by Jackie D.
They pulled into a gas station, and Harlow pulled two baseball hats from the back seat of the car. She pulled one down low over her eyes and handed the other to Audrey before she jumped out to pump the gas.
Audrey put the hat on and leaned over the driver’s seat and through the open window. “I’m going to use the bathroom. Do you want anything?”
Harlow leaned toward the window. “The incredible Audrey Knox is going to use a gas station bathroom?”
Audrey smacked her hand. “I’m also getting Doritos. You writing a tell-all?”
“Your Dorito secret is safe with me.” She winked at her.
Harlow watched Audrey hurry inside. She smiled to herself when she considered what the next few days could bring. Usually, she’d be thinking about how to get Audrey into bed. Harlow’s relationships, or lack thereof, were based on mutual physical satisfaction. That wasn’t the case with Audrey, though. Harlow was excited to get to know her better, beyond the bedroom. It was enough just to be in her presence. Though, she wouldn’t kick Audrey out of bed, either.
The man on the pump opposite her kept peeking around the machine. He looked like he recognized her but couldn’t quite place her yet. And just like that, his eyes changed. He knew exactly who she was.
He put the pump back in its cradle. “Hey, are you Harlow Thorne?”
Harlow had already surveyed the area, and there was no one else at the pumps. The likelihood of this turning into a spectacle was low.
She stuck her hand out. “Nice to meet you.”
He fumbled with the phone he was trying to pull from his pocket. “Can I take a picture with you? My friends will never believe I met you.”
She waved him over. “Sure.”
He wrapped his hand around her waist and pulled her unnecessarily close. “You’re even more beautiful in person. I bet you hear that all the time.”
She smiled and looked at the camera. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Will you sign this?” He pulled a receipt from his pocket. “It’s all I have, sorry.” He dove into his car and tore apart his glovebox, she assumed to find a pen.
She signed the piece of paper and handed it back to him just as Audrey was walking toward the car. “Drive safe.”
“Holy shit, you’re Audrey Knox.” He pointed at her.
Audrey waved at him like he was a friend she hadn’t seen in years. “Hi there.”
He didn’t speak. He simply pointed to his phone and back to Audrey.
“Of course.” She stood next to him and smiled for the picture.
“Where you two headed?” He messed with the hat on his head.
“San Francisco,” Audrey said without missing a beat as she opened the car door. “Have a nice day.”
All he could do was stare as they drove away. Harlow watched in her rearview to make sure he didn’t follow them. When he finally disappeared, she relaxed into her seat.
“San Francisco?”
Audrey shrugged. “I’m nice—not stupid.” She pulled open the bag. “Dorito?”
Harlow took a chip. “I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone like you. It’s nice to be with someone who knows how the game works, you know? Someone who isn’t into you as a way up the ladder or whatever.”
Harlow slipped her hand into Audrey’s. It was the first time since they started the trip that she had dared to touch her. She didn’t want Audrey thinking this whole thing was a ploy to sleep with her. She held her hand now because she was compelled to touch her. She wanted the emotional connection she had with Audrey to be proven with touch. She wanted Audrey to feel it too. Her decision was affirmed when she glanced over, and Audrey was smiling at their clasped fingers.
Chapter Fourteen
Audrey felt like one of those cats with suction cups on their paws when they pulled onto 17 Mile Drive. The homes were magnificent. Some were perched against the cliffs, while others were set slightly back along the hillside. All were designed to take in the breathtaking views this part of the Pacific Ocean had to offer. Cypress trees dotted the cliff edges, and she was made speechless by the grandiose beauty surrounding her.
They pulled onto a cobblestone driveway, and it only took a few seconds for the house to come into full view. Slim flagstone, wood, and sleek metal finishes made up the exterior design. The windows were so large, they started on the first floor and stretched up to the second. The lights were already on, allowing her to see inside before exiting the car.
