Page 5 of Carter

Two months later

“Are you here by yourself?” I asked the woman with long dark hair, falling in soft curls behind her back. She was taller than most women I knew. Five-nine, or even five-ten, without her heels. I placed a glass of red wine before her on the small table. Not that I’d been studying what she’d been drinking since I got here. Well, I’d tried not to.

Her eyes brightened when they met mine, and she offered me a smile that made my heart come alive inside its cage.

I held out my hand. “I’m Carter.” I cringed mentally. I was so not good at this. The whole flirting thing. Not that I was rusty. I just hated it. Women usually knew who I was and came on to me. I never had to be the one chasing them. Right now, I felt so out of my element, but that was the point, no? Getting out of my comfort zone if I wanted to give my life a new direction. I breathed in. I could do this. “You looked lonely just now, and I thought you might enjoy some company.” Yeah, so bad at this. I sipped my water, trying to moisten my dry mouth.

The woman raised her fresh glass of wine at me. “Thanks for this. I’m Savannah. Savannah Prince.”

“Are you here on business?” I asked, trying to keep the momentum going. “Or are you part of the crew?”

The woman cleared her throat. “I’m supposed to star in Wesley’s next movie. I’m here because he asked that I come and mingle with people. I’m not an A-list actress, so it requires more work to get my name out there. I want that role so bad I’d do just about anything. But I’ve mingled all night, and now I’m done. It’s quite intimidating.”

Something shone in her onyx-brown eyes.

“I can relate. I’m here because I need to be. This isn’t my scene. I’d prefer being home right now than having to smile at all these people and pretend I’m interested in this Hollywood circus.”

“I’ve never seen you around. Are you an actor?”

I raked my fingers through my mass of dark hair and sighed.

“I’m Carter Hills. It’s nice to meet you.” I crossed my fingers behind my back, hoping my name would ring a bell and I wouldn’t have to explain myself.

Savannah’s cheeks flushed. “Like the Carter Hills? The country music superstar Carter Hills?”

A weird sound bubbled out of my mouth. “That would be me.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I know nothing about the music industry, but I’ve heard your name a lot. I know you’re a big shot.”

I forced a smile.

I hated fame.

And the recognition.

That had always been awkward.

“So why are you here, Mr. Hills? Why did you agree to suffer through this night?”

“Carter, please. No Mr. Hills. I’m not old enough for that.” The flush on Savannah’s face darkened. “One of my songs is featured on the soundtrack, so that’s part of the job.” Her eyes rounded. I shrugged. It wasn’t a big deal for me.

Savannah folded her arms across her chest, pushing her tits up, and I did a poor job of not looking at them. Was she doing this on purpose? I swallowed hard and brought my attention back to her face. My stare lingered a few seconds on her plump red lips, looking too perfect to be real. But right now, I didn’t care. I’d pay a lot of money to have them wrapped around me.

As if he’d read my mind, my dick twitched in my pants.

Easy, boy.

“I’m out of here. Do you want to grab a bite or something? I ate nothing since I got here. And now I’m starving.” Her stomach grumbled just on cue.

I chugged the rest of my water and dropped the now-empty glass on the small table between us. “A midnight snack sounds awesome.”

We exchanged a smile, and once again, Savannah’s lips drew me in. They were like the poison apple. Forbidden, but oh so tempting.

“After you,” I said, as my hand rested on her lower back. “If you like Mediterranean, I know just a place that’s open around the clock a few blocks from here.”

“You come to New York City a lot?” she asked, getting in step with me.

“Not as often as I’d like. But from years of traveling the globe, I’ve made it my mission to find the best spots in every major city to get food at any time of the day. And night. Places where tourists don’t go, so I can keep a low profile and eat in peace.”