CHAPTER TWELVE
ELISE
KELSEY DIDN’T LISTEN.
Instead of minding her own business, she set me up on not one, but three dates.
I could have fought her on it, but the truth was, it had been a while since I went on a date, and I missed it.
I missed going out to dinner with a nice guy and missed the excited feeling you get when you start to think this might actually be something.
So when Saturday rolled around, I applied makeup, styled my hair, and slipped into my favorite blue sundress, which was the perfect mix of sexy and comfortable, showing just enough leg to tease without trying too hard.
Looking good certainly wouldn’t hurt, especially if I wanted to make a good first impression on my date with Hollywood royalty, Owen Bailey.
Owen was known for his leading roles in blockbuster movies. Despite his level of fame, Owen was known for being laid-back and keeping a low profile.
I couldn’t think of anyone better to break up my dating dryspell than the man who won an Oscar last month, so I’d accepted Kelsey’s offer to set us up, and now we were scheduled to have lunch at an Italian restaurant in West Hollywood in just a few minutes.
My first date in a year. Lord, please don’t let me embarrass myself.
Working closely with celebrities every day made it easier to keep my composure, but that didn’t mean the fangirl in me wasn’t desperately trying to break free, especially now that I was about to go on a date with one of my celebrity crushes.
There was a knock on the door, causing me to freeze in place as I applied the last coat of lipgloss. He’s early.
I did a final once over before I set my lipgloss down and hastily exited my bedroom. I head down the stairs, stopping at the door long enough to compose myself before answering.
“Hey, you’re—” The rest of my words caught in my throat as I stared at the man standing at my door.
Filling up my doorway was Nathan, looking annoyingly attractive in dark pinstriped pants and a navy blue buttoned-up shirt.
What was he doing here?
“Am I interrupting something?” He peered easily over my shoulder thanks to his height, his eyes sweeping behind me as if expecting someone to appear after taking one look at what I was wearing.
“Should I invite you in so you can check the closet and under my bed?” I asked, annoyed.
Nathan pressed his lips together instead of responding. “Are you going out?”
“As a matter of fact, I am. I thought you were my date when I answered the door.”
“And you’re going to wear that?” There was no missing the disapproval etched to the corners of his mouth.
“Is there something wrong with what I’m wearing?” I pinned him with a hard look.
“No. You look nice.” The corners of his lips turned down, and if he frowned some more, I was afraid he was going to permanently give himself frown lines.
Which would be a shame, considering how attractive his face was.
“Nice?” I repeated. “I have to admit, I was going for sexy.” I decided not to point out the fact that he has looked down at my breasts at least a dozen times in the last two minutes he’s been standing in the door.
“The dress accomplishes its purpose,” Nathan said smoothly, though his jaw ticked. “But it doesn’t matter, because you’re not going out. I need your help.”
“With what?” The words came out crisp and cool, laced with the exact amount of irritation I was trying not to fully unleash.
“Picking the next artist we’re going to sign to Edge Records.” Nathan told me and I had to stop my jaw from dropping to the floor. He’s never asked me to help him pick an artist before. That’s what his A&R team was for.
The timing of it all was suspicious. “Are you asking for my help because I’m leaving, or because you actually value my opinion?”
The features of his face softened at my question, giving me a rare moment of vulnerability from my usual stone cold boss. “I value your opinion.”
I hesitated, my hand still on the doorknob.
One part of me wanted to remind him that it was Saturday and that he can’t just show up at my house without notice.
That I was still annoyed over how he acted at the bar.
But then there was the other side of me that wanted to be in the room when decisions were made.
The part that had given three years of loyalty, time, and energy to Edge Records and had always been kept at arm’s length.
Until now. Nathan had rarely asked for my opinion on anything this important.
And now, with three weeks left before I walked away for good, he was asking.
Something soft and warm stirred within my chest. “Okay.” I opened the door and stepped back so he could enter.
Twin indents on his cheeks made a rare appearance as he smiled and what was once an ember in my chest morphed into something hotter, almost knocking me off of my feet.
