Ding. One point for him. Her heart calmed the slightest bit. She put her glass down near his as she said, “Yes. That’s also true.”
Matt widened his stance as she stood and then crossed his arms as he said, “Peter paid you millions to sign off on your rights to the baby and disappear.”
Over. Understood. She wished this was different, but it wasn’t. Her heart was on the floor, ripped out of her body, but she wasn’t crying. This had been the risk she’d been willing to take to get him to see her, Ashley Romero. She nodded. “He did.”
Matt didn’t point toward the door. “So why work for Jennifer on a movie set when you have money?”
How could she explain? She ran her hands through her hair. If she admitted the last part of her truth, that she dreamed and wished and hoped he’d see her and fall in love, but never had, how she never could even say “hi” near him because she’d always been afraid to shine as Jennifer was the family diva. She hadn’t actually staged a house or pursued interior design for the same reason she couldn’t speak to him… fear that someone might laugh at her, like her moter and aunt.
She wasn’t an entire fool. “Because… I don’t know what to do with my life now. I almost bought a house with the money but then I realized I’d never once followed my own dreams. Ever. I needed a change. Tomorrow Jennifer wants me to meet her son.” She thought of the babe she’d carried at the same time her cousin was also pregnant. “I don’t want to.”
His gaze narrowed with compassion. “Why are you telling me this?”
His ability to express emotion was why he was an award-winning actor. He knew how to reach for the gut and twist. She wrung her hands in front of her, unsure how to answer that question. She stayed on the path of truth. “I guess because I’m being honest now. I’ll go.”
She turned and her cheeks stung with embarrassment. She’d always expected him to dismiss her. What had she been thinking?
Ashley headed to the staircase as silence clung in the air.
As she stepped onto the first stair, Matt reached behind her for her hand and said, “No. Stay.”
She faced him—her mind buzzed and she didn’t have one logical reason for him to ask her to stay with him. “Why?”
She stared at him with open eyes as he said, “Because you were honest. Don’t make me be a jerk now. What is your dream? It can’t be getting Jennifer coffee.”
“My dream includes being honest with you.” It was impossible for Matt to ever be hurtful. It was part of his gentleman-always charm. Her heart soared but her brain yelled at her to stop believing in fairy tales. “Can you get past me being a maid and not telling you immediately?”
He squeezed her hand he held like they were friends and nodded. “I’m glad you told me. Now we can ensure our lie has more meat to it.”
Lie. She hadn’t known her heart was capable of twisting like a pretzel until today. She hadn’t expected him to still want her here—and yet it was to create another lie. She blinked and asked for clarification with one simple question she could actually utter. “What?”
He kissed her hand and awareness of him grew as he said, “I still need you to be my pretend girlfriend, Ashley.”
“Really?” She imagined kissing him in public again.
Or staying here, for real. This wasn’t how or what she’d hoped but reality might be better this time than dreams.
If she was honest she’d expected her plan to fall apart and for her to be alone in a hotel room, with a bottle of wine while she cried.
Her heart whispered this was all too much, but she sighed. It wasn’t. Maybe this was her chance to get what she wanted.
Another kiss. For Matt to have a chance to fall in love with her, for real.
Okay, maybe that was a stretch, but she would stay and help him out.
Ashley Romero was good at helping Morgans out of their troubles.
He nodded at her. “Yes. We’ll talk more tomorrow morning. I don’t have to be on set, so we can take our time.”
“I’m still meeting Jennifer.” So this was the end of their evening together, rather than any more kisses. Fair enough. She’d pretend to be his girlfriend and help him get his starring role. She ignored how her skin buzzed as she said, “Maybe lunch?”
“Sounds good. We can deal with the contract in the morning.”
“Good night then, Matt.”
“Good night.” He stepped away.
There was nothing else to say. She turned and headed up the stairs. Tomorrow really was another day, an opportunity for a day without mistakes. And maybe she had a chance with Matt.
Chapter 6
Matt was grateful that he wasn’t expected on set today.
He must have bags under his eyes from restless sleep.
The sun peeked through his tinted windows with no blinds, brighter by the second. Maybe he’d catch the sunrise.
He didn’t normally see the sun come up as his comfy bed with all-white bamboo sheets usually helped him sleep soundly.
Last night had been the exception as Ashley’s lips and curves taunted him like a toy he’d been denied.
She hadn’t denied him—he hadn’t asked. No one ever told him no; his last name and actor status meant no one ever tried.
But his body was tight and needy when he normally slept like a baby. He’d need a workout—but not the one he actually wanted.
In Ashley’s bed, but that was a bad idea.
Knowing Ashley was down the hall haunted him, and he wasn’t sure if this was good or bad.
Part of him ached to touch her, kiss her, and know more about her.
But the other part of him wanted to run in the other direction and never see her again—he understood that as pure self-protection mode.
All of his life, he’d been left alone. His father left him in a boarding school, even at Christmas, and his older brother was the only family he saw regularly. His sister Elizabeth had been treated even worse as she was completely alone, and could only talk to them on the phone.
