Page 36 of Worth Every Penny
“I have an idea,” Elly says, and before we can stop her, she slips away from the table and marches up to Michael Drayton and introduces herself. Marie and I watch, amazed, as Elly smiles and chatters, pointing over at us. Michael turns in our direction, shooting cut-glass cheekbones and blue-eyes in our direction.
“Wow, heisgorgeous,” Marie whispers, turning googly-eyed.
Elly skips back towards us, a satisfied smile on her face. “He’s coming over. Bringing shots.”
A nervous void opens in my stomach. “What?”
She nods. “Yup. He’s the one you should spring clean with.” She feigns a swoon, pressing the back of one hand to her forehead. “Dreamy. What a way to break the dry spell.”
Before I can object, Michael Drayton saunters over with a tray of shots, which he sets down on our table before sitting down next to me. I’m not usually one to get star-struck, but when the biggest name in Hollywood is sitting so close your thighs are touching under the table, it’s hard not to react.
“Evening, ladies,” he says. “Elly tells me you’re all big fans.”
I nearly laugh at this, but Elly shoots me a ‘shut up’ look, which is somewhat justified. Who doesn’t know who Michael Drayton is?
“I’m not a fan,” I say, and although I mean it, it sounds like I’m flirting.
An array of emotions flit over his handsome face, finally settling on pleasantly amused. “Is that so?” He doesn’t wait for a response before he hands me a shot. “Vodka,” he announces.
I take it from him. “I haven’t eaten.”
He laughs, and I can’t deny that his laugh, and the way his eyes sparkle, is very appealing. “Eating is cheating,” he says, in a husky voice.
Before I know it, I’m clinking my vodka shot against his and we down them simultaneously.
He smacks his lips and sets his glass down, staring right at me when he says, “You’re the green traffic light.”
At first, I don’t know what he’s talking about, and then it clicks.Our tops. Marie’s is red, because she has a boyfriend. Elly’s is gold—or amber—and mine is absolutely green.
Horrified, I stare at Elly. “I’m a green traffic light?”
She pushes another shot into my hand, tipping my elbow to coax the glass to my lips. “Yes. You’re available. You’re green.Verygreen,” she says emphatically, then looks at Michael and adds, “Green means go.”
Michael tips back his head and laughs, and he really is handsome, but I feel none of the flutters I feel with Nico.
But Nico’s not here, and I shouldn’t be having any kind of feelings for him, anyway. Maybe a fling with a handsome movie star is just what I need to push Nico out of my mind for good.
“Let’s drink to that,” Michael says.
“Let’s.” I take another shot, slamming the empty glass on the table.
13
NICO
I’m at my desk, trying to get through the contract I abandoned earlier, but I can’t shake the memory of Kate, all dressed up, lips plump, eyes dark. I’ve never seen her look like that, like she’s out to—
My stomach squeezes, folding in on itself.
Fuck.
Kate Lansen is dressed up like she wants to get laid, and I’m powerless to do anything about it. I don’t know where she’s going, or who she’s meeting.
Fuck it.
What she does with her Friday night has nothing to do with me. I grit my teeth and force my eyes to the paper in front of me.
I read the same page over and over. The minutes trickle by. Nine forty-five. Ten. Ten thirty.