don’t know what I mean.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, I have a certain reputation where women are concerned. If I’d spent the night with anyone else, I don’t think I’d care what the Corrigans thought. This sounds really crazy. I only met them yesterday. I train with Leo. He invited me along on this he-man marathon training session that he was putting some of his other clients through.”
Dash took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “I like Rhett. A lot. Cassie, too. And Ken and Melanie. Hanging with them—and you—last night, was like being around normal people. Not Hollywood types. I’d like to be friends with those guys. They’re both stand-up guys.”
He brought their joined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “And I know they like you. Who wouldn’t? So, I want them to have a good opinion of me. I’m more than what the tabloids say I am, Sydney. Both in my personal life and in my acting. I want to impress them. Impress you. I said I feel protective of you and that means your reputation, too. Which means going to get my car.”
She gave him an enigmatic look. “I get that. I like all of them, too. I’m sorely lacking in the friend department.” She pulled their hands toward her and kissed the back of his. “And I like you. I like that you’re watching out for me.”
“Then maybe we need to watch out for each other.”
Without meaning to, he was kissing her again. Desire flickered in him quickly. Sydney was a stunning woman but her inner beauty was a bigger turn on than he could’ve realized. His hands stroked up and down her body, her satin skin warm to the touch. It hit him that he didn’t have another condom. He never left the house without one. He’d been a Boy Scout and always believed in being prepared. He only had the one, though, and that was long used.
He discovered it didn’t matter. He was interested in her pleasure, not his own. He let his hands and mouth do the talking and brought her to a climax that had her bucking on the bed like a wild bronco in a rodeo. She finally quieted. Moonlight shone over her naked, exhausted body.
Dash kissed her forehead and pulled the sheet over her. “I’ll be back,” he promised.
He slipped into his shorts and shirt. His shoes were still in his car so he’d have to jog barefoot back to Rhett’s. He eased the front door open, happy to see she’d at least locked it. Within five minutes, he arrived at his car. He dug his keys from his pocket and drove his convertible back to Sydney’s place.
As he got out, he realized that he hadn’t called Herc to wish him goodnight. Dash always called Herc, no matter where he was. Even out of the country filming, he always made the effort. He hadn’t last night. That’s how wrapped up he’d been in Sydney Revere. Regret washed over him. He didn’t like to let Herc down. Their parents had done enough of that. He’d have to make it up to his brother today.
He entered the Revere beach house as quietly as he could and re-locked the front door. He checked the back door. Still unlocked. Passion had clouded his head as he’d brought Sydney into the house. He locked it. He wasn’t kidding when he warned her. All kind of nut jobs were out there. Locking doors was important. Suddenly thirsty, Dash wandered into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. He downed it and refilled it, this time sipping more slowly.
As he drank it, he came back into the living room. He went to turn off the light before he crawled back into bed with Sydney and stopped. Curious, he flipped open the binder sitting on the table.
It was the storyboard for No Regrets.
CHAPTER 9
Sydney yawned and stretched. Her hand shot out behind her to feel for Dash since he was no longer pressed against her back. When she didn’t find him, she rolled over.
The other side of the bed was empty. She ran a hand along the mattress. Cold to the touch.
He hadn’t come back. He’d lied to her.
Disappointment flooded her. Maybe lied was too strong a word. Sure, he said he was coming back, but maybe when he got in his car, he had second thoughts. Or he had actually come back and left again. He might