twenty. Just like almost every other poor Latina girl in Southern California.”
Though her back was to him as she stared out the window into the darkness of the neighborhood, he could see the tension in the lines of her back. He could hear it in her voice, like she was quoting a lecture she’d heard over and over again, complete with hand gestures slicing through the air.
“If I got pregnant by twenty, it was all over. I’d be dooming myself to a life of poverty. The only way out was to stay out of trouble. Finish my education. Start my career. By the time I accomplished my goals and got a job out in L.A., I realized I was the oldest virgin in the city. And then there I was. Twenty-three, working in Hollywood, this beautiful and vivacious woman—” she practically sneered the words “—and every guy I dated expected me to be sexually experienced. Men were actually insulted if I didn’t fall into bed with them on the first date.”
There was enough bitterness in her tone for him to know there was more to that story.
“What is it you’re not telling me?” He almost didn’t want to know.
She shot him a surprised look. “It was nothing.”
“Is it nothing the same way your virginity was nothing?” Her jaw tightened and her cheeks flushed. “Yeah,” he continued. “That’s what I thought. Why don’t you tell me anyway and I’ll be the judge of whether it was really nothing.”
“Just the occasional actor who made things awkward when I didn’t jump into bed with them.”
“Who?” he bit out the question.
“Does that really matter?” Her tone sounded beleaguered.
“It matters.” How was he going to hunt down the bastard and kill him if he didn’t have a name? “Who was it?”
She studied his expression, her gaze narrowed and assessing. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“I’ll let it go when you tell me who it was.”
“Ridley Sinclair.”
Ward immediately swore. Christ, he’d been talking to the guy just a few hours ago. Ridley Sinclair, who was supposedly happily married to the love of his life. And now he was finding out the guy was a cheating bastard. Who’d made Ana’s life difficult.
“I’m going to kill him,” Ward muttered.
Ana flashed an exasperated smile. “Please don’t.”
“He’s why you left Hollywood,” he surmised, piecing together another complicated swath of the puzzle.
“Not the only reason.” Indignation laced her voice.
“So there were other men who harassed you?”
“It’s not important!” she insisted. Again. “What’s important is that I now have a job I love. A job I care about and where I can make a difference. I’m just desperate to make it work. That’s what matters.”
But despite all her protests, he could tell she still felt the sting of Sinclair’s behavior. And as a result, she still didn’t trust Ward entirely. Maybe she never would. But he understood her better now. Christ, no wonder Ana had freaked out last night and left the party. She must have overheard Sinclair’s slurs.
He crossed to where she stood and pulled her gently to his chest. “I’m sorry.”
She pulled away just enough to rest her palm against his cheek. “It’s not your fault.”
“Maybe not. But I was the one who dragged you to that party.”
“Hey.” Her tone was a little defensive, a little accusatory. “I could have said no.”
“I made it pretty hard for you to say no,” he countered.
“And I still make my own decisions.”
Boy, that was the truth. He’d never met a more bullheaded woman. Still, he sensed there was something she wasn’t saying. Something she didn’t want him to know.
“If I really didn’t want to go, I wouldn’t have gone.” Her voice wavered. “I just didn’t expect it to be so hard.”
He tipped her chin up forcing her to meet his gaze. “Well, next time something is hard for you, talk to me about it instead of just leaving. You’re not alone in this relationship.”
“Is that was this is? A relationship?” Her voice caught. For once, Ana seemed…timid almost. Unsure of herself.
He didn’t know which and didn’t want to push the matter. Neither emotion was the giddy, joyful, postcoital rush of love he wished she was experiencing.
“Yes,” he said firmly. Whatever doubts she’d been having, he wanted to banish them.
After a moment, she nodded. “Okay.”
Then she pressed her body closer to his. Pushing up onto her toes, she pulled his head down to hers for a kiss that seared his very soul. Instantly, he felt himself harden again, which shocked the