Page 107 of Gilt

“No. I’ve been trying to think of a way to break his heart even further. You know, his father was recently murdered, and the police are investigating him for the crime,” I rattle off the facts in a flat voice.

“Wait,” Levi says, taking a few steps closer to me. “If you’re Hans’s daughter...”

“Stepdaughter,” I correct him. At the moment, that qualification feels pretty important. So does the fact that Levi isn’t listening to a word that I say.

He whistles. “I’m a little surprised. I mean, I knew Hans was a kinky fucker, but...”

“Stop right there. I know about the sex scene.”

“Don’t you mean scenes? Personally, I’m all for them. They’re bringing Blake Lively in to test to play you.” His mouth curls as if he’s imagining her naked.

I groan, wondering how hard I have to hit my head against the stonework out here before I lose consciousness.

“Then again, Blake can’t hold a candle to you.” Levi takes another step toward me. This time, there’s no hesitance in it.

I stare him down. “Keep your hands, and everything else, to yourself.”

“I’d just like to know more about your side of the story.” He brushes a finger down my bare shoulder, and I jump back.

“Here’s a fun fact,” I snap. “There’s legitimately no part of that movie that’s based in reality.”

“That’s because audiences don’t want reality,” Levi begins to explain.

Now I wish I’d let him go swimming after all. It would be a lot easier to drown him.

“Save the spin,” I advise, “and get the hell out of here before I tell the Wests why you really stopped in for a visit.”

“It’s a job. It’s not personal.”

“Do you really think they’re going to feel that way?” I ask.

“I do.”

“Then you’re either stupid, or you’re lying to yourself. If you honestly believe they won’t care, you should walk inside and tell them right now why you’re here,” I call his bluff.

“They’ve got a lot going on right now, and I wouldn’t...”

“Yeah. That’s what I thought,” I mutter, ignoring his sorry excuse.

“Emma, you have to understand—”

“What’s going on?” Jameson interrupts us. I don’t have to look at my boyfriend to know that he’s angry. Taking a mental step back, I evaluate the situation. Super-hot movie star friend standing way too close to current girlfriend, while he pleads with her. Yeah, this looks bad from any angle.

Levi comes to the same conclusion because he backs away from me and holds up his hands in surrender. “It’s not what it looks like, man.”

“Really? Because it looks like you’re hitting on my girlfriend.”

“Is this the part where you two bump chests and wrestle around on the ground?” I ask them. Jameson holds up a warning finger, but I slap it away.

“Have you still not figured out that I don’t like to be told what to do?”

“And I don’t like friends who overstep their bounds.” As he moves in closer, I’m just starting to realize that this is about to come to blows.

“Look, man. I don’t want to fight you. I have to be on set next week and...”

Jameson’s fist finishes that sentence for him.

Levi grabs his nose as blood begins to gush from it. “Did you just break my nose? Do you have any idea what this nose is worth?”