Red Carpet Kiss - Melissa Brown Page 0,12

two seasons. We’ll be spending a lot of time together, Luke. Think this through.”

Elle didn’t do awkward. She didn’t want to avoid a member of her cast, let alone have to resist the urge to kill off his character. There would be table reads, and hundreds of takes during production. She needed to keep her work environment a safe one—one without conflict. Why couldn’t he understand that?

“One date.” He stepped closer, running his hand down her cheek. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his soft hands and forgetting all about the work environment that seemed to matter so much only seconds earlier.

“One night, you mean,” she replied, feeling she had nothing to lose. She was ready to lay her cards out on the table. If Luke was looking for a one-night stand, he’d need to look somewhere else.

“If that’s what you choose,” he corrected her. “But I’m not looking for that.”

“Neither am I.” It was the truth. It’d been quite some time since Elle had been in a romantic relationship, but she knew herself well. She was the type who grew attached. Casual flings were not her thing.

Luke took one more step toward Elle. Her breath caught as she awaited his next move. Leaning in, his lips brushed against hers, not in a kiss, but in a teasing motion, stirring something within her. Back and then forth, he moved his lips ever so slightly to tickle hers. Her chest rose and fell with each second. She longed for him to stop teasing her. Luke moved his feathery touches to her jaw and then to her neck, never kissing her, only touching her just enough to send shivers down her spine.

“Give me a chance, Elle. I’m not that guy, seriously.”

Despite the nagging feeling that this was, in fact, a mistake, Elle closed her eyes and whispered her answer, “One date.”

Luke stood tall and ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s all I’m asking for. Tonight?”

“What time?”

“Whenever you’re free.”

“You’re certainly making this easy.”

“I can’t help it.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close, their chests pressed to one another. “This is what you do to me.”

“Seven o’clock?” Elle asked, avoiding the intimacy of their embrace as her heart pumped furiously inside her body.

“Perfect. There’s this wonderful restaurant . . . Angelini Osteria. Have you been?”

“I think so.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up.”

Elle scrunched her lips together before responding. “Actually, I’ll meet you there.”

Luke broke eye contact briefly. “That works too.”

He then placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, released her from his grasp, and walked out the office door. Elle, lost in thought, walked to her office chair, slumping down inside the comfort of the worn leather. Her skin tingled, her heart pounded, and her mind wandered. She was in trouble. Yep. Lots and lots of trouble.

“What the hell is the matter with you?” Whitney screeched into the phone. Elle stood in her bra and panties, cell phone pressed to her ear as she held a black lace cocktail dress to her body. Her hair was pulled up into a tight bun, her bangs swept loosely across her forehead. Her makeup was completed, but she had no idea what to wear. She tilted her head, trying to envision what was appropriate for this date. She didn’t want to be overdressed or too sexy. But then again, not being sexy enough was not an option. Luke had made it clear he was attracted to her, that he couldn’t stop thinking about her . . . and despite her snarky attitude earlier that afternoon, the feelings were completely mutual. She wanted to be just the right amount of sexy.

“I’m fine,” she choked out, placing the black dress back in her closet, trading it for a strapless denim dress with a large brown leather belt.

“I can hear The White Album. You only listen to that when you’re freaking out. Talk to me, Elle.”

Elle cringed at how well Whitney knew her and her habits. Whitney hit the nail on the head when she recognized The White Album—an album with songs laced with creativity and storytelling that eased Elle’s mind when she was feeling anxious and contemplative. By the time she reached “Blackbird” she was usually able to calm herself down. But she was way past “Blackbird” and the adrenaline coursing through her body still hadn’t subsided.

“I have a date. One I’m not so sure about.”

“A date? And you didn’t tell me?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Oh my God, you caved, didn’t you?”

Elle groaned into the phone.