Sure he had a huge family, now, but acting was always his way of disappearing into someone else’s skin for a while and living a different life.
If he lost the ability to disappear into someone else, would he lose his acting chops or even worse, his drive to succeed?
Every other Morgan these days swore love was the cure he needed but he didn’t think there was anything wrong.
He was probably better off… alone. Bare-chested and wearing sleep sweats, he grabbed his phone, left his bedroom and headed downstairs to get a cup of coffee.
As he made the bottom step, he flipped on the lights to the foyer.
Maybe he should find out more about Ashley from the people who understood him best… his family. He stepped out on his stoop from the front door and picked up his newspaper as he dialed.
No neighbors were up yet. The morning dew was still on the grass. And the landscapers weren’t here today. On the second ring he went back inside and closed his door. His brother answered. He said, “Hey, Peter.”
“It’s not Peter,” Belle said fast.
His brother’s ex and future wife. His stomach tightened. Belle was nice and perfect for Peter, but her military, no-nonsense attitude reminded him of the teachers in boarding school.
His “avoid’ the school marm” instinct always kicked in. He tugged his ear and asked, “Is Peter there, Belle?”
She didn’t answer the question but asked one of her own. “Matt, is something going on with Jennifer again?”
Goosebumps of alarm grew on his arms like when he’d been caught walking the halls with a fake gun he’d had for the school play. Security hadn’t bought that excuse and had tackled him. The memory wasn’t pleasant but the principal had let him go with no consequence. His belly had been in knots, just like now. “No, not exactly. But I wanted to talk to Peter and you about the surrogate you had, Ashley Romero.”
Belle’s footsteps clipped against the marble floors of his brother’s house as she walked. “A
shley? She cooperated with us entirely. I was happy with her. Let me get you Peter.”
Unlike Jennifer, Ashley at least hadn’t caused problems.
The family conversation over his contract so that he could work with Jennifer again wasn’t something he wanted to repeat.
He tossed the newspaper on the kitchen table and headed toward his coffee machine. “That’s good to hear, Belle.”
“No problem,” Belle said. Matt filled the carafe with water from the sink while he listened to Belle tell his brother on the phone, “Peter. Matt wants to talk about your ex-wife.”
Matt froze. He’d forgotten that Ashley had married Peter to fix the custody situation and that Peter had been quick to pay her off. Everything had been handled through lawyers, and Matt wasn’t sure Peter and Ashley had spoken more than a few words beyond the contracts.
His gut twisted as Peter told Belle, “I don’t want to ever mention Jennifer.”
Belle’s foot clap on the ground reminded him of his teachers and Matt paused as Belle said, “Wait. You didn’t actually marry Jennifer.”
Peter asked, “Then who are you talking about?”
“Ashley,” Belle answered.
Matt’s skin buzzed. They knew more about her than he had. They’d have opinions and probably think his plan for a fake girlfriend to win a part in a movie… well, stupid.
The water splashing on his arm brought him back to the present. He turned off the sink and dumped the excess.
Those two were solid and they didn’t have his need to hide while in public. The rest of his family remained themselves even in the spotlight.
Peter asked his wife, “Oh. The surrogate?”
Belle chuckled, “You need a better sense of humor.”
Matt added the water to the machine and poured some of the fresh-ground coffee into the filter.
Maybe if Belle wasn’t such a rule follower, he’d warm up to talking to his sister-in-law. But what mattered most was that his brother was happy, so he was happy for them.
Peter cleared his throat. “Matt, what’s going on?”
In a few minutes he’d have his coffee. No need to beat around the bush with his brother, but he wiped his eyes to get out the sleep. “So, I met your surrogate out in California.”
“She really did leave town then,” Peter said. “Elizabeth wasn’t happy when my lawyers added a line about Ashley staying away from my son.”
Ashley had to escape because of his family? She hadn’t said that. Matt glanced at his staircase as he asked the burning question, “So if I see her again it’s not going to cause you a problem?”
“She gave us our baby after Jennifer cornered her into carrying the egg. My lawyers were worried as she’d never had her own child before the surrogacy, and we hadn’t had a contract before she gave birth, when both circumstances were unusual. But Ashley cooperated and never asked for anything.”
The way all that spilled out made him realize that Peter was being completely honest. He heard the bamboo floors creak on the stairs and he stood taller. A shadow grew on the wall. “I have to go. See everyone after I finish this movie.”
Peter said, “Goodbye.”
He hung up and turned to greet his guest.
Ashley was in a simple white t-shirt like she’d slept in the one she wore yesterday, but had shorts on that hit her mid-thigh. She’d pushed her long brown hair out of her face and asked, “You were on the phone?”
Her brown eyes shone from her clear skin.
Most women he knew never walked out of their room without makeup on, but Ashley… she was beautiful. His heart sped up as he said, “With Peter and Belle.”
Her lips pressed together and the memory of kissing her last night was enjoyable. “Don’t tell me their son’s name. I don’t want to know.”
Philip was a cute boy though. He looked like his father, but Matthew zipped his lips. “Oh, okay.”
The coffee began dripping in the glass carafe but Ashley’s nose wrinkled as she looked from it to him and said, “I can make us coffee.”
