly tightened, and she’d bet money he was hard under his black pants.

But it wasn’t just sexual energy that passed between them. It was more—something intangible and unable to name. The lobby that had held hundreds of people just a moment before now held no one but him and her, and the raw emotions that encompassed them. It frightened and excited her, that he could affect her so with just a look, that she could affect him in the same way.

Then a flashbulb went off and the spell was broken. Micah was back in character, charming and charismatic for the crowd.

“It seems the talent has arrived,” Sam said, leaning into her so she could hear over the din. His body heat lacked in comparison to Micah’s penetrating eyes and she shivered in their wake. “For once I think the crew got the better end of the deal.”

“Hmm, what?” She was distracted. How did Micah confound her so completely? How could she feel totally bereft of him one moment and then consumed by him the next?

And she still didn’t know if he was glad to see her there. How had he seemed? Surprised. Appreciative of her attire, maybe. What else, she couldn’t guess. And she wouldn’t be able to find out for hours, probably, since she couldn’t have a real conversation with him until they were alone at their hotel.

Yeah, the secret thing sucked.

But, if they decided to keep seeing each other, eventually it wouldn’t be secret. And then Maddie could walk in with him, though she’d likely still have to watch him pose with his costars while she stood off to the side as Lulu did now. No two ways about it, dating a celebrity was tricky.

Maddie moved her focus to Lucille Preston. Not surprisingly, she was as beautiful as her son. Her dark hair was coiffed short, framing her oval face. Her body, from what Maddie could see through the crowds, trim and fit for a woman her age. She appeared completely at ease in her short black formal dress and her son the center of attention.

Could Maddie be like that? Could she stand aside and watch her lover be pursued and pounced on by the press? It seemed…awkward and kind of a drag.

“It just doesn’t look very fun to be all paparazzi’d like that,” Sam said, continuing a conversation that Maddie kept forgetting they were having.

No shit.

Joe returned then with a plate full of shrimp cocktail and a few other members of the crew. “Look who I found.”

Maddie let the group surround her, grateful for the number so she could dissolve into the background. Minutes passed where she smiled and nodded automatically to whatever was said, not knowing what she was smiling and nodding at. All the while, she snuck peeks at Micah and his mother, always aware of where he stood and who he stood with—more often than not with Heather.

Maddie wanted to poke Heather’s eyes out with her stilettos. It would be a shame to ruin such a nice pair of shoes though, so she shut the thought out of her mind.

“Are we all sitting together?” Sam asked no one in particular.

“We’re together in the balcony,” Joe said. “The actors are in the orchestra, I think. Or they have box seats.”

Surprise, surprise. Segregation of cast and crew. Again.

Usually she wouldn’t think twice about it. Now it felt like a punishment.

“Oh, look, it’s our production crew.”

Maddie looked to the source of the voice and saw Heather pointing at their group.

“Familiar faces, Micah. Let’s go say hi.” Heather pulled Micah toward them with Fudge and Lulu following close behind.

Maddie’s heart pounded and her palms began sweating while they approached. She couldn’t decide if she was jealous or nervous or excited or all three mixed up into one impending anxiety attack. Whatever it was, Micah was getting close and her skin goosed as it always did in his presence.

But Micah didn’t look at her once. Not even a sideways glance. Shit. Was he mad?

“Hey, guys,” Micah said, jabbing at his phone. “Excuse me just a minute, please.”

And he was gone, stepping aside to privately take or make a call. She wasn’t sure which.

She closed her eyes, squelching threatening tears.

Her phone buzzed inside her clutch and she scrambled to grab it. Normally she’d ignore it, but Micah was on his phone—was it ridiculous to think he was calling her? She looked at the caller ID. Micah from the party.

She swallowed then answered, her body tensed in preparation for his anger or disappointment or whatever he was about to deliver. “Yes?”

“Baby, you look so fucking hot, I’m struggling to not pull you into the coat room and take you right now.”

Well, she hadn’t been prepared for that.

His voice was tight and full of need. She flushed, searching the crowd for where he’d wandered off to, and found him standing alone, eyes locked on her.

“Turn around,” he said hungrily. She did and he groaned. “Fuck, those shoes… As amazing as you look in that dress, later I hope to see you wearing nothing but those shoes.”

She was never taking off those rhinestone stilettos again. God, he made her hot.

“Gotta go.” He pocketed his phone and gave his attention to a couple that had just approached him for an autograph.

Relief mingled with her arousal. Really, what had she expected? That he would be angry that she attended an event she had every right to be at? He hadn’t wanted her there for the same reason she hadn’t wanted to be there—because it made them ache to be together. That was all.

“You look like you’re enjoying yourself,” Sam said, bumping her shoulder with his.

Maddie realized she’d been beaming since her phone call. She relaxed her smile. “It’s probably the wine. I’m a lightweight. I should follow it with some coffee.”

“I’d be happy to get you a cup.”

“Thanks, but I’ll get it. I’m very particular about my mix of cream and sweetener.”

She returned to the bar and ordered her coffee. Then she crossed to the condiment area to dress her beverage the way she liked it. As she filled her cup with creamer, a familiar arm reached around her for a packet of sugar.

