Page 18 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

“About what? My climb up the ranks to my perfect Hollywoodlife? Why bother? Or do you think my past is coming back to threaten me?”

“I think that’s pretty damn likely,yeah. But I thought you might want to unload. Sometimes it helps. I justlearned that the hard way.”

She looked up at him, her eyes warm and intense on his, andin that moment, he wanted nothing more than to pull her close and kiss her.

No.

No way was he going there.

For one thing, he had no fucking ideawhere that impulse had come from.

More important, he was on a job.And even if he was warming up to her a tiny bit, there was no way in hell hewas sliding down that slippery slope with an actress.

Then she blinked, and the moment passed, leaving Simonwondering if he’d just imagined it. “Well,” she said, “I’m glad talking aboutit helped.”

“It did. Thank you.” Once again, thoughts of Kristen filledhis head. Once again, he pushed them away. It was one thing to dredge up hischildhood. He didn’t need to dredge her up, too.

Frannie pulled her hand away, then hugged the pillow again.

“I’m a good listener,” he told her.

She looked at him with that famous half-smile, then shookher head. “I believe you. But I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“I get that. I don’t know what it is. But thisreporter does. So I’d say the odds are good that he’s the one making thethreat. If that’s the case, then I need to know. It’s a hell of a lot harder tokeep you safe if I don’t know all the facts.”

“I know. But—”

“Hey,” he said, conjuring a smile. “I showed you mine. Youshow me yours.”

As he’d hoped, she laughed, and in that moment, he knew whyshe’d become a star. The sound sparkled, filling the room like the tingle ofelectricity after a lightning storm.

That’s what she was. A force of nature. And the trulybaffling thing was that he liked her. Despite her holier-than-thou attitudewhen they’d met, and despite his stepfather and his mother and all the bullshitwith Kristen, he actually liked her.

A good thing, since he was protecting her. But he needed tokeep his head.

Because even though he liked her, he knew damngood and well that he could never, ever trust her.

Chapter Seven

I have to give Simon creditfor not pushing me.

“I don’t want to talk about it now,” I’d said. “I know itwill help you keep me safe—I really do. And I’ll tell you tomorrow after theconference. I’m only on deck in the morning. We can leave bylunch, and I’ll tell you everything. I just need…” I’d sucked in a lungful ofair and tried to keep the tears at bay. “I’ve never talked about it since—well,in a really long time. And I try not to think aboutit. I just need a little time. Please? Please can I have a little time?”

For a moment, I thought he was going to say no. To tell methat he had to know. That it was the only way he coulddo his job. But he didn’t say that. Instead, he’dnodded, then said, “It’s okay. I’ve got your back.”

I’ve got your back.

That was over two hours ago, and I’m still holding his wordsclose as I’m tucked up in the guest bedroom. Because the truth is, I can’tremember the last time it felt like anyone truly had my back. My agent, maybe.But that’s her job. Other than that? Well, I’ve been pretty much flying solofor years.

I think of Carolyn, my childhood bestie, and squeeze my eyesshut. I hate this. The memories that stupid reporter is dredging up. The notethat’s probably just bullshit but gets me in the gut.Fear and anger and betrayal.

And secrets. Always secrets.

I’m surprised that I genuinely want to tell Simon tomorrow.I’ve held on to these secrets too long, and I don’t know how to let go. Butknowing that Simon will catch me…that feels pretty damnnice.

I don’t realize that I’ve gotten out of bed. I’mtired—mentally and physically exhausted—but my body has other plans, and beforeI realize it, I’m in my robe and at the door. I hesitate, then push it open,walking the short distance from my guest room to the master bedroom at the endof the hall. I’m hoping the door is open a crack—Ican’t tell in the dim lighting—because then it’s like permission to go inside.

But it’s not. It’s closed tight, though I don’t know if it’slocked or not.