Page 7 of In Love with Lewis Prescott
I shrug and try my best to play it cool, but it’s a hell of a task. Because as I gaze up at Lewis’s impossibly handsome face, I can’t help but notice the warmth of his body as he sits next to me...specifically the warmth of the side of his ass that’s pressed against my hip.
“It’s all good.” I immediately down the rest of my coffee, offering him my untouched glass of water when I notice how hard he’s still breathing.
He drains the glass, then sticks his hand out to me. “I’m Lewis.”
“I know.”
His eyes widen, and I’m taken aback at the horror in them. It lands hard, like a shove. It takes a second to process why, but then I realize it’s because he’s afraid I’m going to go after him like a crazed fan too.
“Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone about running into you. I’m not planning on it either.”
He exhales, looking visibly less stressed. He opens his mouth to speak but then stops himself before darting his gaze around the space again. The door opens, and an elderly couple walks in. I take note of how Lewis’s broad shoulders lower to a relaxed position as he takes in the couple. Clearly, they have no idea who he is and he’s relieved.
“You wanna get out of here?” I ask. “I can give you a ride to wherever you’re staying. I’m parked right out front.”
Instantly I wish I could take back what I’ve just said. Like Lewis Prescott needs a ride from me, someone he barely knows. I’m sure that’s the last thing an intensely private celebrity wants, for a stranger to learn where he’s staying. And I’m also sure he’s got a sports car parked around the corner and can make a speedy getaway on his own. I probably sound like a weirdo for even offering.
“Er—never mind, I—”
“Yeah, I’d love that,” he says quickly as he hops to his feet and grabs me by the hand to help me stand up. Once again, I’m left making barely audible sputtering noises at such a friendly touch and his immediate acceptance of my offer.
He points to the laptop on the coffee table. “That yours?”
I nod, and he scoops it up along with my power cord. I grab my purse, and together we walk out to my car.
“So. Where am I taking you?” I say once I pull out of the space and roll through the main drag downtown.
“The Sandy Shore Motel on the edge of town.”
I almost laugh. The Sandy Shore Motel is the seediest motel in all of Half Moon Bay. He probably just wants me to drop him there so he can throw me off the trail.
“That place is a dump.”
“I’m aware,” he mumbles while staring straight ahead.
I slow to a stop at a red light, wondering just how much I’m allowed to pry in this odd situation where I’m giving a television star an impromptu lift in my cluttered hatchback. Probably not much at all, given that we barely know each other.
“Sorry, I should haven’t said that about the motel,” I say in a quiet voice.
“It’s fine.”
When I glance over at him, I’m thrown by the slight smile on his face, but after a second his stare turns focused and serious.
“I’m assuming you know...what happened...with me,” he says after a moment.
“I have an idea,” I say, my gazed fixed on the road ahead. “Sorry for what you’re going through. And for how you lost, um, your job.”
I bite my tongue. Why did I bring that up? He probably doesn’t want to be reminded of that awful moment.
Despite knowing better, I start to wonder why exactly Lewis got fired. Did he and the showrunner just not like each other? Did Lewis do something to get on the showrunner’s nerves, like arrive late to set one too many times? Or did he do something outrageous?
I quietly scold myself for speculating. He’s sitting right next to me while I’m thinking such intrusive thoughts about him. It’s none of my business why he got fired—it’s none of anyone’s business. That’s exactly why he’s here, to hide out from all the nosy people trying to pry into his life. I’ve got zero right to speculate about any of this right now.
“Yeah, well. It is what it is,” he says gruffly. “Just trying to lay low till the bad press dies down.”
“Why’d you tell me that?” I ask when I can’t hold in my curiosity any longer.
“What do you mean?”