“Excuse me,” Micah’s voice hummed.

Maddie glanced sideways at him, saw the mischievous grin he wore and the twinkle in his eye as he prepared his own cup of coffee. They were alone—as alone as they were going to get. She risked a hushed conversation. “So you’re not mad that I’m here?”

He reached around her again, this time for a stirrer. She leaned back into the momentary closeness of him, inhaling the musky scent of Micah—a mixture of his aftershave and body wash and his own unique aroma. Maybe secret wasn’t so bad.

“Not at all. I always want you near.” She felt his hand lower behind her to shift his bulge. “Even if it makes me a bit uncomfortable in the pants.”

Maddie smiled as she busied herself with stirring her coffee longer than necessary in order to prolong their interaction. “Your mother is beautiful. You look so much like her.”

He swiveled to view Lulu. “You think? I mean, I think she’s beautiful too, but I don’t know how much I look like her.” Lowering his voice he added, “And thank you for mentioning my mother. You’ve effectively cured me of my semi.”

She giggled. “One way or another, I’m always glad to relieve you.”

“Let’s not even continue this line of conversation.” He laughed. He turned his focus again to Lulu. “She loves these things. Look at her milking up all the attention my manager is giving her.”

Maddie followed his gaze. “That’s your manager?”

“Yeah, Stu.”

“She does look awfully comfortable.” And a little bit smitten. Did Micah realize his mother had a thing for his manager? From the oblivious look on Micah’s face, she guessed not.

They watched Lulu and Stu for a few seconds in silence. Then Micah cocked his head. “Do you want to meet them?”

Maddie’s heart stopped. Them. Stu and Lulu—two of the most important people in Micah’s life. “Only if you want me to.” Her response was barely louder than a whisper.

“I do.” His eyes lit up with excitement, verifying he was sincere. “But I’m warning you now—I’m going to be vague about our relationship.”

“You don’t want to tell your mother and manager all the amazing things I do to you on a nightly basis? I guess I can live with that.”

“Thanks for understanding.” He waved to catch his mother’s eye, then summoned her and Stu toward them.

Maddie braced herself, hoping she appeared casual despite her sudden overwhelming anxiety about meeting Micah’s mom. His mom. It had been years since she’d met a boyfriend’s parent.

Of course, Micah wasn’t her boyfriend. Not technically. But he was much more than just a lover. Somehow she had to keep all of that from showing on her face, in her body. Though how could she when her entire soul lit up like a firecracker in his presence?

No time to figure it out. Lulu was there. In front of her. Micah’s smile was easy, casual. He gestured nonchalantly at Maddie. “Lulu, Stu, this is Maddie Bauers. She’s a camera assistant on the film.”

Maddie offered her hand first to Stu. His shake was firm but brief. The manager seeming to be more interested in speaking with Micah. No matter. Impressing Stu wasn’t high on her list of goals.

Then she swiveled to greet Micah’s mother. Lulu’s eyes, Maddie noticed, were exactly the color of her son’s—less piercing, but equally as bright. Her hand was warm and smooth, her grasp firm though not as tight as Stu’s.

Instantly Maddie loved her in a way she would find difficult to explain if ever pressed to do so. Loved her for bringing Micah into this world. Loved her because Micah loved her.

Loved her because, Maddie was beginning to suspect she also loved her son.

When she took back her hand, Maddie was breathless from the waves of emotions that had accompanied the simple contact. She was also keenly aware that all of it had been one-sided.

Which was fine. More important was the widening of Micah’s eyes that suggested he’d understood and that he was pleased.

“It’s always a pleasure to meet people Micah works with,” Lulu said in a voice that hinted she was good at mingling. Sincere enough to be charming, but not personal enough to make a real connection.

“Adam LaForgeon’s on camera, right?” Stu asked. “He’s excellent.”

“He is,” Maddie said, grateful for the easy subject. “I’ve been lucky to be his assistant for several years now.”

“But she’s also a brilliant director,” Micah interrupted. Maddie didn’t miss the pride that tainted his words. “I was telling you about her film earlier, Mom.”

He told her about me.

Goose bumps clothed Maddie’s arms. He’d told Lulu about her. And even though she’d rather the talk had been on a personal level instead of about her film, she was moved. He’d thought about her.

Lulu’s eyebrows raised and her interest in Maddie sparked. “Oh, the one you want to invest in?”

Micah brought a finger to his lips. “Shh, Mom. That’s not common knowledge. But if you’re a good girl, maybe we can talk Maddie into showing you some of her footage over breakfast.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

And just like that their breakfast date was a reality.

Stu seemed to have something on his mind. “Maddie, would you care if I steal Micah and his mother for a moment? I need to talk business.”

“No, of course not.” She would have loved to be included on a personal business conversation, but she barely cared at the moment. Right now she was soaring. Despite his reservations and fears, Micah had introduced her to his mother. Under his own conditions, yes, but she was grateful for the compromise. Relationships were about compromise, after all, and his actions proved he understood that.

Proved he might even be thinking about the two of them in exactly those terms—relationship terms.

Even as Stu led Micah and Lulu away from her, Maddie felt closer to Micah than she ever had.