Page 36 of Bryce

“How was thedate? I noticed the poor bastard did not even get out to open thedoor for you? I thought chivalry was at its best in these littletowns.”

His derisive tone hadher bristling. “I can open my own door.”

“But that’snot the point of it, is it?” He blew out more smoke andcontinued to watch her. “A man takes a woman out for a date,the most he can do is walk her up the steps, make sure she getsinside in one piece. Evidently, the guy is lacking in basic socialskills.”

“You’resmoking,” she blurted out foolishly and wished she could biteher tongue off.

“Am I?”Taking out the slim cheroot, he studied it as if he was just noticingit. “Yes. Problem?”

“I never knewyou did.”

“You don’tknow a hell of a lot about me.”

She realized thatthere was something different about him, something dangerous andsharp.

And suddenly she wasbrought back to the movie and the lurid sex scene she could not getout of her head.

“We went to themovies.”

His jaw tightened.“Good for you.”

“And watchedone of your movies. Naked Rebellion, aptly named, considering thatyou and your co-star were naked in bed for close to half an hour.”

He straightened, feetslapping on the hardwood floor as he stared at her warily. He hadbeen waiting to drag her from the vehicle and God help the bastard ifhe had laid a finger on her! The anger had been churning inside himwaiting for an outlet but had lost its sharp edges when she came outalone.

Now the tide hadturned.

Zahra…”

“How long didthat relationship lasted? You were involved with her, were you not?It was not just some rumors floating around.” She lifted a handas if painting the words. ‘Stars in the explosive movie: NakedRebellion, lovers in real life.’ End quote. “Don’tthey make a beautiful couple?” Her eyes flashed and she backedup when he rose slowly.

“Yes, we wereinvolved.”

“How long?”

Pitching the cigaraway, he faced her. “Six months.”

“Who ended it?”

“I did.”

“Why?”

Shoving his handsinto the pockets of his sweats, he studied her mutinous face. “Whatdifference does that make?”

“Why?”

Biting off a sigh, herocked back on his heels. “We lost interest in each other.Look, the career does that to you. The industry pushes you togetherfor the publicity and it never usually lasts. We had a thing and thenwe didn’t.”

She squared hershoulders and gave him a look that had his heart sinking.“Goodnight.”

“Just wait adamn minute…”

She rounded on himfuriously. “You come here with your Hollywood smoothness andwords you think I want to hear. You cannot hold a relationship forlonger than six months and you expect me to what?” She liftedher hands.

“To just be sograteful that you, the hottest actor in Hollywood is paying meattention? You can just go to hell! I was doing so well until youcame and now…” She turned away and shoved open the doorand went inside.

He caught up with herjust as she reached the base of the steps.

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