Keely Kennedy was the one he wanted in his life.
Forever.
CHAPTER 8
Sensations and emotions ran through Keely at lightning speed. Her brain tried to process both and failed miserably. All she knew was the sex had been phenomenal and she’d never felt more fragile and yet better protected than she did in this moment. She burrowed closer to Mac, the wild thumping of his heart against her cheek starting to calm. The fog began to lift from her brain—and she knew she was in deep trouble.
This man brought feelings to the surface which she’d never faced. Though they’d only known each other a short time, it was as if they’d always known one another, maybe from past lives. That they’d met and come together and loved many lifetimes over and simply arrived here, in this moment, at their final destination. Everything was so true and pure and right.
Which made it all wrong for more reasons than she could count.
She couldn’t be in love this fast. This complete. This deep. Her head told her that was crazy. Impossible. Her heart, though, was making a pretty decent stand and telling her head to take a hike. That Mac Randall was real. What they had was real. A part of her accepted it while the rest vehemently denied it. Even if these were the first steps of a lifetime journey together, she didn’t have the right to tag along with him just yet. Not before he became what he was meant to be. Mac’s life was morphing faster than he could imagine. Soon, his name would be out there. The press would learn he’d taken over for Beau. They would begin to follow him. Haunt him. Then hound him. Any notion of living a private life would be finished overnight. He would belong to the public, whether he wanted to or not.
Because of that, she shouldn’t tag along, riding on his coattail for what should be his voyage alone. She could help him navigate the waters as a friend but it was wrong to tie him to her at such a critical juncture in his life. Mac had keen intelligence and fashion model looks. He could have any woman he desired. Keely knew she was attractive but if she were being honest, Mac Randall was out of her league. Maybe not when he’d been a stuntman but as the mega-star he was about to become, he could claim any woman on the planet. He was destined for a meteoric rise. He didn’t need to be tied to her. Mac needed to make his own way before he ever made the kind of choice that she hoped he might.
Tears welled in her eyes at the thought of letting him go. It would be difficult seeing him every day, working with him long hours, but she was a realist at heart. Bringing this relationship to a halt before it went any further had to happen here. Now. Before she crossed the point of no return. She’d only given her heart once, years ago, and had it sliced to slivers by her lover. She’d pictured them married and supporting one another, cheering each other on through whatever ups and downs that came in their careers. Instead, he’d viewed her as competition, which was foolish. They wouldn’t have read for the same roles. He wanted to be the more famous actor, though. The one who raked in a higher salary and had more fans screaming his name. Their brutal breakup scarred her beyond measure. She’d guarded her heart ever since, not willing to give it away.
Mac threatened to break through the steel she’d encased it in.
Keely blinked rapidly, trying to make her tears vanish, and only succeeded in having them spill onto Mac’s broad chest.
“Hey,” he said softly, his finger lifting her chin. “You okay?”
The concern in his eyes broke the dam. Tears flooded her face, pouring onto him. She was certain rivers of black mascara trailed down her cheeks now. Keely couldn’t help it. She was an ugly crier. Some women’s tears cascaded and made their eyes liquid and appealing, while she turned red in the face and got raccoon eyes that swelled.
She pushed her palms against his chest to move off the bed and put some distance between them but Mac grabbed her wrists.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he said gruffly, forcing her back into his comforting embrace, which made her cry even harder. One large hand stroked her bare back as his lips brushed against her temple and then kissed her hair.
“Quit being so nice to me,” she got out between sobs.
Mac chuckled.
Keely took several deep breaths, blanking her mind and composing herself. Emotionally, she was spent. Physically, she wanted to go another ten rounds with the gorgeous man in her bed. She blew out a final breath and decided she had enough control to speak rationally.
“Let me sit up,” she told him.
Mac’s arms loosened and she scrambled up. The problem was, he did the same, his back resting against her headboard. Before she could protest, he’d lifted her so she sat beside him. One of those amazing arms went around her shoulders. She inhaled his spicy cologne a last time, enjoying how secure she felt before moving away. Reaching for a tissue on the nightstand, she moped her eyes and then met his gaze.
“I know I’m next to hideous when I cry. My skin goes blotchy and red and I’m certain mascara is smeared down my cheeks.”
He gave her a lazy smile and took her hand, kissing her knuckles. “You’re definitely not a pretty crier,” he agreed matter-of-factly.
She couldn’t help it. She laughed.
Mac tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “You have a great laugh, Keely. Rich and deep. I hope I can make you laugh a lot.”
She worried her bottom lip a moment. “About that.”
A flash of confusion—then fear—flickered in his eyes. “Was I too rough? Did I hurt—”
“You were perfect,” she quickly reassured him. “Actually, pretty amazing. On my personal Richter scale of one to ten, that easily scored a twenty-nine. I’ve never had sex like that, Mac. I . . . I didn’t know it could be so intimate yet joyous.”
His hand tightened around hers. “Same here. Keely, I’m not sure how to define what’s going on between us.”
“That’s why I think it needs to stop.”
“What?”
She heard the shock in his voice and decided it would be better to plunge ahead, like ripping a bandage off a nasty wound. Tearing it little by little would only prolong the hurt.
And the hurt already ran deep.
“I think we’ve made a mistake. Getting involved so quickly. We’re going to be working together. If this doesn’t work out—”
“What’s changed?” he demanded. “I just had the best sex of my life with the most beautiful woman I know. A woman who’s just as beautiful inside as she is on the outside. One I want to get to know in every way imaginable.” He paused. “I thought you felt the same way, Keely.”
She tensed, physically willing herself to stay the course. “Mac, you have a multitude of changes about to occur in your life. I’ve got experience with this kind of thing and think it would be wise if you weren’t tangled up with me right now. I want to be your friend. I’ll help you in any way I can to manage the paparazzi or—”
“You’re afraid,” he said bluntly. “I never figured you to be a quitter. Or someone who let fear rule her life.”
Keely started to snap back and found she couldn’t. “I’m terrified,” she admitted quietly. “I’m frightened by all of the powerful feelings roiling inside me. Feelings I shouldn’t have this early in a relationship.”