“I had my security team turn everything on before we arrived. I like them to do a sweep of the house before I get here.”
Audrey was surprised that Harlow looked slightly embarrassed at her statement. “I think that’s smart. I had a stalker once. It was terrifying. That’s when I moved to a house with a gate. My mother thinks I should use security full-time, but I’m just not there yet.”
Harlow pulled a small device from the glovebox and punched a few buttons, opening the garage door. “I have full security on tour because I go so many places I’m not familiar with and I like them to check this house before I get here. I don’t get to come as often as I like, and I’m always a little worried about what will be waiting for me, and that includes paparazzi. But once it’s clear, I like to be on my own without all the people around.”
Audrey got out of the car and grabbed her bag from the trunk. She followed Harlow into the house, more nervous now that they had reached their destination. She was going to spend three nights here alone with Harlow, and although she was well aware of that when she’d agreed to come—actually being there was a whole different thing.
It made her feel slightly better to see Harlow looking more nervous than she’d ever been in her presence. She rubbed the back of her neck and stood in the kitchen. She looked utterly unsure about what she should do next, and it was both adorable and sexy.
“Do you want anything to drink?” Harlow pointed to the fridge. “It should be fully stocked.”
“Sure. Whatever you have is fine.” She pointed to the stairs. “Do you mind if I go freshen up a bit?”
Harlow pulled glasses down from the cabinet. “Sure. Feel free to take whatever room you’d like.” She didn’t make eye contact as she continued to move around the kitchen.
Audrey was keenly aware that Harlow hadn’t instructed her to put her things in the master bedroom. That fact put her slightly more at ease. It took some of the pressure off what this trip could possibly mean. Granted, Audrey hadn’t ruled out taking their relationship to the next level. In fact, she was hoping that was the direction it was heading. But this small gesture assured her that Harlow wasn’t making any assumptions.
The rooms were gorgeous. Each had tasteful furniture, decorated with light, earthy colors. Every room had expansive windows that faced the ocean. There was no bad choice. She chose the one next to the master bedroom. It had a sliding glass door that led out onto a large deck and a bathroom with a bathtub.
Audrey put her clothes in drawers. She hated living out of a bag, and this small task helped make her feel more relaxed. She went into the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Harlow had her all out of sorts. She was exceptionally comfortable around her but still superbly nervous. It was like all of her senses were on high alert. She’s just a woman. You like being around her. Just let whatever is going to happen, happen.
Audrey walked out onto the deck and breathed in the cool Pacific air. The view was spectacular. The air smelled like salt and cypress. She could understand why Harlow came here to relax before her tours. It was meditative.
“I decided to buy this house after standing on this deck,” Harlow said from behind her. She handed her a glass of wine. “It was the most peaceful place I’d ever seen.”
Audrey took the glass. “I agree. It’s incredible.” She sipped her wine. “How long have you owned it?”
Harlow motioned to the couch. “I was twenty-three. So, six years. Sometimes I come up here for months at a time when I’m not recording or on tour.”
�
�Do you bring Casper with you?” Audrey crossed her legs and angled herself so she could look at Harlow. She loved looking at Harlow.
Harlow sipped her whiskey. “It’s hard to get Casper away from the city, but he comes up and visits if he’s gone too long without seeing me.”
“Will you tell me about your family?” It felt like a wall between them, and she hated not being able to know something so personal, even if she had no right to feel that way.
Harlow’s face changed, showing her discomfort. “My father drank too much. He had a mean tongue and an even meaner backhand.” She took a deep breath. “After he drank himself to death, my mom went off the deep end. She was never really the same. I’ve never been sure if it was because she loved him or because she didn’t know what to do with her freedom.”
Audrey wanted to touch her, but Harlow seemed like a frightened animal. One wrong move could send her running, and that was the last thing she wanted. “That must have been really hard on you and Casper.”
