Chapter 22
Cash
“You killed it.”
“Really?” Marina rolls to her side to face me.
I click off the TV when the show ends and set the remote on the nightstand. Turning to look at her in bed beside me, I feel a sense of pride that I’m not sure I have a right to. I feel it anyway. “Yeah, you were funny and sweet, beautiful, and so smart he couldn’t keep up with you.”
“You have to say that.”
“No, I don’t. I’ll always tell you the truth.” Signaling toward the TV, I add, “You were incredible. Viewers will fall in love with you.” I cup her cheek and lean over to kiss her. “Just like I have.”
Caressing my hand on her, she says, “You fell for my spicy side.”
I chuckle, kissing her neck, and then move across her shoulder. Planting wet kisses over her collarbone, I slide my hand under the covers and much lower between her legs.
Her eyes flutter closed as she rolls to her back and licks her lips. Moving over her, she butterflies her legs, opening for me like a flower. Sinking into her wet heat, I kiss her mouth, then whisper in her ear, “I fell for your every side, babe.”
A poke to my forehead has me swiping away at the nuisance and groaning.
My chin . . . “Fucking hell, gnat, I need sleep.”
I swat at it again and then hear a giggle. My eyes fly open to see a smiling Cullen staring at me. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Hey, buddy—oh shit.” I sit up to block his view of Marina sleeping next to me. “What are you doing here?”
He’s now covering his mouth and giggling even harder from hearing me swear. “Grandma said I needed clean . . .” Giggle. “Underwear.”
“I thought we packed some for you.” He shrugs. I say, “Go get some in your room, and I’ll come with you.”
My mom rushes in to guide him by the shoulders out of the room. “Sorry. Sorry. There was an accident and . . .” She doesn’t even bother finishing before she shuts the door behind them.
Scrubbing my hand over my face, I then shake my head. Not the way I wanted to wake up this morning.
Marina sits up beside me and rubs my back. “Good morning.”
“Sorry about that.”
“You don’t need to apologize, but I guess we need to start figuring out how this will work. Not only for Cullen but also my family, and eventually, the world since we live in a fishbowl.”
I realize I haven’t even looked at her. I’m so caught up in what happened that I’m missing what’s right in front of me. Her hair is a complete fucking disaster, and I couldn’t be more attracted to her than I am right now.
That she can show up on my doorstep in full makeup and fancy clothes but let me ravage her for hours last night without a single care about how she’d look in the morning—fucking perfection.
She rests her cheek on my shoulder and says, “I need to shower and get going. Busy day of press ahead.”
“And then the premiere. Will I see you tonight?”
“I can stay at a hotel or Harbor’s since you have Cullen tonight.”
Wrapping my arm around her back, I hold her close, and kiss the top of her head. “You’re important to me. I’m going to talk to him soon about us dating.”
“I’m not going anywhere, so do things on your timeline and what’s best for him. I don’t mind waiting.”
“You’re amazing.”
She pecks my shoulder again and hops out of bed. “I’m also running late, and it seems you have an underwear emergency.”
Getting out of bed, I catch her by the hand before she slips fully into the bathroom. I don’t have lines I’ve been working on. Just simple truths from my heart to hers. “I love you.”
She lifts and wraps her arms around me. After kissing me with abandon, she drops down on her heels and says, “I love you so much. You say you’re lucky, but I’m the fortunate one.”
“One day, I’m going to outcharm you.”
Waggling her brows, she laughs. “Guess we’ll see.” She kicks her foot behind her and laughs as she closes the bathroom door.
I pull on my jeans and hear the shower starting as I slip out of the bedroom. Cullen’s room is empty, so I head into the living room. My mom comes to me and whispers, “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking you’d—”
“I know. It’s okay.” I rub her arm in reassurance. “It’s new for all of us.”
Sitting on the couch with his backpack still on, he says, “Grandma spilled tomato juice on my pants.”
“Oh?” I look at her, raising my brow, and laugh. “When you said accident, I thought you meant—”
“It was all me.” She touches my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Cash.” She lowers her voice and whispers, “I didn’t think running out of here would make sense to him.”
“I’m glad you stayed.” Moving around her, I give her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Coffee for the road?”
She smiles, putting the strap of her bag over her shoulder. “An unsubtle hint received.” Walking toward the door, she holds out her hand. “Come on, Cullen. I promised you a toy car for that mess. Time to go to the toy store.”
“Make sure it’s a Westcott Racing car. Can’t have my kid supporting the other teams.”
