wanted to enjoy how he made her feel and nothing more.
Come over.
With a spring in her step, Elle jogged up her winding staircase and promptly changed into a hot-pink sundress with a plunging neckline. She placed a pair of strappy sandals on her feet and proceeded to fix her hair and makeup. By the time she’d finished applying, her doorbell rang. She smiled at her reflection before jogging downstairs to answer the door. She was so focused, she almost missed the text message from Whitney:
Home safe and sound. “Big Mac” was just that.
Elle rolled her eyes, but laughed as she tucked her cell back into her pocket and opened the door. “That was quick.”
Luke removed his sunglasses and placed a kiss on her cheek before crossing the threshold to enter her home. Without knowing it, he’d worn an outfit that complemented hers perfectly. A faded navy blue t-shirt that pulled at his pec muscles and dark washed jeans that hugged his muscular thighs.
“I couldn’t wait.”
“Good.” Elle drank him in with her eyes, willing herself to be strong enough not to simply drag him up to her bedroom immediately. She wanted to spend more time with him, learn what made Luke Kingston tick, discover if they had much in common. Their sexual chemistry was undeniable, but their intellectual chemistry was still undecided.
Closing the space between them, Luke wrapped an arm around her waist, nuzzling into her neck.
“You smell good. Are you hungry?”
“Famished.”
“Great. I made a reservation at The Ivy.”
The swirls of excitement in Elle’s belly dropped to the floor. The Ivy was known for celebrity sightings. Not only that, it was littered with paparazzi. The Ivy was a place she’d avoided successfully since moving to California and she had no intention of ever eating there. Elle was a private person. Luke knew that, and despite the promise she’d made herself earlier not to mention Luke and the photos of him with Gina, she was not willing to compromise her desire for a private life.
“The Ivy? Why would you want to go there?” Elle didn’t want to sound accusatory in her question, but she was feeling unsettled. Why would Luke want to take her there knowing how private she was? Especially after he’d already been photographed just a few days prior.
“What do you mean? They have this killer patio. I thought we could enjoy the sunshine.”
“Luke, I thought you knew how I felt about places like that. If you don’t, then I need to be more clear. I have no interest in participating in the Hollywood game. I don’t want to spend my weekends looking for photo ops or avoiding paparazzi. It’s not how I’m built. It’s not how I want to live my life.”
“Oh.” Luke took a step back, running his fingers through his waves. “I hadn’t really thought about that. My agent suggested it when I spoke to her yesterday.”
“Your agent?”
“Yeah. But I mean, it’s not a big deal. If you don’t want to go there that’s fine.” Luke placed his hands loosely on his hips, waiting for Elle’s answer.
She hesitated before speaking. “Let’s go somewhere else.”
“You pick.” His behavior was nonchalant. Somehow with Luke, things never seemed to erupt into a full-blown altercation, which was not what Elle was used to. With Troy, things always seemed to become something worthy of discussion. Luke’s lack of concern was confusing. Did he just not care enough to fight with her? Or could she stand to learn a thing or two from his relaxed demeanor?
Elle chose a quiet bistro in Santa Monica overlooking the sand and surf. They feasted on oysters, scallops, and shrimp scampi. The soothing sounds of the waves crashing against the sand calmed Elle’s nerves and helped her relax. Luke held her hand as they ate. They talked about the show, which was holding its own in the Nielsen ratings. The network was pleased with Luke’s role on the show and the new love story developing between his character and Gina’s.
“You won’t believe what’s happening on Twitter.”
Elle finished chewing before responding. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve gained thousands of new followers in just a few weeks. Two hundred new ones just this morning. It’s crazy. I mean, crazy awesome, but crazy.”
“I’m sure that’ll continue. The viewers love you,” Elle deadpanned.
“Geez, you say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“No.” Elle shook her head, wiping her mouth with her napkin. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m thrilled they’re loving you on the show. I’m just—I don’t know . .