to Maine?” he asked.
“God no,” I said. “I mean, I like where I’m from. I just want to do something more, you know? Something a little bigger. Only I don’t know what that is yet.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” he said. “I don’t know, Sophie. I have a good feeling about you.”
I could feel myself blushing again, so I took a sip of the wine.
“You’re also very beautiful, too. Although I’m sure plenty of people have told you that before,” he continued.
“Stop,” I said, smiling and covering my face with my hands, wondering if Kait had actually been right that I was somehow Leo’s type. It seemed bizarre to say the least—patently impossible.
And yet here I was, sitting next to him at his condo.
“And even more beautiful when you blush,” he said. “Don’t ever hide your face. It’s criminal.” He took my hand gently and guided it back down to my lap, and his thumb brushed on my bare thigh, sending a shock straight up between my thighs. I shifted slightly on the couch. I couldn’t help myself. When he released my hand, dragging his fingers across my thigh, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I took a drink of the wine, concentrating on the light bubbles that danced across my tongue and down my throat.
“So,” I began, trying to pull myself back to some sort of decent conversation. “Do you have any notes for me from my audition? Anything I can do to improve my skills?”
He smiled a crooked smile, which damn, was even better than the full version. He was amused by me, and I had a feeling he enjoyed watching me squirm.
“Is that what you want?” he asked. “For me to help you improve your skills?”
“Well, I…” I stammered. At that exact moment, my dress slipped off one shoulder. Leo reached up and tucked the fabric back in place. He left his hand there, his fingers holding on to my shoulder, pressing delicately.
“Perfect timing, huh?” he said.
I laughed, releasing some tension, and covered my face with my hand again. Total embarrassment.
“No, no,” he said, teasing, taking my hand again. “What’d I say about covering up that gorgeous face?”
The last thing I wanted was for him to let go of me, to stop touching me, but that’s exactly what he did. This guy was getting to me, and fast.
I kept reminding myself that none of this was real, but suddenly it was feeling all too real, and my defenses had not been prepared for the kind of heat and chemistry I was experiencing.
Leo stood from the couch and said, “Listen, Sophie. I don’t like to pretend.” He walked toward a table near the two-story window, where the city lights danced below us. He opened a drawer and pulled something out. “I live in a world of make believe, with movies and people using each other to get ahead. So I need to know I can trust you.” He sat back down next to me. On the table, near all the food I still wanted to eat if only I could stop panicking, Leo Armstrong placed papers and a pen down before me. “For someone like me,” he said, “it’s a part of my reality. Before we talk about your audition or…anything else…I need you to sign this non-disclosure agreement. It’s standard but feel free to take a moment to read it. If you don’t feel comfortable signing it, I completely understand, but unfortunately I won’t be able to enjoy your company without it.”
I picked up the paper and let my eyes scan the words. The flirting of moments ago had certainly evaporated. Legal documents will do that to a girl.
“You want me to sign this?” I asked.
“I know,” he said. “It’s strange. But my lawyer insists and well, like I said, I live in a world where people want to take advantage of me at every turn, sell whatever piece of me they can to the tabloids, so this just helps protect me and, frankly, also shows me upfront who is really interested in me,” he said, touching his chest, “and who is interested in all the rest.” He lifted his hand to indicate the grandness of his home, and all his wealth and the power that came with it.
As I held the document before me, I tried to gather the racing thoughts in my head. My eyes scanned across the document, flipping through the pages. I couldn’t take photos of him.