actress, and I . . .” She shrugged. “I found out while I was buying paper towels at Target and saw my own face on the cover of Buzz Weekly.”
He was stunned. “That must have been terrible.”
“Yeah. I had to buy the damn magazine to find out that he’d broken up with me. They didn’t even have the decency to put the pertinent info on the cover.”
“Jasmine, please don’t take this the wrong way . . .”
“I promise I won’t.”
“But that . . . that was it?”
She laughed. “Yup.”
“I mean, he’s clearly the most stupid man in the world to cheat on you. Especially with someone who looks just like you, but who I guarantee isn’t as amazing as you are.”
She squeezed him around the waist. “Thank you.”
“But some pictures and a short quote . . . that’s why they’re hounding you at the studio every day?”
“Yup.”
“And making up all those ridiculous stories and headlines?”
“I think my favorite was something like ROCK STAR RAKE REJECTS GIRLFRIEND IN RIVAL REBOUND. Totally false, since I’d never even heard of the other woman, but points for alliteration.”
He cuddled her tighter. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that. Are still going through that. It’s not fair. And you don’t deserve it.”
“Can I tell you something?” Her voice was soft and sleepy.
“Go ahead.”
“I just . . . wanted to be in love. I wanted to love someone, and I wanted them to love me. And I thought he might. Instead, I got dragged by the press for daring to believe a man more famous than I am might possibly love me.”
She let out a huge yawn, then snuggled closer to his chest.
Ashton tightened his hold on her, but inside, he’d gone cold.
It wasn’t her confession that scared him. She was a beautiful person inside and out, and she deserved to love and be loved. He hated that this McIntyre pendejo had treated her so poorly, and that the tabloid machine had made it worse. Except her words made him realize something he should have thought of on his own.
All this time, he’d worried what would happen to him if someone started rumors about the two of them. He was such a fool. The whole time, he should have been more worried about what would happen to her.
Because yes, while his feelings for her were real, and growing stronger every day, there could be no future for them. Nothing long-term, anyway. He was a single father. Relationships were hard enough in this business without the constant threat of the media or a fan taking things too far. Being a father meant Yadiel was and always would be his first priority. His family depended on him for everything, and Jasmine . . .
There was no way he could give her what she wanted. What she deserved.
She let out a soft sigh, something he’d noticed she did as she was falling asleep. It was utterly adorable.
And he should leave right now, before their emotions became even more deeply entwined.
Una noche más, he told himself, settling his head on the pillow. He’d take this one last night to cherish the comfort she’d freely given, and try to give back some of his own.
Then he’d figure out how to put some space between them before anyone found out, and before either of them got hurt.
Chapter 26
Jasmine awoke the next morning alone. She reached out a hand, patting the mattress to see if Ashton had shifted over during the night, and instead found a note he’d scrawled on the hotel memo pad. She squinted at it in the dim light edging around the room’s thick curtains.
Jas—
Early flight to PR. Didn’t want to wake you. Thank you for . . . everything.
XO Ash
The “thank you” made her smile. And while she missed morning cuddles, she did appreciate being able to sleep in. Last night had been a whole lot, emotionally speaking, and she wanted some time to process.
After what Ashton had shared with her, it was no wonder he hated being followed by the paparazzi and doing press events. No wonder he kept others at arm’s length. These aspects of his behavior made complete sense now; he wasn’t a diva—he was guarded, and with good reason. But she couldn’t help but wonder, had he always felt anxiety around crowds, or had it started after his home security had been breached?
She knew how it felt to have one’s privacy violated, but having personal information made public was different than being made