Page 31 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

“Do you have another idea?”

“I do. But you’re not going to like it.”

Her shoulders fell, and he could hear her exhale. “You thinkI should drop it because it’s been years and I won’t figure it out anyway?”

“You said it, not me.”

She made a face. “I know. I should. But now that I knowthere was someone else there—”

“Assuming the mom was telling the truth. And that’s a bigassumption.”

“Maybe,” she said. “But—”

She was interrupted by her phone, and then sighed as sheglanced at the screen. “Aaron,” she said. “Work beckons.” She hit the button toput it on speaker.

“Hey,” she said. “What’s up?”

“You alone?”

She put her finger to her lips. “Yup. Clean bill. My stalkerwas a Woodward or Bernstein wannabe reporter. I am no longer under surveillanceby Stark’s finest.”

He laughed. “You sound like you’re in a good mood.”

“I am,” she said, taking Simon’s hand and pressing it to herbreast. He raised a brow but didn’t resist. This was a game he was more thanwilling to play.

“Listen, I was hoping you could come over tonight. I gotsome revisions back on Spiraling, and I wanted to go overthem with you.”

“Problem?”

“Just some character stuff before I call the writer withnotes.”

She glanced at him, and Simon nodded. He’d rather stay inbed with her, but this was her job. And he should probably swing by his placeand get a change of clothes anyway.

“Okay,” she told Aaron. “It’s five now. I can be there bysix.”

“Perfect. See you then.”

She ended the call, then turned to him. “Where will you bewhen I get back?”

“That depends. Where do you want me?”

“Right here,” she said, then grinned and added, “And bonuspoints if you’re naked.”

“Sweetheart, I’m all about the bonus.”

Chapter Eleven

I should have known better than to look at my phonewhile I was pumping gas, because the first thing I see is a brand-new articleabout me, dredging up that old lie about me getting drunk and passing out in ahot tub.

It’s to be expected, though. Old articles and new gossipalways surface when a new production is ramping up. So I suppose I should beflattered that the public is paying attention.

Although the idea that I would drink that much—or do drugs,which I do not do—really rubs me the wrong way. I should havechallenged it back in the day, but Aaron thought that I should let it slide. Iwas coming off Bright Eyes, and it would do megood to lose my super clean-cut image.

I’d agreed. It seemed reasonable at the time. Now everyonejust figures that goes with my party girl persona. But that’s not the way Iparty, and I should never have given in.

The only saving grace is that Simon doesn’t believe it. Asfar as I’m concerned, his opinion is the only one that matters.

I finish pumping the gas, and when I get back into the car,I’m smiling. Who cares about idiotic articles? I have Simon.