Margot nods, jumping when another knock sounds on the door. “Margot?”
“Coming!” She glances at the door, her eyebrows drawing together.
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
Margot gulps, shaking her head. “I do. My reputation is all tied up with Ivy’s business now, so I need to clear my name. For her sake.”
The actress stands up, brushing her hands down her sides. She smooths her hair down, taking a deep breath as she stares at herself in the mirror. Swinging her gaze to me, she puts her hand to my cheek.
“Thank you, Dante.”
“You want me to come out there with you? I can stand where you can see me, and if you ever get nervous, just look at me and remember to breathe.”
Margot’s shoulders relax, and a soft smile tugs at her lips. “I’d like that.”
Nodding, I follow her to the dressing room door. My heart bangs against my ribcage, and I feel a connection with Margot that I’ve rarely felt with anyone besides my family. She glances over her shoulder at me, and a bolt of lightning passes through my chest.
I may have come here for Luca, but I’m staying for Margot…
…and I know I’m in trouble.
7
Margot
When I sit in front of the cameras and feel the heat of the studio lights on my skin, my nerves arc up again. But Dante stands just beside the camera, and the sight of his strong, safe body brings me back down from the edge.
Mel adjusts my hair one last time, staring into my eyes and winking at me. “You’ll do great.”
I smile, trying to believe her.
I do the interview, saying exactly what Felicity told me to say. I talk about my overdose, my recovery, my anxiety, and all the ways that I’ve changed over the past months. I focus on the positives, and deflect any unwanted questions.
I don’t talk about the baby, or my diagnosis, for obvious reasons. I’m pretty sure Felicity would have a heart attack if I dropped those bombshells without warning her.
Whenever I feel the bundle of nerves in my stomach get tighter, I glance over at the Prince. His eyes stay glued on me and I can sense the waves of calm that he sends my way.
We’re connected. It’s odd and comforting—and perfect.
After the interview is over, my publicist is beaming as I’m ushered back to the car.
It’s not until I’m sitting down next to Dante that I let out a deep sigh, glancing over at him.
“Thank you.”
He smiles, putting his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close. “That was impressive,” he says.
I just laugh, resting my head on his chest as the car starts moving.
“I mean it,” he says. “I don’t know if I’d have been able to pull myself together like that and look so poised and humble. You did really well.”
“Thank you,” I say softly, inhaling his scent.
I’m not one to feel this comfortable with men—or anyone, really—so soon after meeting them. It takes me a long time to open up to people. The only other man I’ve been sort of close to was Prince Beckett, and that was just a one-night stand after being jealous and fed-up that Luca wasn’t interested in me. It wasn’t real.
I can’t remember the last time I had a boyfriend. It’s too hard to trust people when you’re in this industry. You never know who is genuine and who just wants to use you for publicity.
But with Dante, it’s different. He makes me feel at ease, even when he’s seen me at my most vulnerable. He seems to understand me on a level that I didn’t even know was possible, and I only met him yesterday.
When we get back to the house, I let out a sigh. Dante helps me out of the car and keeps his hand on my lower back as we make our way inside. When he steps away from me to take his jacket off, I miss his touch and the warmth of his body close to mine. I watch him hang up the jacket and then swing his eyes back to mine.
“You doing okay, Margot?”
I smile. “Yeah. Thanks to you. Don’t know how I would have done that if you hadn’t been there.”
“Well, you’ve helped my brother out a lot, making it easier for him to be with Ivy. I guess I owe it to you.”
I smile to hide the twinge of disappointment that passes through me. Is it wrong that I