Page 51 of False Promises

A song I had written last year played on the speaker. The music carried a wave of nostalgia with it. And a whole lot of pride too with all the progress I’d made since I decided to give my career a second go. A song I wrote when I imagined, for a moment, I had found my soulmate and was taking a leap of faith and trusting love.

Even though I yearned for it, Savannah didn’t fit the lyrics. Not yet at least. And in that instant, I wished she would.

Eventually.

14

SAVANNAH

“I’m so excited we’re doing this,” I exclaimed as we entered the elevator leading to our apartment. Yes, Carter had agreed to rent us a place in Los Angeles with the most magnificent view of the city skyline.

The high-vaulted white ceilings and panoramic windows made this place appear bigger than it was. The floors were white marble, the kitchen cabinets exotic wood, and the furniture high-end and straight lines. An apartment I could never afford but deserved. No actress of my caliber should live in a dump. What if magazines ran a story at home? This new place screamed wealth and fame. It defined me perfectly. Renting this place was the sensible thing to do. Carter knew it too.

He wanted me to succeed since I was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Every time I said that, he changed the subject or professed many good things had happened to him in his life, but deep down, he had to know I spoke the truth.

I was everything a star like him should marry.

Gorgeous, a body to kill, and stamina to last all night.

See, I was the real deal. The perfect woman on his arm.

And his best fuck. He didn’t have to tell me, but I knew how talented I was in bed.

Another thing that had come to me naturally in my life.

Carter’s notoriety shone on me, which was a plus. Sure, people would think I was the lucky one in this relationship, but we all knew that behind closed doors, Carter Hills was the fortunate one.

As we stepped into the apartment, I still couldn’t believe he offered and agreed to pay for the entire thing by himself. I wasn’t as wealthy as him. Not yet at least. So, I loved that I could spend my money to make myself more gorgeous instead of on a lease that wouldn’t help to propel my career in any way.

“I’ll need a new dress. I can’t go to a movie premiere wearing a rag cloth.”

In the foyer, Carter stopped and turned to face me. “I bought you over ten-thousand-dollar worth of clothes not so long ago. I’m sure you can find something to wear.”

I pouted my lips and rubbed my hand over his manhood, using my most honey-dripping voice. “You wouldn’t want people to think you’re cheap, right? That you let me wear used dresses every time we go out. We’ll be walking the red carpet together. People have eyes, you know. They sense these things. I have to look impeccable. And so do you. Imagine all the pictures of us they will be taking that night. It’s the real deal.”

I licked the length of his neck, and he grew harder under my palm.

“Don’t try to manipulate me, Savannah. I’m not financing your shopping spree this time.”

As if stung by a bee, I removed my hand and stepped back. “Fine. I’m not going then. I’ll pretend I’m sick or something.”

“Don’t be a baby. I’m sure you can find something nice enough to wear,” he said, pointing to the twenty-by-twenty-foot space we’d transformed into a dressing room to accommodate all my clothes and every designer purse and pair of shoes Carter had bought for me since we started dating.

Every time I admired the gorgeousness of our living situation, I still couldn’t believe Carter offered for us to move in together. He had uprooted his cowboy life to be with me. We already spent so much time with each other that the moving together part seemed like the natural next step for us to take.

Just for show, I pouted a little more, using fake tears to add to the drama. I was an actress after all. I had skills.

“You think I’m a baby? You’re being insensitive right now.”

Carter shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed. “No. I said you are acting like one.”

I spun on my heels, unbuttoned my shirt, my red lacy push-up bra making my breasts look like a buffet only gods could afford—yeah, I had a plastic surgeon on speed dial—and turned back to face him. While giving my doe eyes another try, I sucked on a red-manicured finger, batting my eyelashes.

“Do babies look as hot as this?” I asked, closing the gap between us.

Carter shut his eyes for a second and reopened them with a curse.