Harlow swirled her whiskey, seeming transfixed by the amber liquid. “Casper and I took off when we were seventeen. I packed our bags, and we hopped on a bus to Los Angeles in the middle of the night, and we never looked back. We both worked odd jobs, lived in motels, did whatever we had to do to get by. We did that for about a year. That’s when Dominic found me singing down on the corner of Sunset and Vine.” She took a long swallow from her glass. “I don’t know what we would’ve done without him. He taught Casper how to be a real music producer, and he recorded my first three songs to help get my name out there.”
“That’s why you’re so determined to help Shauna.”
Harlow shrugged. “She’s also very talented, but yes, that’s one of the reasons.”
The sun was starting to set, and the shimmer from the ocean cast Harlow in a beautiful golden glow. Audrey reached up and ran her finger down Harlow’s cheek. “I’m so sorry you had to endure all of that.”
“I’m here now, so I got the last laugh.” Harlow smiled, but not with her eyes. “It’s their loss.”
Audrey could see the unease clouding Harlow’s features. The last thing she wanted to do was force her into a conversation she didn’t want to have. She decided to forge ahead into safer territory.
“So, whose idea was it to give you this bad girl reputation? Casper or Dominic?” Audrey raised an eyebrow.
“Who said I’m a bad girl?” Harlow raised a corner of her mouth in a sexy grin.
“Everyone.”
Harlow smiled knowingly. “It was never my intention to be labeled as anything. I spend time with the people I want, when I want, and then some of those people make up stories that suit their narrative. Just because I go out with a woman a few times doesn’t mean I’ve really broken their heart, no matter what they say. They sell these stories with the spin they want because I don’t fill in the blanks for them.”
“But you’ve never filled in the blanks about anyone.”
“That’s true,” Harlow said. “Once you start giving any type of answer, they expect answers to everything. Plus, I’ve never dated anyone important enough to deal with the scrutiny.”
Audrey twirled the ends of Harlow’s hair, loving how soft it felt against her fingertips. “I see the way the paparazzi wait for you everywhere. You can’t even get coffee without being photographed. I don’t understand how you’ve managed to keep so much private.”
Harlow shrugged. “If you don’t answer questions, they don’t have anything to work with. And the only person I’m ever really with is Casper. If I’m out with anyone else, I’m not much on public displays of affection, so there’s nothing definitive.” She stood and walked to the door. “Dinner should be here soon. I’m starving.”
Audrey followed her. “That still doesn’t answer my question. How do you manage to keep people from selling stories about you? I understand that some wouldn’t want to, but there have been a few out there.” She grinned sheepishly. “Not that I read the pap rags, of course.”
“I spend a lot of time at the Rainbow. Most people there are in the closet or are just super private like I am. They have a vested interest in not saying anything. I like it that way. It takes a lot of the complications out of it.”
The Rainbow. The most exclusive gay club in all of Hollywood. Audrey had never been there, but she was always fascinated by it. She knew lots of closeted influential people spent time there, which was one reason she never went. She couldn’t handle the thought of meeting someone and being forced back into the closet to make a relationship work. It was clear Harlow felt the opposite. What did that mean for what was growing between them?
* * *
Harlow loved throwing Audrey off her game, and she knew she’d done it just by the look on Audrey’s face. Audrey’s life was so structured and planned; it was good for her to be thrown a curveball every now and then.
“I’ve heard they have a strict paparazzi policy, but I’ve seen people photographed near the building. Never you, though. Why is that?” Audrey walked into the kitchen and poured another glass of wine.
Harlow got the pizza and salads she had delivered from the front porch. She always used a fake name when ordering, and this time she used Sally McSallerson. She was supremely pleased by her humor.
She put the pizza on the counter and pulled plates down from the cabinet. Audrey was staring at her intently, obviously waiting for her to answer.
Harlow handed her a plate and fork. “I wear a disguise to get in. Once you’re in, you don’t need one.”
Audrey put salad on her plate. “What kind of disguise?”
