Page 12 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

He swiveled around. “So, you admit it?” Shifting his legs under the comforter, he nestled his head on the pillow. “Fuck, it’s cold.”

“I know.”

“How long has the heat been out?” he asked in his deep, rumbly voice.

“Since this afternoon.”

“Good thing I’ve got a generator. I’ll fire it up in the morning.”

“Oh, thank God.” She tried to settle in. Did a few breathing exercises. But nothing was going to get her past the fact that she was sharing a bed with a strange man.

Think about something else.

She thought about the last text she’d gotten from her mom before she’d lost Wi-Fi. It was a selfie she’d posted on Splashagram with her latest boyfriend, suggesting Lorelei join them for Christmas in Positano.

She’d ignored it because her mom didn’t care about seeing her daughter. It was an attempt to not only cover up the horrible press she’d gotten for the lawsuits against her—and replace them with a handsome lover and luxury travel—but also to let Lorelei know she was flourishing. Look at me living my best life, traveling with a gorgeous lover.

Instead of apologizing for the horrible things she’d done, she was letting Lorelei know how grand life was without her.

Her brother and sister had cut off their mom. They said their lives were healthier without a toxic parent. Lorelei was coming to understand that.

She missed them. She missed her dad. He texted regularly, asking how she was and when she was coming home. He didn’t think Lorelei needed to hide from the paparazzi. She was creating more speculation and keeping herself in the news by not making a statement or returning to the spotlight.

But she couldn’t do that. She just wasn’t ready to go back to the world.

What would she do? Where would she live?

All she’d done her entire life was build a platform of happy, fun pop music. But she wasn’t that happy, naïve woman anymore. Landon, Cissy, and her mom had sucked the joy right out of life with their lies and deception.

So, what could she write about now? Did anyone think she could actually get on stage and smile and do her choreographed dance moves like her world hadn’t come crashing down around her?

Every memory, every song she’d ever written—everything was attached to the three people who’d hurt her. They were such an integral part of her life, her success…they’d all been inseparable.

Landon and Cissy had replaced her dad and siblings.

And there you have it.

The absolute truth.

They’d been family to her.

While she’d been nothing more than a paycheck to them.

Mr. Slick rolled onto his back. “You’re not going to sleep, are you?”

“No.”

“Look, I could tell you I’m not going to hurt you, but that isn’t going to make things better.”

“It might make it a little better.”

After a moment, he said, “I swear to God, I’m not going to hurt you.”

He said it with such sincerity she found her body relaxing just the slightest bit.

“So, you’ve been here three months.” He punched the pillow to give his head a lift. “Do you work remotely?”

She appreciated his attempt at conversation. It helped that he cared enough to try and reassure her, but she didn’t want to give him even a hint of who she was. She’d keep it vague. “I’ve taken a leave of absence.”

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