Page 50 of The Love Raffle

“Yes, Levi Marks. And I didn’t need anything or anyone to pick this up from.” Fiona stopped and put her arms on the table. She lifted her chin for a deep breath and let it out gradually.

Levi shot an occasional glance to the crowd that had gathered. Luckily, this patio was empty save for the two of them. Otherwise, they’d have a lot of staring to deal with. “I see…”

“Because I was simplybornwith this incredible skill.” Fiona moved her eyebrows up then down. She leaned in again. “And since the day I laid eyes on you, Mr. Marks, I have been reading and reading and reading and…” She inched closer and closer on each word. She was nearly standing by the time she finished, her nose pressed to his with her body over their meal.

“Reading what?”

“Why, your aura, of course.” She sat again and stirred her drink, her legs crossed, and her body turned ever so slightly to the right. “And you know what the words of your soul showed me?”

He recalled Oscar’s words.There’s a fine line between actors and the insane.A warning from Levi’s former years as an actor. “That I like bisque?” He played with his food, digging his spoon in and out.

Fiona was charmed. She shook her head, tousling her hair at the same time. “No, no.” Her smile dimmed. “That you’re tortured and lonely.”

Ouch.“Tortured?” Levi tugged the end of his collar. “Lonely?”

“Or at least that was how you were at first. I saw you at the Oscars that time, remember? Ah, you do not.” She flicked her wrist in dismissal. “But these days, your spirit has been lifted. Lifted so high because something has given you hope. Remember when I said you were in love?” She giggled.

Levididremember. His brain wouldn’t permit him to forget. He’d thought of it every waking moment until he confessed to Amber last night.You know I love you.When he’d envisioned saying that to her for the first time, he’d said the words with more clarity.Amber, I love you.“I love you” were sacred words that he had only told one other woman.In that context, of course.“Yeah.”

“I read you then. I saw you. Felt you. Under that burning love was also doubt and uncertainty.” Fiona sighed. “But you’ve always been a restricted sort of guy. Never truly lived for yourself, have you?” She sipped her drink once again, savoring the taste with a shimmy of her shoulders.

Levi was uneasy. “How do you… Fiona, what are you saying?” He switched his demeanor to enamored quite quickly. The eyes of the people never let up. “And why do you want to talk about this of all things while on our date?” He hoped there were no secret contraptions in place to capture this conversation.That’s illegal.But not impossible. He’d learned from generations before the lengths some would go to pry into their lives.Though things have cooled down significantly since their time.Cautious by nature, Levi considered such scenarios every time he went out. He’d always watch his back.

“Because it’s just adorable how blindly infatuated you are with this person.” Fiona sighed dreamily, walking her fingers on the table. “You know, it reminds me of my honeymoon phase with Dalton.”

“Dalton? Who’s Dalton?” Again, new information kept popping up with her.

Fiona chortled, her shoulders jerking. “My fiancé, of course.”

What in the name of—“Secretfiancé?” he whispered behind a smile. They needed to sell this no matter how ridiculous their conversation was.

With a finger to her lips, she winked. “I was just like you and so was he. It was how I knew we were meant for each other.” Fiona’s eyes scanned the umbrella overhead. She seemed lost in a world of dreams and possibilities. “Oh, love is so immaculate.”

“Yes, it sure is.” Levi scratched his cheek. “Where is this Dalton guy exactly? Does your team know about him?” He for sure was completely unaware of the guy’s existence.Maybe I could learn a thing or two from Fiona here.Because he was failing miserably at keeping Amber happy amid his insane life.

“Heavens, no. I’d like to keep my love life and work asfarapart as possible.”

“But how do you do it?” Levi couldn’t hide his desperation. “Does Dalton know who you are?” That sounded better in his head. Out loud it just seemed foolish of him to ask. “Okay, never mind. I meant to say—”

“He knows. He lives in Hawaii. Over there I’m allowed to shed this mask and be who I am with him. He’s quite the private type. He’d rather not have the world know him. But his love for me is undeniable.” Fiona bit her croissant. “It sounds complex, but things work. Mainly due to who we are as people. When I complete my contract and reach the desired figure for my bank account, I will disappear from this life and run off with him.” She winked. “Can’t wait.”

“Desired figure? Hmm.” Levi needed a day to sit and talk to her. She had so much going on that no one knew of.She’s doing it right.To separate one’s work life from their personal life was necessary. Most were capable of doing so but in this line of work, things got tricky.Or maybe just with me.Though the issue at hand was more about how his work life could affect hisrelationship.I should just lay it down to my team that Amber’s who I want to be with in my real life, so I at least won’t have to hide her from them.His fears were childish. He wasn’t a child under his parents’ care. Levi was twenty-four. Why should he fear his agent this way? There was no way he was foolish enough to let people find out about his love for Amber. Just like Fiona, Levi could draw boundaries between the spotlight and his own life. Rachel didnotneed to fear for him.Yeah, why am I running around at three a.m. just to see my girlfriend?They could meet at regular hours. No one would see them. Amber shouldn’t have to hide from his team.I can do it too.After all, Fiona was doing it.

“Yes,” she said. “I’m almost there. Then I’ll be set for life. Quite frankly, by certain standards, I’m already all set but not by mine. I need to make just a smidge more and then off I go to live out my days in solitude with boo.” Fiona blew kisses at Levi.

Levi pretended to catch them and place them on his lips.Reallyselling it for their admirers.Or stalkers. Whatever you want to call it.“Wow. I hope that happens for you.”

Fiona wore a cheeky grin. “Now who’s the girl? Can I meet her? Or him? I don’t want to make assumptions.”

Levi smiled. “You can meet her sometime, I guess…” A bell dinged in his mind. “Hey,if you guys met it might mean she can tag along with us on our dates. That way we can be seen in broad daylight without the fear of…” He slowed down as Fiona pursed her lips in disapproval. “What?”

“I don’t know. What you’re proposing doesn’t exactly seem ideal for someone you love. To be a third wheel on our public dates. And it may also raise suspicion.” A waiter came up to their table. He inquired about their comfort then went on his way when they said they were fine. “What are you uncertain about, though? Whether or not hiding her from the world is good for your relationship?”

Why was she so accurate in her suspicions? “Kind of… I don’t know. It seems as if this whole arrangement is making her uncomfortable.” Levi’s bisque had gone cold. He sat back and folded his arms, realizing that this whole time, the people with cameras had been shouting at them both.They do that a lot.He’d gotten so accustomed to this behavior that he didn’t bat an eye anymore. They’d usually call out useless commentary like “Over here!” or “Captain Evolution, show us a smile” and other uninspired phrases he’d learned to ignore. “I can’t blame her. Seeing me all over you while she’s got to hide must be hard.”

“Ah, so shewantsthe world to know her as your partner. Aww.” Fiona pouted. “Might be time to call it quits on this arrangement then. If your true love is unhappy.” She got up.

Levi was startled despite knowing her unpredictable nature. “Hey, what are you doing?”

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