I place my lips on his again, reforging the connection threatened by the world we’re forced to live in, by insecurities and fear. His mouth remains on mine, as he encircles me in his arms. I wrap mine around him and rest my head against his.
“I think I can,” I whisper. “But no more pretence; we do things our way. Together.”
“If you want no more lies, we face the world as a couple.”
I hold him tighter, as if clinging to him against the unknown I’ll face. “Life is about to become complicated, isn’t it?”
“Hell, yeah. But you, us, and this will be worth everything they throw in our direction.”
Tate tips my chin to kiss me again, and the last space between us finally closes. I tangle my fingers into his hair, deepening the kiss. Strange how a few words spoken and the final release of the hidden truth add a new intensity. I’d thought it impossible to want Tate more than I did at the weekend, but unlocking that final place inside where he’s always existed intensifies with every touch.
In London, Tate left a piece of his heart with me before he walked away, and when he returned, Tate brought back the part of mine I never realised I’d given him.
Now, in this new moment, we’re whole.
31
I stretch out in the airplane flatbed, waking after the transatlantic flight in first class. Tate sits next to me, book in one hand and the other on my leg. He always has a hand on, or arm around me when we’re alone, as if I might disappear again.
Tate and I made the decision to wait until filming has finished before we come clean about our relationship. That way, we can escape for time alone and be harder to find. By some miracle, we’ve managed to keep our relationship quiet over the final days in the studio. As rumours we’re having an affair existed for weeks, and we’ve made no changes to our behaviour towards each other in public, Tate and I manage to keep everybody fooled—apart from Savannah. Tate told her to be careful, implying she should watch out if she revealed anything about our situation. Stay quiet or goodbye. I chastised him for bullying, and he shrugged, telling me he wouldn’t really do anything. Behind his words lies anger at Savannah’s behaviour, and a revenge-filled pleasure in worrying her.
Chances are, five minutes in the UK, and arriving at Heathrow together, the world will guess. We’re spending a couple of nights at Dylan’s apartment in London, and then deciding what to do, where to go. Freedom from LA and acting, downtime together and alone 24/7 will test our possibility of a future. I’m excited; who wouldn’t want to spend time with the man whose passion matches mine?
“What are you reading?” I ask.
“The new Angel City book.” He waves the thick book in my direction.
“Oh, spoilers?” I ask and shift around to rest my head on his shoulder.
He kisses my forehead, and I snuggle closer. Tate continues to wear the scent he’s paid to be the face of, which amuses me, but I now associate with happiness.
“I’m not sure I’ll go with all this in the show.” He flicks a page. “I don’t think I want a rival love interest. I had one for years.”
“That’ll keep Dev on his angelic toes.” I laugh. “Everybody likes a good love triangle, right?”
He snorts and closes the book. “I don’t. Any more thoughts on where we’re visiting?”
“No. But I do want to see my family before we head back to the States.”
“Introduce your unmatchable Hollywood boyfriend?” He cocks a brow.
I laugh. “My sister will freak out and possibly drool a little. Not sure what my brother-in-law would think about that. How about you?”
Pressure builds in my ears as the plane begins the descent into Heathrow. “What do you mean?” he asks.
“Do you want to visit your family?”
Tate screws his face up. “Not really.”
“Why not?”
He shrugs. “We’re not close.” The smiling and immaculate flight attendant passes, yet another check whether his first class passengers want anything, and Tate turns to chat to him.
I pull my seat upright and check my seatbelt. Tate’s family. I’ve never spoken about mine to him, and he hasn’t about his to me, which isn’t unusual for an early relationship. But Tate’s reaction seems odd. Not all families are drama free like mine, one with a marriage intact and all three children grown up and into decent futures.
Did I ever see any of his family? I cast my mind back to RADA and our opening night. He introduced me to a brother; I can’t recall parents.
I squeeze Tate’s hand. “I feel free already.”
“Make the most of this,” he says. “Life’s about to nose dive into complicated.”
The plane banks, and the thick cloud obscures the view with no chance to watch my approach to my home country. Minutes later, the plane hits the ground and my heart leaps as my stomach lurches with the movement. This is my first time back here for over a year.
The first time I’ll face people I saw in the summer.
And they don’t know the half of what’s happened.
* * *
We leave the plane along the narrow disembarking area. Tate strides along, my hand in his, and I hurry to keep up with his pace. We veer off once we hit the brightly lit, noise-filled Arrivals hall, towards the VIP area. I switch my phone on, and it immediately floods with message after message, dozens of missed calls and texts. I frown down at the screen, hesitating before I touch. I don’t need to look at what this is about, and Tate’s expression agrees.
Us.
He smiles ruefully. “Well, that didn’t last long, did it?”
Panic surges through my blood. “I can’t do this, I’m too tired.”
“We’ll be okay. It’s not that big a deal, Myf. Paparazzi probably just want to get a shot to sell, and then they can fabricate stories about us. Let’s just get out there, then bunker down for a couple of days.”
His blasé attitude surprises me; the Blue Phoenix guys hated this to the point that Jem hit a photographer in the early days.
But Tate’s right, this is unavoidable. Maybe the world learning now means we’ll be old news by the time we head back to LA.
A woman strides towards us as we step into the empty VIP lounge, face dark.
“I’m Debbie, from the London offices.” She thrusts a card at me, and I crane my head. Tate’s PR company.
“I think I can guess what this is about,” he says with a smile and wraps an arm around my waist.
The curly haired woman fixes hard eyes on him. Wow, either she got out of bed the wrong side or she has the famous City personality.
“Could you explain to me why you never told anybody that you’re married?” she snaps. “And when exactly did this occur?”