Yesterday’s coffee had charged him for the entire read-through of his scene. But now so did seeing those long legs of hers.
The image of tossing them above his head while he took her caused him to step back and cross his arms as he wasn’t ever this… randy. She’d already found the metal espresso maker in a cupboard as he said, “You don’t have to.”
She glanced over her shoulder and shrugged. “You enjoy my coffee, and I want a cup myself.”
His taste buds began to water. He let his hands fall to the side and followed her as she mixed the sugar into the coffee. “So about Peter and Belle…”
Her eyes widened. “Yeah? I hope they are all happy.”
They’d given him permission in a way to be with Ashley. He hadn’t intended to ask for it, but he was grateful that their being together wouldn’t cause a family war…He and Ashley needed to be photographed together often. Matt relaxed his shoulders. “They’re planning a big wedding.”
She poured her magic liquid into cups and stirred swiftly. “That’s nice. I won’t tell Jennifer when I see her this morning.” She handed him the Cuban coffee and said, “Here.”
He took it and sipped. Perfect. The drink would pump him up for hours and tasted like coffee heaven. He blew to cool it then gulped it down as he couldn’t have enough. She poured him a second cup. He smiled at her as they sat down at the table and said, “Thank you. Ashley, about last night-”
“I can be out of here within an hour. Just let me change,” she sat straighter.
“Whoa, what did I say?”
“Last night, your family and Jennifer… this means you thought about me and probably want me to head to a hotel.”
He reached for her hand and ignored the zap in his fingers. “No. I want you to stay.”
Her hands were soft. “And be your pretend girlfriend?”
For now ,yes. His heart whispered something but he shut out the murmurs of whatever it tried to say. Ashley was temporary in his life. “Yes.”
She finished her coffee and put it down on the table between them. “Well, I always keep my word so I’ll stay as promised.”
Every cell in his body was awake from her touch, and he didn’t let go. His injected with every syllable to get her to open up as he said, “I get why you didn’t tell me who you were.”
Her brown eyes shimmered. “I made you coffee and breakfast for a month last summer when you stayed in your sister’s house.”
His face was hot. No one embarrassed him anymore, but Ashley’s observation hit home. He let his grip grow lax and sat straighter as he said, “I’m embarrassed now. I meant about the surrogacy.”
Her cheeks turned red and she broke the connection as she shook her head. “I don’t like talking about that, and you don’t have to be embarrassed.”
No. An actor was a student of people all around him, yet he’d been blind to one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. The image of her making his bed made him want to tumble her upstairs in his right now. “You’re very kind and forgiving, Ashley.”
She took his cup and hers as she stood. “I was doing my job. Part of that is to be invisible.”
He followed her fast in her walk to the sink. Without hesitation, she picked up a sponge and washed out the cups.
His hard body didn’t want to leave her side so he picked up the towel to dry what she washed. In a minute they’d finished the pot and cups. As she turned off the water, he said, “Today, I want you to take my Bentley in to work.”
She crossed her arms. “And then come back here?”
Wait. Hadn’t he been clear? He sucked in his breath as he leaned on the counter beside her and said, “We already discussed that I want you to stay. Why are you asking again?”
Her eyes batted and she licked her lips as she said softly, “I guess I find it unbelievable. I expected to go find a hotel room and never see you again.”
Wide awake was too weak of a way to describe
being next to her. “Is that what you want to do, Ashley? Forget about me?”
She inched closer. “No. You’re serious about getting the role. I’ll help, as promised.”
His pulse quickened and his lips tingled like he’d kiss her again. He shouldn’t. But he ached to know more about her, everything, actually. “Last night you didn’t tell me your real goals for LA that go beyond fetching coffee?”
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t move away. She then shrugged and relaxed when she said, “I honestly don’t know. I don’t want to clean houses, but I’ve never been or never felt good enough to to do whatever I want. College was the only other time where I wasn’t invisible to Jennifer, so it’s nice… having time for me.”
Luke had met his wife in college. It would have been nice to see Ashley before… everything she’d been through. She was probably different but her strength and raw honesty made her breathtaking now. “What did you study?”
“Interior design.”
The few people he knew with that degree on set made sure the scene looked correct for the actors. Viewers were quick to note when something didn’t fit so their job, though behind the scenes, was vastly important. “Like staging?”
Her eyes narrowed and he saw little wrinkles near her eyes as she said, “I thought I was going to be working in real estate. staging houses. But that didn’t work out.”
The wrinkles disappeared when she relaxed. He took her hand again. “Have you thought about working on movie sets?”
She tilted her head toward him and the need to claim her hit him hard. “No. I’ll look into it, though, it could be fun.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “It’s getting late, though. I have to be with Jennifer by eight.”
Right. No kissing. It was a bad idea. He stepped back and ignored how his body had little tremors of denied pleasure, but he let her walk away.
She headed up the stairs and he watched her go, waiting in the foyer—if he followed her to her room and kissed her senseless, would she accept his advances?
He shouldn’t.
He should keep their relationship professional.
Secret Mistress Page 5
