Page 90 of Princes of Hollywood

“Rita, so good to see you.” Aiden kisses both of her cheeks. I never met Rita, but Mary talked about her constantly. This was Sawyer Brickman’s wife.

“Who do we have here?” Rita turns her green eyes on me, studying me with curiosity.

Aiden touches my hand, and I remember to breathe. “This is Greer Morrow, my friend.”

This isn’t the first time he introduced me like that, but Rita smiles and holds out her hand to me.

“What a fascinating name. Enchanted to meet you, dear.” She catches her husband’s hand. “I haven’t run across many Greers. Have you, Sawyer?”

He turns his dark eyes on me. I brace myself. Recognition lights in his eyes before he lets it dim. He hasn’t changed much in the four years since I last saw him. A touch more gray in his dark hair, but he still has that arrogant look.

“Greer?” Sawyer smiles down at his wife. “Definitely unusual.”

“Well, you’re lucky to have found this one, Greer. Aiden’s quite the good guy.” She pats Aiden’s chest before her husband leads her farther into the house.

My breath returns to me, and I nearly collapse as my knees go out from under me. I cling to Aiden’s arm like a lifeline.

Someone else greets Aiden and Roarke, so they don’t notice. Thankfully. After this morning, I don’t need them worrying more about me. Sawyer and Rita work their way into the room. When Mason stops them, his smile is so joyous, it takes my breath away.

Rita must mention me, because Mason’s gaze finds me. He tips his head when he finds me watching him, or rather them. But he gets drawn back into the conversation.

I know that man. Sawyer—Brick on set—Mary’s paramour, Mason’s mentor. I should have guessed he’d be here. I should have expected it. Fuck, why didn’t I prepare myself for it?

Maybe because four really great guys occupy my mind now.

The door finally shuts, and Aiden turns with me toward the backyard. That rush I had earlier at seeing all these people in one place is gone. I’m exhausted. I’m also grateful Aiden is by my side and I won’t have to face Sawyer alone tonight.

Aiden leads me to a quiet corner as promised. We find a love seat in a little casual seating arrangement. Roarke mingles, touching people, leaning in to kiss cheeks, laughing.

“Should you be doing that?” I turn to Aiden. Not sure what I’m supposed to do besides stick to his side like glue.

“Don’t worry, little warrior. They’ll come soon enough.” He takes my hand and links us together on his thigh again. I relax a little, but then his fingers tense on mine. A late arrival walks out to join the party.

Greyson Marks strides across the patio, announcing his presence. The din quiets for a moment as everyone takes in every inch of the superstar. He’s as tall as Roarke and as big in Hollywood as both Roarke and Aiden. His brown hair is tucked into a bun. His blue eyes are fascinating close up, like diamonds on the screen. His dark suit clings to his large form perfectly.

But I realize a second later the reason Aiden squeezed my hand.

A woman walked in behind Greyson and now steps up to cuddle into his side. Siobhan Clyborne, Aiden’s ex-wife.

Chapter 24

Kiss Me

AIDEN

I’ve known Greer for two days and could read the subtle shift in her mood when Brick walked in. Sawyer Brickman took Mason under his wing years ago and trained him, worked with him, made him the director he is today.

Surprisingly, Greer knows him, but not in the how have you been kind of way. We should totally catch up. More in the pretend we don’t know each other way. I don’t know you, you don’t know me. Which they both did, but I felt her lean on me when he left like she needed my strength.

Now I’m feeling the same way as Siobhan enters my life for the first time since our divorce. We never did the divide-our-friends thing, nor did we talk about how to avoid each other in the future. It isn’t an option.

While the industry is big, it’s also very small, and we would run into each other eventually. For the rest of our careers, when one of us does something big, the other will be asked about it. And we’ll lie and say we’re so proud and support each other.

Hell, we might even say we’re friends in the future.

When in reality, she cut my world in two and shattered me into tiny pieces that I’m still working to put back together.

“What do you want me to do?” Greer’s husky voice calls me back from the brink. “How do you want to handle this?”

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