Page 71 of My Hotshot

My eyes locked on Lainey. She was across the room talking to Olive, but she looked up at just the right second. Her gaze met mine.

I didn’t stop. Didn’t think. I walked straight through the chaos of lighting rigs and scattered equipment like it was nothing.

I reached her, grabbed her waist, and yanked her to me.

“Duane,” she gasped, laughing, breathless.

Then I kissed her.

It was strong. Sweet. Desperate. Passionate. I didn’t care who was watching. I didn’t care that half the cast and crew were still milling around. I needed to feel her lips on mine or I was going to drop dead right there on the warehouse floor.

Lainey. My Lainey. She was everything I needed to stay standing.

We pulled apart, both of us breathing like we’d run a mile.

“Duane…” she whispered as her eyes sparkled with mischief and heat. “You can’t kiss me like that.”

I grinned. “That’s the only way I know how to kiss you, babe.”

She leaned in, lips brushing my ear. “Then don’t be surprised when I strip you naked in the nearest corner and have my way with you.”

A low growl rumbled up my throat. “That a promise?”

Without warning, I scooped her off her feet. She squealed and threw her arms around my neck, legs around my waist, and laughed against my jaw.

I held her like she was mine—because she was.

“Why wasn’t she in the shoot?” I heard someone whisper nearby.

“She’s not in the show,” someone else replied.

“Too bad. They’ve got electric chemistry.”

Damn right we did.

I looked into her eyes, feeling something settle in my chest—something real and deep and unshakable. “I love you,” I said softly against her lips.

Her eyes fluttered closed. “Thank God.”

I blinked. “Thank God?”

She opened her eyes and cupped my face in her hands. “Thank God you love me, because after watching you all day, I realized I never stopped loving you. Not after sixteen years. Not ever.”

I chuckled, heart pounding. “Thank God,” I echoed.

Lainey laughed. “Are we both relieved?”

I nodded and kissed her again. “The bad boy and the nerd are back together.”

She shook her head. “We need to update that, babe.”

“Oh yeah?”

“You’re a hotshot now.”

I smirked. “And you’re the hot bombshell. My bombshell.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. “My hotshot.”

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