“Never,” she says, walking out the door. “Don’t forget to give me the all clear.” She pokes her head back in. “And if you need another night, I’m more than happy to spend time with my grandson. We started a new puzzle, and I’ve already packed enough clothes.”
“I appreciate it. Love you, Mom.”
Cullen runs back and jumps into my arms. Hugging me tight, he says, “Love you, Daddy.”
I hold him even tighter. Kissing the side of his head, I whisper, “I love you, Cullen. So much.”
As soon as I set him down, he asks, “So can I spend the night with Grandma again?”
“Wow,” I start, shagging up his hair. “You little traitor. You sure? You’re with Grandma tomorrow night, too, because I have to fly to Brazil to race.”
He straightens his backpack on his shoulders. “Yep.” Running back toward the door, he waves. “I’m sure.”
Scratching the back of my neck, I say, “See ya, kiddo.” I’m not sure what to make of that. He’s five and fifteen at the same time. Damn, the teen years are going to be lonely if he’s already over spending time with his dear old dad.
When I return to the bedroom, Marina stands beside the bed, staring at her phone. Her hair is still twisted on her head, and a towel is wrapped around her body. By the way her shoulders hunch forward and she drops to sit on the mattress, I know something’s wrong. “Hey, everything okay?”
Silence remains between us, drawing me closer until I’m beside her on the bed. Wrapping my arm around her, I see a text exchange on her phone with Lauren’s name at the top. “Is that your agent?”
“Yes.”
“What’s going on?”
She hands me her phone to read. I start at the top of the messages, “His team has decided to part ways, completely sinking our plan.” I glance at her to ask, “Your ex? What plan?”
“Yes. My ex. My co-star on the red carpet tonight.” She lies back, then twists her legs to tuck them under the covers again. With her head on the pillow, she stares up at me. “It means his team has decided they’re going public.”
“Who’s they?” I sound like an idiot. “I don’t . . . Why now? Why when you guys have almost made it to the finish line without any more major distractions from the movies?”
She sighs and looks up at the ceiling. “Lauren said my interviews have gone too well according to his team, which puts him in a bad light.”
Resting my hand on her chest, I feel her steady heartbeat. “You mean the pity party he was hosting for himself is over? He’s jealous. That’s what this is about.”
“His press hasn’t been flattering.” Draping her arm over her head, she angles her gaze at me, appearing small and even fragile. “How am I going to survive this? The press will ask all the questions, and I don’t have the answers.”
I hate that she feels less because of that asshole. Taking her hand, I hold it on my lap. “Why won’t Lauren be there to handle it?”
“She has a premiere in LA tonight for one of her A-list clients. She couldn’t do both on opposite coasts.”
“That’s bullshit. She should be here instead of throwing you to the wolves.”
Marina finally sits up with a heavy-chested sigh. “I can’t dwell on this anymore. I need to go to my fitting, or I’ll really be in trouble hitting the red carpet in sweats and a T-shirt.
I’ve struggled for hours to figure out how I can help her. With our relationship a secret from almost everyone, I also don’t know how I can be there for her and not break the rules Westcott Racing has put in place.
I receive two texts from her hours later:
She’s wearing the same designer from the same collection as me.
Me:
Doesn’t matter. You’ll outshine her.
And then after that, she texts:
They’re engaged and announcing tonight.
Harsh.
And if effective, it will humiliate my girl at her own premiere.
Fuck that.
She’s a fucking queen to be bowed down to. And I know who I am. Her fucking king. Like I told my son, we make our own rules.
I pull one of my tuxes from the closet and start getting red carpet ready.
I have connections, so it wasn’t hard to snag a ticket. I’m hoping Marina will be happy to see me. Everything we have could be ruined by a bad decision. This could be my worst of all time, and that’s an impressive list.
Stepping out of the SUV, I straighten my jacket and button it.
I don’t dig these events, but I’ve been to enough to know what to do.
I’m guided forward to the press and start the game, answering questions and taking photos.
The positive about not being announced until arrival is that no one is prepared to talk to you.
The downside, they wing it. “The last time we saw you and Marina Westcott together, you were holding hands in Miami.” The journalist holds the microphone under my nose and asks, “Are you here to support her as a friend, or is there more between the two of you?”
I step back and reply, “She’s a brilliant actress. I’m here to support her and the movie.”
Not really into the fame side of things, I start walking ahead until I hear someone from the press corp yell, “Marina, over here.”
I step to the busiest part of the carpet and scan through the bustle of people. I have no idea what she’s wearing or how her hair is styled. I don’t need to, though. She stands out from the crowd.