The world lurches slightly, and not a side effect of the plane trip. “What?”
“Who the hell...” Tate trails off. “Shit.”
I turn to him. “I can’t do this yet. Nobody in my family knows. God, I don’t want this story coming out.”
“Who leaked this? The Vegas chapel?” asks Tate.
“Vegas?” The woman’s face reddens. “What?”
“You don’t know the details then?” he asks.
“No, but you sure as hell need to fill me in.” She nods at me. “From rumours to spotlight, Myfanwy, I hope you’re ready for this.”
“Don’t speak to Myf like that,” Tate growls and takes my hand.
He steps towards the door, but I can’t move. We were in control of this. Who found out? How? Tate stops as my arm pulls tight.
“Myf. Come on. It’s not that bad.”
“What?” I squeak. “How can you say that?”
The woman laughs. “Not that bad? Sure. Dylan Morgan’s ex marries a Hollywood star? No story there.”
“I am not Dylan Morgan’s ex!” I retort.
The doubt on her face riles me. “Somebody spoke to him, and he was furious. Perfect story, he’s still in love with you.”
“What total bullshit. His marriage
is solid.” And what right does the man have to be annoyed? Jesus, Dylan, you really need to watch your mouth sometimes.
Debbie inclines her head. “Welcome to infamy, darling,” she says in a fake voice. “I hope you enjoy the ride.”
I thrust my bag at Tate as perspiration slicks my face. “I need the bathroom before I head into... whatever is waiting.”
Debbie points her phone to a nearby door. “Don’t hang around. Best we run the gauntlet ASAP and pull you two out of here.”
I swallow and look at Tate. “That suggestion you wanted about where to go? As far away from civilisation as possible.”
Tate touches my face. “Don’t stress, Myf. We’ll sort this.”
I stand between my two worlds. Didn’t I always want this? To be successful and popular. Wasn’t I always aware what lay around the corner if I succeeded?
Tate draws me to him and holds the back of my head as I shake and grip him around the waist. He places his lips on my forehead. “I never expected you to panic like this.”
“I’m not ready,” I repeat.
We were in control.
We were doing this our way.
I’ve waited at the rollercoaster top recently, this time in darkness. Each day since we decided to give our relationship a go, I’m no longer able to see where the tracks lead on the way down. A straight plunge? Or more ups and downs along the way?
Judging by how long the climb took, it’s a bloody long way down, and I don’t think I’ll reach the bottom any time soon.
* * *
To Be Continued
Read On For Pre-Order Links
Coming Soon
Spotlight
Tate and Myf’s story continues – and their secret is out.
Releases Summer 2017.
Pre-Order on Amazon
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON AU
AMAZON CA
When Hollywood bad boy Tate Daniels woke married to the girl who walked out of his life six years ago, he was determined to stop her leaving this time.
Actress Myf always knew their secret marriage was complicated, but now the world knows the truth she’s about to learn exactly what becoming a celebrity means.
Working on their successful network TV show should hide the couple from some publicity, but another challenge faces Tate. The new actor cast as Tate’s love rival is the man Myf rejected him for at college.
Add in Tate’s hidden past, and Myf blackmailed over an incident she can’t remember, and the challenges are bigger than they imagined.
In the Hollywood world filled with lies and manipulation, can Tate and Myf survive the pressure on their relationship? Or will the spotlight blind them to the truth?
Subscribe to my newsletter and don’t miss out on the latest release news or offers. Plus all subscribers receive a free romance novella
Click to Sign Up
The Blue Phoenix British rock star romance series
(Available on Kindle Unlimited)
Summer Sky (Blue Phoenix #1)
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON AU
AMAZON CA
Falling Sky (Blue Phoenix #2)
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON AU
AMAZON CA
Forever Sky (Blue Phoenix #3)
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON AU
AMAZON CA
Unplugged (Blue Phoenix #4)
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON AU
AMAZON CA
Rising (Blue Phoenix #5)
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON AU
AMAZON CA
Reverb (Blue Phoenix #6)
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZONAU
AMAZON CA
Bonus novella: Summer Star (Blue Phoenix #1.5)
Companion novella FREE to newsletter subscribers
Newsletter: Click to Sign Up
The Ruby Riot Series
(Available on Kindle Unlimited)
The Ruby Riot series is a spin-off from Blue Phoenix and features characters first introduced in Unplugged.
Cadence (Ruby Riot #1)
(Jax & Tegan)
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON AU
AMAZON CAN
Shuffle (Ruby Riot #2)
(Will & Fleur)
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON AU
AMAZON CA
Reprise (Ruby Riot #3)
(Nate & Riley)
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON CAN
AMAZON AU
Other Books by Lisa Swallow
(Available on Kindle Unlimited)
Butterfly Days Series
New Adult Contemporary Series
Because of Lucy
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
Finding Evan (#2)
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Amazon CA
The Same Deep Water
New Adult standalone
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON AU
AMAZON CAN
Snow Kissed
Holiday themed sweet novella
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
AMAZON AU
AMAZON CAN
About the Author
Lisa is a USA Today bestselling author and writes contemporary romance and also writes paranormal romance/urban fantasy under the name LJ Swallow.
In between running a business, looking after her family and writing, Lisa sometimes finds spare time to do other things. This often involves swapping her book worlds for gaming worlds. She even leaves the house occasionally.
Lisa is originally from the UK but moved to Australia in 2001 and now lives in Perth in Western Australia with her husband, three children, one dog and three cats.
FREE novella for subscribers to my newsletter
Click to Sign Up
@lisa_swallow_au
lisaswallowbooks
lisaswallow.net
[email protected]
Unscripted Page 20
