Page 26 of Beneath the Fame

“For the most part.”

“Okay then…what, you need an executive producer? I do that too sometimes,” he offered, and I could tell it was fully in earnest, which was…

Shit.

“We can’t produce something that isn’t finished,” I argued.

“Then like I said…finish it,” he urged. “You need eyes on it? Feedback? You know you happen to be sitting next to the Black rom-com king…”

I laughed. “I recognize that,” I said. “Um…yeah, actually. I think some feedback would be really helpful. Since again…I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“I’m sure it’s great.”

“Based on what exactly?”

“Based on the writer,” he said. “You’re smart, you’re funny, you can act, youknowwhat a good script looks like. As long as you’ve got the story, you’ve got everything you need.”

I scoffed. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, but…I’m not as sure as you are.”

“That’s cool. I can be sure for both of us then.”

Through this whole part of the conversation, he had never backed away from that first invasion of my space, but…I wasn’t really complaining. I didn’t mind being so close to him—was enjoying the hell out of it, actually. Especially since the restaurant was a bit chilly—enough that I realizedIwas actually the one who’d moved even closer, seeking his body heat.

The proximity made it very easy, maybe even necessary, for him to kiss me.

The taste of ginger lingered in his mouth from earlier, sweet and spicy, and just a little intoxicating.

Or maybe that was the sake bomb.

In any case, instead of letting reticence pull me away, I sank into the kiss, fisting a handful of his T-shirt to keep him close. His hand rested at the back of my neck, doing the same.

It took the flood of moisture between my legs to remember where we were.

Tucked away, yes, but still very much in public—toopublic for this.

He must’ve picked up on my sudden discomfort because he pulled back, just enough to look me in the face.

“My call time in the morning is…hellishlyearly,” he said.

We both knew he was giving me an out, and I absolutely took it.

I nodded. “Yeah…it’s getting pretty late.”

“This wasn’t too bad, right? I wasn’t terrible company?” he teased, fully pulling away to take a swig from his water as I giggled.

“No,” I agreed. “Not bad at all.”

“Does that mean…you’ll let me take you on arealdate?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Arealdate?”

“Yes, Vanessa—arealdate. I pick you up, bring flowers?—”

“Spend the night in my panties…”

He smirked. “Yeah, maybe. If you want that.”

“IfIwant it?”

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