Page 16 of Kiss Me, Darling

A quick internet search claimed dish soap might be helpful, so we pulled a dining room chair over to the kitchen sink. I put a towel under his neck and then began to work the blue liquid into the painted parts of his hair.

Scott had great hair. Thick, shiny, a little wavy. I loved when he wore it longer and frequently ran my fingers through it. His hairstyles usually changed with his roles, so sometimes it was very short, and occasionally, very long. One time he even had extensions put in. That was wild. It was like having a stranger in my bed.

But this was altogether different. We’d barely touched in months and now I was standing so close my hip was pressed into his arm and shoulder. I could smell his body wash, see the stubble he hadn’t shaved on his strong jaw. More importantly I could see the crinkle of his eyes and the smile lines along his lips.

You had to be close to someone to see the fine details of their face. I spent hours memorizing Scott’s fine details. Those were mine (and probably his makeup artist). No one else’s. No fan, no matter how dedicated, knew Scott’s wrinkles, freckles, and scars.

Seeing them again made my heart beat a little faster. And even though I tried to hold my breath, I was pretty sure his masculine pheromones were invading my senses.

“It says to rub vigorously. I might damage your hair.”

His eyes moved along the features of my face as he spoke. “It’s just hair. I’ll shave it off if I have to. It’ll grow back.”

There would be no head shaving. “I think I can get it out.”

It was fascinating that I knew this man so well. Knew his lines, his favorite food, his hopes and dreams, but today I realized he was almost a stranger now. What would our daily lives be like now that he was happy? Would the drama be replaced by something else? Could life be simpler?

Life was always so complicated, so caught up in publicity and gossip. Seeing this quiet island life, even briefly, made me wonder if it was possible.

Or maybe it was all an illusion. Maybe Chris and Olivia struggled while he was on the road. Maybe Ben and London’s different careers secretly tore them apart.

But I didn’t think so. Everyone seemed to be finding peace. Synergy. I wanted synergy with Scott. So very much.

“What are you thinking about?” His voice came out as a hoarse whisper.

It drew my attention away from the clump of paint I was stripping away with my fingernail to his blazing eyes. Oh my.Oh my, yes!There was the passion I missed. And to have it focused on me?

Intense. Very intense.

I squeezed my legs together.

“Do you think our careers will always make our lives complicated?”

He didn’t answer right away but I could feel his eyes on me. “No. It’s only complicated because I let it be. I allowed the tabloids to get to me, let them mold my actions. I lived in reaction to what I thought might be said about me next.”

That was true. I hated it.

“Now I realize I don’t care what they say about me. None of it matters one bit. Most of it was made up anyway, so why should I care? The people who matter know me.”

I rubbed his hair as the paint slipped away, the silky strands moving against my skin creating a calming effect.

“So no, Lucy, I don’t think our lives are going to be complicated at all. We’re going to make movies we care about, series we love, and we’re going to love each other.”

I gulped.

He spoke the words I wanted to hear, but it was the look in his eyes that told me it was the truth. “Your hair is clean now.”

“Good. Then I can do this.”

He sat up, cupped my face, and pulled me closer, asking for permission to kiss me.

So I tilted my head slightly to the side and took the dizzying leap of faith of catching his intense gaze. And holy moly, the electricity. The magic. I barely noticed as his lips brushed mine. Not until the electric sizzle buzzed over my skin. Not until my vision blurred and filled with stars.

The kiss deepened. I tasted him and felt the softness of his lips and tongue. I let myself get lost.

He spoke between kisses. “We’ve been talking about spending the holidays here on the island. Before Ben leaves and Chris starts spring training.” His lips brushed mine again and again. “Would you be up for working out of a mobile office here?”

I didn’t want to think about logistics whenfeelingwas so much more exciting. “I’ll think about it.”

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