Dylan let out an audible breath. “I’m not complaining.” He nodded toward Clay. “I’m grateful for everything. Clay pretty much handed me a movie career.”
Clay leaned forward. “I made an introduction. You did the rest. You have a lot to be proud of.”
Dylan nodded. “Thanks. I just don’t want to fuck it up.”
Joanna put a hand on his forearm. “You won’t. I’ve seen Danger Doubled. You’re a natural.”
His smile was as likeable as Connor’s. Honest. Simple. “Things were a lot easier when no one knew my name. I used to be jealous that Connor got laid more often than I did. Everything came so easy to him. I don’t even think half those women want to fuck me—they just want to say they did.”
Aly sputtered, “Disgusting.”
Dylan looked around Joanna. “Hey, no one was talking to you, peanut gallery.”
“Thank God,” Aly answered, “because I have zero tolerance for bullshit.”
“Bullshit? Why don’t you go read the book you probably have on your phone.”
“What are you mocking? That I read?” Aly sat forward, going nose to nose with Dylan right in front of Joanna.
“If the shoe fits.”
“That doesn’t even make sense. And you can’t mock something that’s good.”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t memorize the rules of what could and couldn’t be mocked.”
“I should let you two—” Joanna would have moved out from between the two, but they’d blocked her in.
“Are you really that dumb?” Aly asked.
Joanna cringed.
“Are you really that judgmental?”
Aly gasped. “I’m not judgmental.”
Dylan moved his head back and forth in front of hers. “Didn’t like that, did you? I just judged you for judging me. See how I turned that right around?”
“Whatever,” Aly sat back. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No,” Dylan said, still talking around Joanna. “Say whatever you want, but know that this is why I asked Joanna and not you to be my fake date tonight.”
“What?” Joanna sat up straighter. “When did you ask me that?”
“When I came over and introduced you to those women.”
“You asked me if this was where we were sitting.”
“Exactly, we. The rest was implied. And you agreed.”
“I—I—”
“Too late now,” Dylan said. “They all think we’re a couple. Unless you want to break up with me in public.”
Joanna opened her mouth, then closed it when she wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
Angelina piped in, “Fake dating. That’s kind of cute. Who knows, maybe we could fake double date one day.” She winked at Joanna.
Joanna looked at Dylan. There was nothing not to like about him. Half the women in the room would have given a kidney to be sitting where Joanna was. She’d spent a good deal of time fantasizing about what it would be like to be with him—in any capacity. So, what’s wrong with me? Why am I not jumping at this opportunity?
He gave her the charming smile she’d seen him use on the big screen. No flutter. Nothing. Still, there wasn’t a reason she couldn’t help him. “You seriously don’t want to hook up with any of those women?” she asked.
Dylan relaxed. “I seriously don’t. I want to enjoy hanging out with everyone tonight. With them I have to be Dylan Sutton, the movie star. I have to watch everything I say. I just want to be me for a couple of hours.”
“Okay.” Joanna nodded. “Just this once and don’t announce anything we’ll have to deny later. I’m fine with us looking like we’re together, but if Sophie or anyone asks we’re not.”
“Good enough for me. Thanks Joanna.”
“Well, this should be interesting,” Clay said.
“What?” Joanna asked.
“Connor is walking over with Bradford.”
Chapter Four
I should have said no.
There is no sane reason why I belong at that table.
So why the hell didn’t I just lie and say I was working the event?
Bradford wasn’t a kind man, not even to himself. It was time to wake the fuck up from whatever spell Joanna had cast over him. If sitting there while she hung all over Dylan was what it took, then so be it. He came to a stop right behind Dylan.
Arm still around the back of Joanna’s chair, Dylan smiled up at him. “You snooze, you lose, Bradford. I stole your seat.”
Don’t react. Over the years Bradford had become very good at keeping his feelings about anything to himself. “It’s all yours.”
Joanna searched his face then said, “I’m glad you decided to join us.”
Bradford sat in the seat that still had a place card for Dylan. He picked the card up, gathered every last feeling he had about the situation, stuffed it deep in his gut and closed the door to it all while crumpling the card in his fist.
“Me too,” Dylan said. “I’m around for a couple of weeks before I have to return to finish shooting. We should hang out.”
The silence he offered Dylan was better than the first few responses that had come to Bradford. He had to remind himself that he didn’t hate Dylan.
Connor said, “I have some time before my next movie starts, we should definitely plan something together.”
Yeah, no.
Angelina chimed in, “Aly? Joanna? What do you say? Could you take some time off—get a house on a lake or something?”
“I could free up some time,” Aly said.
“Sounds fun. I’m not sure how much time I could take off. I’ll have to get someone to watch my farm, but I’m sure I can make something happen,” Joanna added. She looked across to Daphne who had yet to say a word at the table. “Daphne, you should join us.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Daphne said, keeping her eyes glued to the table. “I appreciate you letting me sit with you, but I know that doesn’t make us friends.”
“Say yes,” Joanna said with a warm smile. “I promise you won’t regret it.”
Daphne nodded. “Okay. If you’re serious. I’d love to join you.”
“Great, that’s settled then.” Joanna turned and addressed Bradford. “You too. Everyone needs a vacation now and then.”
He opened his mouth to say he couldn’t, but Clay cut him off. “I have an idea. We should head back with Dylan to Iceland and watch him on set. I say we all head over, watch him in action, and stay long enough to celebrate the completion of his first solo movie. What do you say, Dylan?”
“I’d love that,” Dylan said. “It won’t take very long. I’m redoing some scenes then it’s a wrap.”
Clay clapped his hands. “Perfect. Two weeks. That gives everyone time to clear their schedules. Leave the travel details and lodging to me.” He nudged Lexi. “By me, I mean Lexi, she’s better at it than I am. What do you say, Lexi?”
His wife smiled up at him. “I think you’re playing with fire, my darling husband, but I’m in. I’ve never been to Iceland. This is exciting.”