Considering all the pleasure I would’ve missed out on if he hadn’t pulled that stunt, I was now willing to forgive him for it. “If you can get a replacement blouse up here that I like in the next fifteen minutes, I promise to never throw that incident up in your face in the future.”
“Consider it done,” he promised before smacking one final, brief kiss against my lips, then heading toward the door.
While he was gone, I used the bathroom and cleaned up a bit. Then I called my boss. “Hey, Anna. How’s the special project going?”
I glanced at the rumpled sheets on the bed and blushed. “Great, but I’m done earlier than anticipated so I thought I’d check in with you to see if you needed me for anything today.”
“You have fantastic timing. I just got a tip that we’ll have an A-list celebrity in the audience during Julian’s show tonight. I’d really appreciate it if you’d pop in and see if his team is okay with us taking some photos for social media.”
Her request was awfully convenient for me since I was already going to be at his show. “Sure! Who’s the celebrity?”
“I don’t know. He registered under a pseudonym, and his team didn’t reach out to us. I wouldn’t have even known about his visit except we got a tip from someone over at McCarran airport. Unfortunately, they weren’t willing to give us his name off the manifest from the private jet. Sorry, you’ll have to figure it out on your own.”
“Will do, boss.”
Five hours later, I was headed toward Julian’s dressing room with an overnight bag. I was still wearing the gorgeous emerald green blouse he’d bought for me—the one he’d said he picked out because it was a perfect match for my eyes—but I’d paired it with a form-fitting black skirt and a pair of strappy, three-inch heels. I felt super sexy in the silky shirt, knowing Julian had selected it specifically for me.
There was an extra spring in my step as I neared the door with Julian’s name on it, but I paused when I heard the murmur of his deep voice. “Fuck no! It doesn’t matter what kind of publicity I’d get. I’m not interested in fame, and I belong in Vegas at the Lennox.”
“I don’t understand how you can turn down an offer like this, but I guess I have to take no for an answer.”
Oh, crap! I recognized that voice, too.
9
Julian
I glared at the pretty boy movie star giving me his megawatt smile as though that would convince me he wasn’t a total slimeball. Dirk Carlson had been going through my agent for months, trying to convince me to take a role in his next movie. Apparently, the main character and his best friend were world renowned magicians. Dirk wanted me to teach him my tricks and to play the supporting role. One of his tactics was to promise that the part would catapult my career, leading to bigger roles and more spectacular stages. I’d informed my agent to politely decline. Repeatedly. It wasn’t as though I needed the money, my contract at the Lennox made me a very wealthy man. And, even before I met Anna, I knew that life wasn’t what I wanted. I was already where I belonged.
The offers had continued to come, getting more elaborate and promising ultimate fame and fortune. It was obvious that this guy wasn’t used to being told no. My agent eventually stopped being nice and got firm with them. We thought that was the end of it, but clearly, we were wrong. The tool had come here personally to make another offer. Why he thought that would make a difference was a mystery to me.
“You may think you belong here, but you’re the best in the business, Storm. You could have the world at your feet.”
I sighed, and my hands curled into fists as I imagined knocking a few teeth out of his artificially perfect smile. “Look, Dirk, I’m tired of repeating myself. I’m not fucking interested. Now get the hell out of my dressing room. I have a show to do. And if you’re here when I get back, I’ll have you thrown out of the hotel.”
Dirk’s expression slipped for a moment, and I got a glimpse of the anger simmering beneath the surface. The asshole really hated being told no. A second later, his congenial attitude was back, and he shrugged with a rueful smile. “I had to try. If you change your mind…”
“I won’t,” I snapped.
He turned around and opened the door, but he was blocked from leaving by someone standing in the hall, just outside the room. Suddenly, Dirk’s whole demeanor shifted into the cocky movie star with ridiculous swagger. “Muffin,” he crooned as he leaned his shoulder against the door. “It’s great to see you. I’ve missed you.”
His position revealed the identity of the person he was trying to schmooze. I spotted the emerald blouse I’d purchased earlier that day first. Then I looked up to see my Anna standing there, the blood drained from her face and her eyes wide with shock. My gaze bounced back and forth between them for a second. Was this…?
“Dirk,” she rasped. “What are you doing here?” The tremble in her voice confirmed my suspicion, and rage like I’d never felt washed over me.
“I came to offer Julian here a job, but if I can convince you to come home with me, it’ll be a two-for-one special. Come on, muffin. Stop running from our attraction. You know you want me.”
Anna’s face screwed up in disgust, and I practically flew across the room to pull her inside and push her behind me. “Back off, Carlson,” I snarled as I stepped into his space. I was at least six inches taller than him—despite the lifts in his shoes—and had a good fifty pounds on him. He squared his shoulders and tried to make himself as big as possible. His attempt at being intimidating would have been laughable. If I’d been remotely amused about the situation.
His practiced expression fell away, and he glared at me with malice. “Don’t tell me to back off my girl, asshole.”
Shit. That was just the wrong thing to say to me. The possession roaring in my chest sent a shot straight to my fist, and on instinct, it smashed into his jaw with a right hook. Dirk’s head flew back and smacked into the door behind him. He cried out like a pussy and cupped his face. “You asshole! You’ll be—”
He broke off when I grabbed his shirt and twisted it, holding him still while I growled a low warning. “Anna is mine, motherfucker. If I ever see you near her again, you’ll be visiting your Hollywood plastic surgeon for facial reconstruction. Understood?”
Dirk looked as though he was going to argue but must have recognized the dead seriousness in my eyes and tone because he nodded instead. I released the fabric and took a step back. “Get out,” I barked.
He quickly scurried out but threw one last jab over his shoulder. “I’m gonna sue you for everything you’ve got, Storm. Then we’ll see who muffin goes running to.”
I took a step in his direction, intent on kicking his ass, but a tug on my arm stopped me. I spun around and pulled Anna into my arms, holding her tight as though she might disappear. After a minute, my heart rate began to slow, and I lifted her dimpled chin with a finger. “Are you alright?” My eyes scanned her face, looking for any sign of distress, but she was gazing up at me with a soft smile.