"Linc?"
I jumped. When had she started calling me Linc? I loved it.
Hell, every physical part of me responded to my name coming from her lips as if I'd never heard a woman say my name before.
"What's up?" My hoarse voice was a dead giveaway. I prayed she was innocent enough to think nothing of it and just assume I was catching some sort of disease that would render my voice useless. Damn, where was a good head cold when I needed it? At least I'd have to stay away from her — away from temptation.
"Are you okay?" Her little bow-shaped lips pressed together, giving me the distinct impression she was trying not to say more. Damn, I would sell my soul to lick those lips.
Mute was safe.
Mute meant I didn't really know her personality or at least only knew what she felt like showing me through text and body language.
Now that she had words? A whole different line of communication opened, and with that, the freaking floodgates burst open and now I was screwed. So. Very. Screwed.
The limo pulled to a stop in front of the condo that I'd been forced to rent last minute. It overlooked the tiny town of Depot Bay. Add in the view of the Pacific Ocean as it crashed against the rock bridge in downtown, and it was idyllic, romantic, probably not the best choice I could have made, but it was private, and after today, being recognized in public was the last thing I needed or wanted.
"I'm great," I answered about five minutes later, as if I was a slow learner and had just comprehended the words she'd spoken. Things were going downhill fast, and I had to spend the night with her.
Crap. Bad, bad word choice. My body tingled all over with anticipation. Down, boy.
And no matter how many times I looked at her and thought about her age, it's like it didn't register on any level.
All I saw were her lips.
And that damn mouth as it moved, forming words, captivating every part of me and making me yearn to hear more.
Why wasn't she making a bigger deal of this? Hell, why wasn't I calling Jay and telling him that whatever had been her issue, she was basically healed?
"Sir." Our driver opened our door and helped Dani out and then me. "The key was left under the mat, and the entire kitchen has been stocked to your specifications. I'll pick you up at seven a.m. and take you directly to set."
"Great." I shook his hand. "Thank you."
He gave a brief nod and turned away.
Dani stared wide-eyed at the two-story building; her cheeks flushed as a gust of wind and rain hit her small body. "You have an ice cream parlor downstairs."
"Don't forget the store of knickknacks." I pointed to the left where a small store sat nestled between an ice cream/coffee shop.
"I love it." Eyes bright, she placed her hands on her hips. "It seems so secluded."
I snorted. "That's because it is." I nodded toward the stairway leading up to the condo. "Now let's get inside before you freeze to death, and Jay charges me with murder."
"He's not that dramatic."
"Right, he yelled at me for eating sushi in front of his pregnant wife because that's normal. Did I forget to mention he slapped my plate out of my hand?"
Dani reached for the railing and laughed. "Yeah well, he tends to get a bit carried away sometimes."
I followed the sway of her hips, the ones I shouldn't have even been looking at, as she made her way up the stairs.
"I'm just thankful he didn't know me in high school. He would have probably tried murdering my first boyfriend."
"Elliot," I spat. Bastard needed to get in line. "Whatever. He's a kid."
"I'm a kid…" Dani turned around and glared. "… or at least that's what you keep referring to me as. It's either kid or assistant or — and this is my favorite—" She lowered her voice and drew her eyebrows together. "Seventeen."
I actually felt my face redden.
When had I ever been embarrassed?
And by a teen?
"Well," I sputtered, "you're…" My hands did a weird flailing thing in front of my body. "… young." I choked out the last part as my eyes zeroed in on her perky breasts. Great, just give me a van and let me park it outside the local high school. I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a pitiful groan.
"It's fine." Dani smiled warmly. "I'm over it. Promise." Her grin was tight. I highly doubted she was over me insulting her, but I didn't want to push things, because, in my current state, I'd probably blurt out that I was attracted to her and end up in prison.
I was being dramatic.
Then again, I was an actor… so…
I quickly snatched the key from under the mat and jammed it into the lock, pushing the door open once it clicked.
The condo had floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ocean and a gourmet kitchen with white granite and white wooded cabinets. The floor was a dark oak stain, and every piece of furniture was a nautical theme, right down to the blue cloth couch decorated with coral pillows.
"Hungry?" I tossed the key onto the counter and shook the rain out of my hair. "I can whip something up."
"Can you?" Dani laughed. "It cooks?"
"Ha." I nodded. "Nice. Am I the it?"
She made a face and pointed at my mass of hair. "Well, you look a bit haggard. Maybe shower, and I'll start cooking."
"Ah, so she cooks?" I grinned. "See what I did there? She because you're a girl?"