eyes went wide. “You really do have a hotel there?”
“Bella, it’s not like I could or would lie about this. It’s easy enough to check out.”
“Of course. I’m sorry.” The defensiveness eased from her shoulders and she relaxed back in the white leather seat. “I’m just not sure what to think of you yet. You’ve been so nice, but then you went behind my back to call Charlotte, albeit with seemingly good intentions.”
She shoved her hand through her wind-tumbled red hair. “I just don’t know what to think these days. I’m probably being prickly and a little paranoid. I’m nervous about going back and facing everyone again at the premiere of Honor. It’s difficult enough dealing with Grandmere’s cancer. I’ll also have to face my parents and pretend I’m okay with everything.” She exhaled long, her cheeks puffing. “Then of course Ridley will be there.”
Ridley the Rat? Jealousy kicked around inside his gut. Sam stroked his jaw. “I imagine seeing him at the premiere will be tough.”
She pressed her hands to her forehead. “I don’t even want to think about it. Which makes me mad at him all over again. The premiere of Honor on Christmas day should be one of the best days of my life and he’s wrecking it. He’ll show up with his new bimbo girlfriend and I’ll be there with my dog.”
He leaned toward her. “Use me.”
Her hands fell to her lap. “What?”
The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He’d been looking for an opening and she’d just handed him the ideal opportunity. “Take me as your date to the premiere. Use me to show that loser ex-boyfriend of yours that you aren’t shedding any tears over him. At the risk of sounding as if I have an overinflated ego, magazines seem to think I’m a fairly eligible bachelor.”
“So I’ve seen.” She toyed with the thin velvet ribbon around her neck, nudging the small bell just above the top button on her blouse. A hell of a distraction for his eyes. “But use you? Wouldn’t that be shallow of me?”
“Not if we’re both in agreement.”
“What do you gain from this?”
Bella back in his bed?
But a smart man would lead with another argument and no one had ever called him a fool. “For starters, I get to take a breather from appearing on all those damn ‘most eligible bachelor’ lists. Every time they publish one, a fresh flock of matchmaking mamas shows up at one of my hotels. It’s insulting to me and to their daughters. Not to mention a real pain in the ass.”
“Okay, I can understand that.” She nodded slowly. “I have to leave tomorrow.”
“Not a problem.” He only slept for a few hours anyway. He could wrap up business and be ready by sunup. He’d been planning a trip later next week after Christmas anyhow. “Any other questions?”
“Yeah,” she said empathically, “a big one. Why me?”
“Because I can be honest with you about this and know you’re not going to run to the press.”
She smiled grudgingly. “You have me there.”
“You agree?” That easily. Hot damn. Peeling her clothes off her after that premiere would make for a night to remember. He would pleasure her so thoroughly he would wipe Ridley Sinclair from her memory forever.
“We’re not sleeping together again.”
“Seems like you’re cutting your nose off to spite your face with that one.” He held up a hand to stop her protest. He knew to quit when he was ahead, and he’d definitely taken a huge step ahead in getting her to agree to let him hang out with her over the holidays. “But, hell, who am I to judge? No sex. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. Agreed?”
She hesitated only a moment, frowning briefly before her face cleared. “I have the feeling I’m going to regret this…but…yes. We’ll go to the Christmasday premiere together.”
Six
As Bella sat on Sam’s plane the next morning on her way back to the States, she couldn’t believe she’d actually said yes to his outrageous proposition.
Petting Muffin in her lap, Bella stared out the window at the Atlantic Ocean peeking below while the plane zipped in and out of clouds. Footsteps echoed as Sam walked to the front of the plane, toward the kitchenette for a snack, his long legs eating up the space in only a few strides.
She knew one thing for sure. Sam was a damn good businessman. He’d presented the case well for sticking together awhile longer, knowing right where she was most vulnerable. Her pride stung at the thought of facing Ridley alone.
Yet Sam had agreed to her no sex stipulation.
Her gaze dipped to his fine tush showcased in casual blue pants. In a weak moment she wondered what he would look like filling out a pair of well-washed jeans?
She shook off the too-enticing fantasy. She’d meant what she’d said about no sex, especially not now when she was so confused and, well, weak when it came to his appeal. She wasn’t one for flings, in fact didn’t have much of a dating past other than Ridley because of her drive to break out in her career.
Had Sam been lying about keeping his distance, or was he really genuine about seeing benefits in helping her out? Maybe he was just one of those gallant guys who couldn’t resist a woman in distress.
After the way his mother had been treated, Bella could understand how he would have developed that tendency. Maybe he didn’t really have a hidden agenda. Perhaps he genuinely had business to accomplish and figured he would be a good guy along the way.
Her initial idea for facing Ridley at the premiere had been to borrow one of her brothers for the evening. But how lame was that? Sam would make for a powerful piece of eye candy to distract gossip-hungry people from wondering why she and Ridley were no longer an item.
She could ruminate about this all morning, but regardless, her escape to France was officially over. She couldn’t hide from her family’s drama anymore. Thanks to Sam, she wouldn’t be facing everyone alone.
Bella sagged back in her seat, sliding the shade closed over the small oval airplane window. She scrubbed her fists along her gritty eyes. She hadn’t slept well, tossing and turning all night as she worried if she’d made the right choice in coming back to the States with Sam. A yawn stretched her face.
The bed behind the privacy door was inviting, but she feared sending the wrong message. Hell, she feared her own willpower weakening if she crawled onto a mattress with Sam anywhere near. She was better off making use of the additional sleeper chairs out here.
Was she cutting off her nose to spite her face, as he’d said?
No, damn it. She wasn’t in any position for a new relationship. It wouldn’t be fair to him or to her.
Caffeine, yeah, that was the ticket. She just needed more caffeine to jolt her awake and get her brain working again.
She unbuckled her lap belt, placed sleeping Muffin on the seat and strode forward
