you do?”
“A little of everything. I talked three friends into skipping with me. We went surfing early that morning. Hit Disneyland for eight hours. Went bowling. Then to a drive-in movie.”
“I loved going to the drive-in when I was a kid,” Wynn said wistfully. “I haven’t been to one in years.”
“We’ll find one. I’ll take you,” she declared.
“You’re on.”
“Where do you live?”
“Malibu, mostly. I’ve also got a small studio apartment in Universal City that I crash at if filming goes into the wee hours. There’s something about being on the water, though, that speaks to my soul.”
Ten minutes later, he pulled off the highway and stopped at a gate, tapping in the code. The gate swung open and he wound down a long drive. They finally reached the house, hidden from the road by large trees and massive foliage. A fire engine red Ford Mustang and a burgundy Corvette sat outside the house.
“Your fixer uppers?”
He nodded. “The Mustang is next. I guess with a delay in filming, I’ll have some time to work on her.”
“What’s her name?”
“That red screams for attention. I call this one Lola.”
“Like ‘Copacabana’ Lola?” Scarlett asked.
“Exactly.” Wynn looked pleased that she’d made the connection between the car’s sexy name and the old Barry Manilow song.
The garage door rose and he eased Philippa inside next to a Range Rover. Turning off the engine, he faced her.
“I’ll take as much or as little as you’re willing to give me, Scarlett. If all you want to do is sit on the deck this afternoon and drink wine and talk, I’m in.”
“That sounds good. Maybe I could sit in your lap? Naked?”
His smile was a thing of beauty.
CHAPTER 12
Wynn leaned over and softly brushed his lips against hers. Something had changed with Scarlett. He didn’t want to ask because he was afraid she’d spook and the switch would flip again.
Their status hadn’t changed. He remained her client. Maybe since she’d pulled off an amazing victory at Rylon today, she thought to wrap up that deal and pass him off to another Lymon McGraw partner so they could see each other socially.
Not a chance.
Scarlett Corrigan was a force of nature. Bright. Beautiful. Exactly the attorney he needed representing his interests, both now and in the future. More importantly, he wanted to keep her in his life for the long run. Because of that, Wynn decided to put on the brakes. It might’ve been their fast start which had shaken her up. Given her second thoughts. Made her pull back. He wouldn’t let that happen again. At thirty-five, he’d sown enough wild oats. He’d decided—after meeting her—he wanted to settle down. From what she’d revealed to him, Scarlett felt the same way. She was ready for children, whether she had a partner or not. They were compatible in so many ways and their chemistry was off the charts.
Wynn couldn’t afford to blow this a second time. As much as he wanted to launch a full frontal assault, both physically and metaphorically speaking, he was going to slow this roller coaster down. Right now, they were standing in line for the ride of their lives. He’d build the anticipation for as long as he could before they stepped into the front car for the actual ride. Once inside and belted in, he was never letting her go.
That meant Scarlett had to be ready to make a lifetime commitment to him. To them. She wasn’t ready to do that now. Though he was positive of the outcome, she had to come to the same realization on her own.
There could be a lot of fun in the build-up, though.
He brushed his fingers along her cheek. “I don’t know about you but I’m starving.” Wynn glanced at his watch. “It’s almost one-thirty. I was too nervous to eat this morning.”
Her fingers lightly grasped his wrist. “Worried that I couldn’t pull off something insane?”
Looking deep into her eyes, he said, “I think you could accomplish whatever you put your mind to, Scarlett Corrigan.”
She blushed at the compliment. “Thank you. I’m surprised by the positive outcome. Rylon—especially under Mussfield’s leadership—is notoriously old school. It’s pretty remarkable those executives are willing to be shaken and not stirred.”
He leaned in and gave her a soft kiss. “I do love a good 007 reference.”
Pulling away, he exited the Spitfire and she joined him. They entered the house and he tapped in the security code to silence the alarm. Scarlett brushed by him and traveled through the kitchen to his great room.