11. Elle
11
ELLE
W ith a sigh, Dayton tossed his phone onto the black leather sofa beside him, closed his eyes, and let his head fall back against the headrest.
“Bad news?” Getting up from the bed, I crossed the room to sit next to him. He’d spent the past couple of days on the phone. Call after call. Numerous dead ends. This last call was supposed to be a break for us, but by the look on his face, it didn’t pan out the way we’d hoped. “We can find another way.”
A sly grin spread across his lips as his dark eyes opened and he looked at me. “Why would we find another way when I’ve secured you a deal?”
My jaw went slack as I stared at him unblinking. Had I heard correctly?
“You should see your face, I had you convinced, didn’t I?” He gave me a wink. “Guess there’s now two worthy actors in the room.”
“A deal?”
He nodded. “A deal. They’ll be emailing it to me to look over. If the terms are agreeable, I take you to the office in Virginia, you’ll meet with the officials in charge of the case and it’ll be over.”
“What do you mean, over?”
“In exchange for your testimony, you’ll be free and clear of the drug trafficking charges.”
Excitement rushed through me, but just as quickly concern took over. “But what about retribution? I mean, they’ll come after me. After you.”
Reaching out to me, he ran the back of his hand against my cheek. Closing my eyes, I savored the touch. “They won’t get near you with me at your side.”
My eyes sprung open as I stared at him. “What do you mean? I can’t put you in danger like that. I’d never be able to live with myself if something happened…”
Dropping his hand from my cheek, he took both of my hands in his. “Look, I’m not a romantic who throws caution to the wind to impress a damsel. And I’m certainly not an impulsive person. Do you trust me?”
She didn’t hesitate. “Yes, of course.”
“Then trust me when I tell you that I have this figured out. But there’s more. Meeting you has been a life-changing experience for me. You’ve made me realize that I need more in my life. And I think that it’s time to make some changes, starting with you.”
“I don’t know what you mean?” It almost sounded like…
No. he couldn’t be…
I watched as he inhaled and slowly released his breath. “We’ve only known each other a week. Not even a week, not quite anyhow, but I feel like if I take you back to California and never see you again, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
Cocking my head to the side, I eyed him as my heart rate began to accelerate. “What are you getting at?”
“What I’m saying is that, at least until the trial is over, you’d be safer living with me.”
“Living with you.” My eyes narrowed at him. “Are you playing another joke on me?”
I was floored. It certainly wasn’t what I expected from him.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I expected. He was right. I tended to live in the now. My career was a day-to-day thing. I’d be told where to go and what to do and I’d do it. Every day was a new adventure.
“If you don’t want to, then we can make alternate arrangements. They did mention that they can take you to a safehouse until the trial. You shouldn’t go back to any of your houses, at least until they’ve been searched. There may be hidden cameras.
Horror rushed through me. Could they really have cameras in my house?
Seeing the panic in my eyes, he raked his hand through my hair, calming me. “Probably not. But I’m not willing to risk your safety. When it comes right down to it the safest place is with me.”
Sinking back into the sofa my mind was whirling with what all this could mean for me and my career. “Life’s never going to be the same for me, is it?” I asked, looking over at him.
His expression was grim as he shook his head. “Probably not, baby. I’m sorry.”
I nodded.
“But who am I to guess on how this all pans out? I’m not the Hollywood insider, you are. I would guess that once this is all over things could go back to normal.”
“How long do you think it’ll take for it to be all over?”
He shrugged. “Who knows? A year. Two years. Depends on what they have on the people involved and the courts. There’s too many factors for me to even try to guess for you. I’m not the guy to ask about that.”
Two years away from Hollywood. My name would be in the news, but the publicity would be all the wrong kind. “Do you think people will even work with me after this?”
“Again, I don’t know.”
Inching my way closer to him, I wrapped my arms around him seeking comfort from his strong embrace. “I just got that life. Just got what I always wanted and now it could be over.”
“Don’t think that way. You’re helping bring down one of the largest and most powerful crime rings of this century. You’re going to be a hero. And I’m proud of you. You’re willing to sacrifice everything for what’s right. That takes real strength of character, Elle.”
I looked up and into his eyes. He meant what he was saying.
It was then that it dawned on me. “You know, I dreamed of being an actress all of my life. And after my parents died, it became my one and only obsession. I felt that if I became a star and people, fans, loved me then I could be whole again. But that’s not the case.”
He cocked a brow up at me. “No?”
“No, it wasn’t. Everything I’ve experienced these last few years has been fake. Fake friends. Fake lovers. Fake lives. Just a world of make-believe.”
“Do you really believe that?”
I nodded. “I do.” Clinging tighter to him, I laid my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. This man barely knew me yet was risking his life for me. He was opening his home and heart to me.
Pulling back from him, I looked into his eyes once more and I saw it—genuine affection.
“What?” Fingering a lock of my hair, he watched the strands fall from his fingertips and then met my gaze again.
“You care for me?”
A hint of a grin touched his lips. “That obvious?”
“Little bit. I’m falling for you as well.”
Leaning forward, I pressed my forehead to his.
“I’m scared, Dayton.”
“You don’t have to be. Nothing will ever happen to you. I’ll never allow anything or anyone to hurt you, Elle. I promise.”
“Will you be with me? Through it all. Promise?”
“I promise. Does that mean you’ll take me up on my offer? Will you stay with me, Elle?”
Slowly a smile crept onto my lips. For the first time in my life I felt safe; cared for. I believed him.
“I’d love to.”