Page 65 of Heart Set on You

But Meg refuses to let me change the subject for long, steering the conversation back to Miles and me. “So, what happens next for you two? Are you still planning on moving back to the farm?”

“I am,” I say.

“Miles will stay in L.A.?”

“That’s the plan.” I shrug, realizing how it must sound to her. But how can I convince Meg we’ll find a way to make it work when I’m having trouble believing it myself?

* * *

Later in the day, it happens.

Miles called me as I was leaving Meg and my apartment and asked me to meet him for a late lunch. The driver took me to Sunset Boulevard and a cute little restaurant not known for celebrity sightings. Miles was waiting for me when I arrived.

Lunch went smoothly. We ate grilled chicken salads while I filled him in on my morning with my closest friend. He told me about his meeting and the project he’ll be working on in the fall.

It wasn’t until we were leaving that the day went sideways. Someone must have tipped the paps off because we didn’t make it more than 15 feet before it felt like we were being swarmed.

It began with one, then escalated to around fifty or so. There were cell phones pointed at us from all different directions. Miles slid his arm around my waist, drawing me to him. A few were obviously paparazzi, shouting questions at us. A lady with a small child followed beside us, pointing her camera in our direction. I leaned against Miles while he steered us towards the buildings.

Now, hiding out in the back of a Starbucks, I try to pull myself together.

“Are you okay?” His hands grip my shoulders as he kisses my forehead.

“I’m fine. That was… that was just a lot.”

“Relax, babe. I’ve got you. Nathan will handle the crowd.” Nathan is one of the four bodyguards on rotation for Miles. He must be six-foot-four, with a broad chest and bulging biceps. I wouldn’t want to be the one to piss him off.

A group of teenagers sitting at a table are now paying attention to us while I try to calm down my racing heart. I had wondered what this moment was going to feel like when it finally happened and now I know. It’s frightening. It feels strange having people stare at us and take pictures. It’s hard to believe that Miles deals with this on a daily basis.

“I’m sorry,” he says, pulling me into his chest, kissing the crown of my head. Miles has a way of knowing exactly what I need in every moment. The safe, warm place in his arms and his gentle kiss were everything I needed to relax me and calm my nerves.

“It’s not your fault,” I say through a shaky breath.

“It kinda is. You wouldn’t be having to deal with this if it weren’t for me,” he sighs. “I’m sorry this ruined our day.”

“It’s fine, Miles. And it didn’t ruin anything. It had to happen sometime.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I promise.” I force a smile onto my face. “But I feel like we are sort of trapped in here. Is there another way out?” I ask, trying to make light of our situation.

He smiles. “Let’s see what we can do.”

Nathan arrives and after a quick chat with the manager of the coffee shop, we’re ushered out the back, where a car is waiting for us.

Paps - 0

Miles and Rylee - 1

Chapter Twenty-Six

Miles

“If they fuck with you, Ryls, they fuck with me.”

We’re sprawled across the outdoor sectional on my patio, admiring the view of L.A. We have to catch a plane back to Vancouver in two hours, but right now her head is on my chest and my fingers are running through her hair.

“I’m fine, Miles. It was scary in the moment, but nothing happened. I’ll be better prepared next time.” She seems to be handling the paparazzi disaster from yesterday better than I am, which is surprising.

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