Harlow shrugged. “Like a wig.”
“A wig?”
Harlow took a bite of her pizza. “Yes, a wig. Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Because I’ve seen you in wigs. I can’t believe you’re fooling anyone.”
“Maybe you see me more clearly than most people.” Harlow hadn’t meant to sound quite so deep, but there was no other way to phrase it. She felt seen when Audrey looked at her—maybe more so than she ever had before.
Audrey blushed. “Your house is gorgeous. When do I get the full tour?”
“Right after dinner.”
Dinner conversation was easy. Things always felt easy with Audrey, and Harlow was growing to really appreciate that about her. Audrey seemed to wear her heart on her sleeve, and Harlow didn’t understand how she’d managed to hang on to that through all her success. Audrey could effortlessly switch between being the girl-next-door to Audrey Knox—world-famous actress. There were layers to her, and the more Harlow peeled back, the more fascinated she became.
Harlow ended the tour of the house in the backyard by the pool. “Would you like to go swimming?”
Audrey smiled and cocked her head. “In our swimsuits this time?”
“If you insist,” Harlow said. She loved making Audrey blush, and her comment had the desired effect.
Audrey tried to hide her smile. “Okay. I’ll be right down. I’ll grab more wine and whiskey on my way out.”
Harlow changed into her swimsuit and headed back downstairs. She was nervous, more nervous than she thought she’d be at the idea of swimming with Audrey again. But that shouldn’t have surprised her. Everything about Audrey made her feel differently than she was used to feeling. It was invigorating and terrifying. She still wasn’t sure if they were friends or if this was heading in a different direction. No. That wasn’t true. She knew where she wanted this to head. She knew she wanted more. She wanted Audrey. She just wasn’t sure how to make that happen. Getting a woman into bed was one thing—getting a woman into something more substantial was entirely different. It wasn’t a situation she’d ever encountered before. She didn’t want Audrey to be like the others, but she wasn’t sure she was built for anything serious. Taking things to a deeper level wasn’t in her muscle memory, and there was good reason for that.
Harlow was seriously considering googling the question as she opened the sliding glass door. Audrey
was there waiting in her black bikini, a drink in each hand. Her body was solid proof of the hours she spent in the gym getting ready for her most recent action movie. Harlow felt a slight buzzing in her head. Jesus.
Harlow took the glass Audrey offered. “Thank you.”
Audrey cleared her throat and sipped her wine. “It’s the least I can do. You did cook dinner.” She smirked and raised an eyebrow.
Harlow laughed and was thankful for the reprieve of humor with Audrey being near her with so little clothing. Audrey walked into the pool and moved over to the end to see the ocean.
Harlow turned on her outdoor sound system and followed her. “This is my favorite spot in the pool.”
“I see why. You can stare at the ocean without having to be in the saltwater or worried about sharks or jellyfish or tar.”
“Exactly.”
Audrey turned her head to listen to the music. “We aren’t listening to your new album?”
“Do you think I listen to my own music?” She laughed.
Audrey shrugged. “It’s a great album. I think it’s my favorite.” She put her forearms on the edge of the infinity pool and looked out. “I’d love to listen to you play tomorrow. If you don’t mind.”
“I can’t think of anything I wouldn’t give you.” Harlow stopped breathing momentarily. She hadn’t meant to say that. As true as it might be, she hadn’t wanted to reveal that just yet. Or ever. Probably ever.
Audrey stared at her. Harlow watched the pulse in her neck, rapidly beating against her skin. She desperately wanted to put her mouth on it. Audrey reached for her, placing her hand on her upper thigh. She tried not to shudder at the way her fingertips moved up to her waist. Audrey’s hand moved so excruciatingly slow along her skin, she thought she might start to sweat from the need building like a tornado inside her. But Harlow didn’t want to rush her. She wanted Audrey to go at her own pace, whatever that meant. Audrey was watching her intently, gauging Harlow’s reaction to her touch.
