Page 42 of The Man I Once Hated

“I need to talk to you,” I say to Cara. “In private.”

“Is everything okay?” Luka asks, moving forward to cover Cara with half of his body. It’s like he’s trying to protect her, which is hilarious.

I take him by the shoulder and firmly push him aside again. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

Seconds pass with him looking straight at me, like he’s trying to come up with a response. I make sure that everything in my face tells him his best bet is to shut the fuck up and thankfully, he gets the hint. Luka raises both his hands and steps off.

“I’ll be at the bar,” he tells Cara. “Come find me when you’re done.”

She smiles stiffly at him and once we’re alone, says, “Was that really necessary?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” I keep my voice low since there are too many people milling around real close to us. “You’ve been toying with me all night.”

My eyes rake over the length of her body, curves in all the right places, the red silk of her evening dress clinging to them in the most tantalizing way. The thin straps barely do anything with the scooped neckline, leaving me ample room to admire the mounds of her firm breasts underneath. Braless.

“It’s a party, Edward,” Cara looks up at me through heavily hooded eyes. It’s clear she’s had a few drinks too. “I’m just having fun, that’s all.”

“That’s good, as long as that’s all it is.” I touch her elbow lightly, beckoning her to follow me.

She moves easily with me through the crowd in the direction of the cloak room. I know the venue well, and this one is more than just a stuffy old closet. Although the lighting still sucks, it’s a comfortable option for complete privacy.

“That serious, huh?” she asks as I lock the door behind us.

“It doesn’t have to be…” I brush the hair from her face and leave my hand to caress her cheek. She’s soft and supple beneath my touch and it stirs my desire for her again.

Cara’s lips part slightly and her eyes grow dark. God, I love the way she responds to me. Instantly. As if the only reason she exists is to meet me in how much I want her.

A shaky breath ushers out of her. “You’re going to have to make it quick. Gio Sanchez is out there and I wanted the chance to speak with him.”

The mention of his name breaks the tension and I remember what I’m really here to do.

“You saw him?” I ask, dropping my hand from her cheek. Instead, I take her in my arms, not yet ready to give up the feel of her.

Unsurprisingly, Cara lets me hold her and rests her hands on my chest.

“Of course I saw him,” she replies with a soft laugh. “I’ve been trying to think of a good enough reason to go up to him without making a complete fool of myself.”

I can’t help the smile that breaks onto my face. The pride I felt with Miranda before grows. She’s going to be so goddamn happy when she hears what I have to tell her…

“Well, as it turns out, he’s here to talk to you,” I say, watching her closely.

Her brows furrow slightly as utter confusion sweeps over her soft features. “What do you mean? He doesn’t even know me.”

I shake my head but say nothing, giving her a chance to catch up.

Her expression changes to shock and I feel her body tense up in my arms. “He knows me? Edward, what do you mean?”

“He’s casting for his new movie and likes you for the lead.”

Her reaction is instant and chaotic all at once.

“Shut up, no he doesn’t!” Cara slaps my arm and jumps around at the same time. “How do you know? Who told you? Have you spoken to him? The lead? Are you sure?”

I laugh as she bombards me with a flurry of questions mixed with exclamations of disbelief. She looks so fucking adorable it makes my heart ache.

Shit.

I know what this means. I’m in trouble. My feelings for Cara are veering out of the realm of physical attraction and into something deeper. In a moment when I would usually cut my losses and run, I stay rooted to the spot. Because I can’t look away… She’s bouncing around like a kid on Christmas, wide eyes and unbridled excitement radiating from her. My God, she’s a vision.

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