I stepped back to let him in, watching as he walked past me like he owned the place. Like he belonged here. Like he’d done it a hundred times before.
But he hadn’t.
This was the first time Nathan Edge had ever stepped foot in the home I shared with Kelsey.
And I hated how aware of it I suddenly was.
Our place wasn’t much despite the amount of money the both of us made.
It was a stunning, lived-in three-bedroom house with too many throw pillows, candles in every scent Bath & Body Works had ever released, and framed photos from years of friendship.
But it was ours. Our safe space. The one place where Kelsey and I could unwind, be ridiculous, and not worry about paparazzi or passive-aggressive emails from entitled artists.
Now he was here. And his presence was loud. Not in volume since he hadn’t said a word, but in the way he seemed to take up all the oxygen. The second he crossed the threshold, the house felt smaller. Warmer. Like the air shifted just for him.
Nathan shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over the back of the couch like he paid rent.
I blinked. “Make yourself at home, why don’t you?”
He didn’t respond. Just gave the place a slow once-over, like he was cataloging every inch of it and every inch of me by extension.
I started to turn from the front door, wondering where the last place I saw my cell phone so I could call Owen and reschedule our date, when the roar of an engine from the street captured my attention, effectively rooting me in place.
A white Audi R8 rolled up in front of the driveway, behind Nathan’s black Maserati.
I barely had time to collect myself before Owen got out of his car and strided up the walkway confidently, eating up the distance in seconds.
He looked even better in person than in his movies. He was tall and broad-shouldered with tan skin and warm brown eyes. In his hands he carried a bouquet of roses. This guy was the total package and here I was, about to cancel on him.
“Wow. Kelsey told me you were beautiful, but that was clearly an understatement. You’re stunning,” Owen said, his smile warm and effortless.
“Thank you,” I smiled, the words coming out a little breathless. “You’re even better looking in person than you are on screen.” The moment the words left my mouth embarrassment rushed over me, and I couldn’t help but smile nervously.
Owen chuckled, and I noticed a cute little dimple appear on his cheek that wasn’t there a second ago. “Thank you. Are you ready to go?”
I hesitated, feeling guilty. “Actually, I was just about to call you to cancel.”
His brow furrowed with concern. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I just got called into work at the last minute and I couldn’t say no. I’m so sorry,” I said, my voice tinged with regret.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed,” Owen replied, his smile staying genuine. “But I get it. Work comes first.”
I felt a wave of relief wash over me at how understanding he was. “Thank you. You’re being so sweet about this.”
“Of course.” He flashed me a grin that made my heart race. Not now, fangirl. “I guess we’ll just have to plan another date soon, huh?”
“I guess so,” I said, returning his grin. “And next time, I’ll make sure work doesn’t get in the way.”
“Elise, are you ready to come back inside?” The voice was low, but it sent a shiver down my spine.
Nathan’s presence was unmistakable. His large frame loomed behind me, just inches away, as if marking his territory. I felt the press of his shirt buttons against the bare skin of my back, and his scent, hazelnut and sandalwood wrapped around me like a familiar yet commanding force.
“Yeah, just give me a second,” I said quickly, my voice almost instinctive in its reply to him.
I could feel the heat of his body against mine, and it made it hard to focus on anything else.
But I forced myself to keep my gaze locked on Owen, who stood in front of me, his gaze now focused on Nathan.
I had to maintain some semblance of professionalism, though I couldn’t shake the heavy weight of Nathan’s presence right behind me.
“Owen, this is my boss, Nathan Edge,” I motioned behind me.
“Edge? You wouldn’t happen to be related to the late Xavier Edge, CEO of Edge Records, would you?”
Nathan stepped closer without hesitation, there was a tension in the air that was palpable. I stepped off to the side.
“That was my father. I’m in charge now.”
The words carried a weight that felt like more than just a statement of fact. It was a reminder, an assertion of power.
Instead of backing down, Owen held Nathan’s gaze for a beat longer than necessary.
“I didn’t realize the CEO of a multi-million-dollar company had time to make house calls,” he said, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
The challenge in his voice was unmistakable, and it clearly wasn’t lost on Nathan.