had led to Troy working for Trace’s brother-in-law, Quinn, who was now married to Julie’s former stunt double, Ellie.
Yes, it was a very small world.
After a couple hours of catching up, Troy and Julie ran the paparazzi gauntlet on the way out. Troy held her close and kept a guarded eye on the people crowded around them, but he handled the chaos with calm.
Once safely in the car, he took a right on Sunset Boulevard.
Julie had to know what he thought of the media circus. “So...did tonight freak you out?” She fiddled with the button on the cuff of her shirt. “Because that’s about the norm for me. It’s an acquired taste.” She waited for his answer, afraid to see the expression on his face.
“Bullets freak me out. Cameras...not so much.”
She glanced at the wry smile on his face and fell in love with him a little bit more. “I’m serious. It’s never-ending. The cameras, people wanting to meet or talk or find a connection somehow. It’s not easy.” He missed the right turn for her house. “Where are you going?”
“I have a stop to make. Hope that’s okay.”
“Sure.” Maybe this had to do with the client problem he had earlier. “Anyway, what I was saying before. It’s not an easy life and it takes a certain person to be able to handle it. I just love you, and I don’t want to put you in the limelight if you don’t want to be there.”
“I want to be wherever you are,” he said. “That’s when I’m at my best.” Julie swallowed the knot lodged in her throat and Troy continued, “This last month was a bear. A few times I didn’t think I’d get through it. But then I thought to myself, if this is what I have to deal with to have a life with you...to be with you...then it’s worth every second.” He glanced at her and the emotion in his eyes filled her heart with love. “Because you are worth getting shot over. You’re worth dealing with pushy photographers and obnoxious paparazzi. I can handle anything as long as I’ve got you with me and I know you’re safe.”
Julie reached for his hand and squeezed tight. “I hope you still feel that way in a few months.”
“Months? How about years? How about decades?” His half grin and hot glance took her back to their road trip. She loved his profile, loved his strong jaw, the shape of his nose and the curve of his lips. He always knew how to say the right thing.
Sunset Boulevard wound its way closer to the beach, and soon they were driving on the Pacific Coast Highway. The full moon illuminated the ocean like a giant nightlight. Troy made a left near Pepperdine University and cruised along a row of beach houses before pulling into a driveway.
Curiosity ate Julie up. “Who lives here?” she asked.
Troy’s sidelong glance and smile as he got out of the car only made her radar sharper. He opened her door and helped her out. Did this place belong to him too? Her heart thumped as he unlocked the front door, flipped on a light and ushered her in before him.
The house was gorgeous. A short hallway with closed doors on either side opened up to a huge two-level great room. A glass table for four preceded the large kitchen to the right, and three steps down the wide staircase, the open living room boasted a huge flat screen television and fireplace with a giant comfortable sofa.
What really caught Julie’s eye was the wall of glass windows and two sets of French doors that lead out to the balcony and the beach. Troy unlocked the door and she took a deep breath of the salty sea air. The rush of waves soothed frazzled nerves the paparazzi had ruffled.
“Surprise,” Troy said, his voice low in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“You are full of them, aren’t you?” She smiled and canted her head back and to the side as his lips skated from her neck to her ear. Tingles shimmied down her spine and she shivered.
“Cold?” he asked.
“Not even close,” she whispered. She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck as his mouth came down over hers. The kiss consumed her, took her to a place where nothing mattered but Troy. He tasted like the mints they swiped from Trace’s suite. His hands curved around her ass and brought her more fully against