Page 224 of My Five Daddies

I break the kiss off and she smiles. “I love you too,idiot.”

I grin at her. “I’m so sorry. I’ll never leaveagain.”

“You betternot.”

I stand and pull her up, kissing her. I press her against the wall, feeling her body, and I know things are going to be okay. I take a second to lock the door before doing what I need todo.

Maybe I could have done things differently. Maybe I could have found another way that didn’t sacrifice my paycheck, but money means nothing. In the end, Tara is all that matters to me, and I’m going to have her for the rest of mylife.

No more running. No more games or bullshit. I’m going to live honestly and truly, and the only way to do that is to be with Tara. I know I can’t do anythingelse.

When I taste her, down on my knees, I know nothing else can taste so sweet for me. And I never want itto.

30

Tara

Two Years Later

The theater isdark and I feel Jackson squeeze my hand as the screen lights up. I smile at him, surprisingly nervous, as the title rolls ontoscreen:

BRUTALLYDISHONEST

Finally,the movie we’ve been waiting so long to see. It took about a year to film and another year of post-production before it was finally ready, but here we are, sitting in an LA theater at the premiere, and I have no clue if it’s going to be good ornot.

After Holly backed off Jackson, things went smoothly. It sucked that he wasn’t getting paid, but at least the movie was surprisingly fun to make. I mean, it was fun because Jackson was there with me, and we snuck off together to have sex or just talk every single spare moment we had. I think we fucked on every surface of that set more than once, and it was glorious. Maybe a little irresponsible, but I think that made it even moreexciting.

Jackson found another agent. And true to their word, the studio and his producer didn’t mess with his career. Sure, they’re not likely to work with him again, but at least they’re not actively trying to destroy him, which some people do. I’ve seen it happenbefore.

But no, not now, not with Jackson. Holly behaved and the movie went on. The production crew all got a nice little bonus because of the money that Jackson gave up, and that just made him even more popular with everyone, since he made sure they knew where it was coming from. The media ate it up that he sacrificed his salary for the crew, or at least that was the story his new PR woman decided tospin.

After we wrapped shooting, he booked another movie right away. Part of his contract included a job for me, so we both traveled all over the globe filming this on location, and it wasamazing.

But now we’re back in LA watching the movie that started itall.

I reach to the other side of me and grab Laney’s hand. She grins and winks at me, cool as a cucumber. She doesn’t care if this movie is good or not, since she’s sold a couple more scripts since this one, along with the Hollyfilm.

Which makes me remember, Holly is nowhere to be seen. I grin to myself and whisper toJackson.

“I wish Holly could be here,” Isay.

“I don’t.” He grins and kisses me softly. “I’m sure she loves DeathValley.”

I snicker just as the movie starts. Holly’s face appears on screen, and I’m totally delighted to think about her sweating her ass off in the most uncomfortable location in the world, filming a totally absurd and over the top farce. As it turns out, Holly didn’t read the script at all before signing on to it. While it is about a James Bond-type female character, the whole movie is goofy and silly, totally outside of her range, and I hear she’s really struggling withit.

Not to mention Laney purposefully set it in Death Valley to make sure that she’ll have the most uncomfortable time on this movie as possible. In the end, Holly got what was coming to her: a shitty job on a movie that doesn’t suit her at all, and I suspect she’s not long foracting.

Brutally Dishonestbegins, and it’s about what I expected. Lots of action, lots of excitement, and of course Jackson is incredible in it. The movie is just okay, it’s a big action blockbuster, but that’s exactly what we needed it to be. When the ending credits roll, the whole house claps enthusiastically, because everyone knows this thing is going to makemillions.

“What did you think?” Jackson asks me as we filter out of thetheater.

“It was perfect,” I say, kissing himagain.

“You didn’t think it wascheesy?”

“Not at all.” I pause. “Well, a little bit, but it was supposed tobe.”

He grins and kisses me again as a thick German accent calls Jackson’sname.

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