Page 64 of Heart Set on You

“It looks like it’s time for dessert,” I say, watching waiters move throughout the ballroom placing crystal footed ice-cream bowls on tables.

“Or we could go back to the house?” he says, raising an eyebrow at me.

“You need to get one thing straight if you’re going to date me.”

“I’m listening.”

“It’s quite simple. I never say no to dessert. And if it’s chocolate, I might want seconds.”

He taps his finger to his temple twice and grins. “Noted. Let’s get the girl what she wants.”

The dessert was worth sticking around for. I scrape the last bite from the bowl and then we start to say our goodbyes. We fall into bed way past midnight, exhausted and bleary-eyed, and ignoring our phones. Whatever they’re saying about me, whether it’s good or bad, I don’t want to know.

Miles raises my tank over my head. His eyes dip to my breasts for just a second, then they’re back up to mine.

“I didn’t expect you.”

Confused, I ask. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that I wasn’t looking for someone,” he starts to say. “But then I met you and you took over some major real estate in my mind.”

“I’m happy you met me.”

“Rylee, I don’t want to talk anymore. Give me your mouth.”

I do exactly that.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Rylee

I wake up the next morning in Miles’ bed alone. Missing his warm body next to mine, I swap my pillow for his, inhaling his scent, and smile a ridiculously sappy smile, remembering everything that happened last night. Is this really my life? Walking a red carpet, wearing a designer gown, shaking hands with the who’s who of Hollywood. I roll onto my side, pulling the bed sheet across my bare skin, and take in the sight of my gown next to Miles’ tux draped over a chair. It really did happen.

He let me sleep in this morning while he headed to a read-through, so I made plans to visit Meg at my apartment. It’s been months since I’ve been home, so I’m excited to get there.

An hour later, Meg and I are enjoying smoothie bowls on the couch in our apartment.

“Beautiful brunette hand-in-hand with Hollywood’s leading man, Miles Bennett,” Meg says, staring at her phone. “Who is Rylee Brookes and can she tame the infamous heartthrob?”

I can only laugh. “Why are you reading that crap?”

“Because my best friend is on every gossip site in America. How are you not reading it?”

“I don’t know why anyone would care about me. It makes no sense.” At least the headlines aren’t mean. That is a blessing.

I didn’t open any of my social media apps this morning on purpose, choosing to ignore whatever was happening online. I’ve never cared much about what people think of me, so it isn’t that hard to ignore the articles and photos that I know are circulating. Meg has filled me in on a few things that are being reported. Apparently they’ve dug up a photo of me from high school and although it isn’t flattering, it could be worse.

Meg insists on showing me one photo of Miles and I on the red carpet. I’m relieved to see I don’t have three chins and both of my eyes are open. The short train of my gown trails behind me and I’m pressed firmly into Miles’ side. My gaze is to the camera while Miles stares down at me. The photo is a good one, but it’s the expression on his face that makes me pause. Anyone looking at this photo would think he was head over heels in love with me.

“They know your name, Ry. Your photo is going to be plastered everywhere. I hope you’re ready for what’s to come,” Meg says, her finger scrolling through articles and images.

“As ready as I can be. Miles is insisting I have security now wherever I go.” We talked about that again last night. He’s not willing to take any chances, hence the car he had waiting for me in the driveway this morning to bring me to my apartment and the bodyguard he insisted escort me to my own front door.

“And you’re okay with that?”

“I’m honestly not sure. I said I would try, because it’s important to him. Anyways, enough about me, Megs. What’s going on with you? How are things with Adam?”

Meg taps her chin, “Hmm, let me see. Ah-mazing. He’s the one, Ry. I know it.”

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