Rapturous Read Free Page A

going to seduce him.”
    “Oh. Well. What’s your plan?”
    “When he brings me home later, I’m going to take him by the hand and pull him into my place. I’m not going to take no for an answer.” I tear my gaze off Hayden and glance at Natalie, who’s looking at me with big eyes. “You’re horrified, right?”
    “No, of coursenot.”
    “He kissed me, Nat. You saw it.”
    “The whole world saw it.”
    “That means something. I’m going for it. I don’t care anymore about all the reasons why I shouldn’t. I’m sick of wanting someone I can’t have—and knowing he wants me, too. We’re fucking adults. It’s time we started acting like it.”
    “I, um…”
    “What?”
    She starts to say something but stops herself. “Good luck.”
    “Do you think I’mcrazy for acting this way?”
    “No. I understand it, actually. I just… Be careful, Addie. He…” She shakes her head. “You know him better than I do.”
    Something that looks an awful lot like guilt skitters across her face and is gone before I can be certain of what it was. Why in the world would Natalie feel guilty about anything where Hayden is concerned? I’m so amped up, I’m seeing things that aren’tthere.
    Flynn slides back into the booth and puts his arm around Natalie. “You ready to go home for some private celebrating, baby?”
    “Whenever you are.”
    “Can we give you a lift, Addie?” he asks.
    “Oh, um, no, thanks. I’ll go with Hayden.”
    Flynn glowers at Hayden, who has a fresh drink in his hand and a whole new group of actors surrounding him. “You’d be better off coming with us. He’s justgetting started.”
    How can I begin to compete against the beautiful women he works with every day? The women who throw themselves at him, hoping he’ll want them in one of his films? Some of them would do anything , give him anything , to get what they want.  
    Stop, Addison. You’re worth a thousand of them, and you’ve never sacrificed your morals for a job . I realize Flynn is staring at me, probablywondering what level of meltdown I’m having.
    “I’ll keep an eye on him and make sure he gets home okay.” I get up to hug them both. “Congratulations again. I’m so happy for you.”
    “Thanks, Addie.” He kisses my cheek. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”
    “We both know that’s not true, but it’s nice to hear anyway.”
    “It’s entirely true. I’m sure I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
    “I’m sure you will.”

    When Natalie hugs me, she whispers, “Be careful” in my ear. I’m not sure what she’s telling me to be careful about. Is she warning me off Hayden? Why would she do that? Does she know something I don’t? Of course she doesn’t. She’s known him a couple of months. I’ve known him for ten years. What could she possibly know that I don’t?
    I give her a reassuring smile and send her on her way. I trynot to notice the way she looks back at me over her shoulder, her brows knitted with obvious concern. Does she think I can’t take care of myself? I love her, but she’s worrying needlessly. And why do I feel like the younger of the two of us when I’ve got four years on her?
    Summoning courage and resolve and determination to get what I want, I approach him and place my hand on his back.
    He startleswhen he realizes it’s me. “Oh, hey,” he says, still managing to avoid eye contact. Is he really that much of a coward?  
    “What do you say we get out of here?” My heart beats wildly while I wait to hear what he’ll say.
    He finally looks directly at me, and the heat I see in those usually frosty blue eyes tells me everything I need to know. He wants me, but he doesn’t want to want me. I can workwith that.
    “Um, okay. Sure.”
    After we say good-bye to Jasper, Kristian and Marlowe, I curl my hand around his arm, because of my four-inch heels and my legs feel rather unsteady all of a sudden. Despite my earlier bravado, I’m a nervous wreck about taking this particular