One Hot Secret (Love on Fire)

“Yeah. I missed my nice car too. I had to borrow a car or get a friend to pick and drop me at work.”

Morgan makes fun of that and teases me that I’ve become a little spoiled. It’s true. As much as we like to think that fame and fortune have not changed us, they have. I like my life, and I enjoy the things that I’ve worked hard for. I enjoy eating in five-star restaurants with celebrated chefs cooking for me, and I like going on luxurious vacations when the work is done. I also enjoy driving my Porsche and Lamborghini.

“What was the thing that you learned you’d forgotten by stepping out of your movie star persona?” Morgan says.

“I learned that there are real people out there. People who are not interested in how famous you are or who you know. People who love and let you into their loves with no reservations, just an open heart. I found gems that I would not have found if I’d been Kyle Bryce.”

Chapter 14

Grace

I watch the interview over and over again, pressing repeat when it comes to the end. The very end captures my attention, and I feel as if Jack is speaking to me. I can’t think of him as Kyle. He’s Jack to me. I listen to his explanation again about why he couldn’t come clean with who he really was. I don’t buy that, and if he were here, I would tell him so. That explanation applies to everyone else except me. He didn’t trust me, that’s why he didn’t tell me. And he had no intention of continuing with our affair once the three weeks were over.

I stare at Jack. Comparing his looks, I think that he looks hotter now than before. It’s amazing that a person can undergo such a drastic change. I got tears in my eyes when he talked about the body being the vessel through which we come into the world. I miss him so much. My hands itch to reach out and stroke his handsome face. His deep voice resonates through me, reminding me of private moments shared. He laughs, and I miss hearing that with an intensity that causes physical pain.

The bell rings suddenly, startling me. I turn off the TV, pad to the door, and press the intercom.

“Grace, it’s me.”

“Jack?” I say.

“Yes, can I please come in. I need to speak to you,” he says, his tone pleading.

I want to say no so badly. I want to move on with my life and forget about the blue-eyed firefighter I fell in love with. But I can’t bring myself to say the words that will get him out of my life forever.

It’s only fair to hear his side of the story before deciding. “Ten minutes.”

He exhales loudly. “That’s all I need.”

I let him in and fling the door open. The creak of the elevator fills the air before it comes to a halt. A minute later, Jack is strolling toward me.

All air leaves my lungs as I stare at him. His gaze burns through me, and tingles vibrate through every part of my body. Jack has an aura about him that sets him apart from everyone else.

He comes to a stop right in front of me, and I hope that he cannot hear the hammering of my heart.

“Grace.” His voice is a whisper, a caress.

His eyes take me in as if he can’t quite believe that I’m standing right in front of him. I harden my heart and remind myself that this is a man who is used to the company of beautiful women. I’m nothing to him.

“Come in,” I say.

He follows me in. I take him to the kitchen with the pretext of needing coffee. What I actually need is something to keep me occupied. Anything to take my attention from Jack and how desperately I need to feel his mouth on mine and his hands on my body.

“Coffee?” I ask him.

“Yes, please, thank you,” he says.

I can feel his eyes on me as I go about getting the cups ready and the coffee going. The silence is deafening, and I fight the urge to turn to Jack and see what he’s doing. When the coffee is ready, I carry both our cups to the island and sit as far from him as I can.

His eyes flash with anger. “Are you suddenly frightened of me? If you think I’ll hurt you, why did you let me in?”

My face heats up. I move my stool until I’m right opposite him. I feel so much for him, but none of that matters. There’s no future for Jack and me. Of all the people I could have fallen for, it had to be a celebrity. Life is so unfair.

“You have five minutes now,” I tell him and sip my coffee as if my heart is not hurting so badly I want to throw caution to the wind and jump into his arms.