All the Way (Romancing Manhattan 1)

“That’s right. The part is gritty, and real, and the score is out of this world. We’re talking Oscar-winning material here, babe.”

“I’d have to have my agent request an audition.”

“You don’t need an audition,” Jeffrey says. “If you want the role, we’ll fly out to L.A. and read together for Gerald, just to make sure it’s right. But I’m telling you, it’s right.”

“Have you two worked together before?” Finn asks.

“A few times,” I confirm. “We work very well together.”

“And if I wasn’t gay, I’d marry her in a heartbeat,” Jeffrey adds with a smile. “I’m telling you, London, this would be an amazing way to get started in film.”

“Well, there’s a lot to think about.” I look up at Finn, who just smiles and offers a shrug.

“Don’t look at me, I think you should at least think about it.”

And just like that, for the first time since before the fire, I feel the warm glow inside me start to take shape, the way it did before where my career was concerned. I see an opportunity that feels real.

“I’ll think about it,” I reply with a nod, and Jeffrey immediately pulls me in for a bone-crushing hug.

“Excellent,” he says. “I’ll have the script sent to you so you can look it over, and when I’m back in the States, we will arrange to get with Gerald for a reading.”

I nod, a bit shell-shocked, and spend the next thirty minutes chatting about the business, my time on Martha’s Vineyard, and Finn tells Gerald about his job and other interests.

It feels so good for Finn to meet someone from my world. Since he will never meet my family, this is as close to that as it gets for me.

Shortly after I say good-bye to Jeffrey, Finn and I are in the backseat of the car he hired, snuggled up, and my mind is whirling with so much information I can’t even talk.

Once we’re inside our hotel suite, I walk into the bedroom to remove my jewelry and shoes, and then stare at myself in the mirror.

Finn knew that I didn’t have clothes appropriate for the theater with me on the island, so he had a beautiful dress and shoes ordered for me.

He also gave me a stunning necklace and earring set made of rubies and yellow gold.

He took me to London, to the theater, and has indulged my every whim since we left the house yesterday.

I wanted to nap, so we napped.

I wanted a grilled cheese sandwich, so he ordered room service.

I leave the bedroom, in search of the very special man that has come into my life, and find him in the sitting room, reading something on his phone.

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“Yes and no,” he replies, then shuts the screen off and sets it aside. “Everything with you is amazing. But there are some things at work that need my attention.”

“I’ve kept you away too long.”

I sit next to him and he pulls me into his arms and kisses my forehead.

“I’ve been exactly where I wanted to be, London. But, once we leave here, I’ll have to go to New York.”

“Oh.” I don’t know why I feel so disappointed. I knew our time on Martha’s Vineyard wouldn’t last forever. No one lives in a bubble. “I have some things to finish up on Martha’s Vineyard, and then I’ll go to the city as well.”

“You don’t have to cut your time there short because of me.”

I smile up at him and drag my fingertips down his cheek, enjoying the scratchiness of the whiskers that have grown since this morning.

“It’s time, I miss the city,” I reply simply. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like to be able to see you on a regular basis.”

“That doesn’t bother me in the least.”

“Finn.” I turn on the couch so I can fully see him. “Thank you. For this trip, for tonight, and for everything that’s come before this.”

“London—”

“Let me finish.” I take his hand in mine and he kisses my knuckles, bringing the butterflies in my stomach to life. “To be understood is profound. You understand me. It’s a big deal.”

His lips twitch in that way they do when he’s particularly pleased with me and kisses my hand again.

“You’re a big deal,” he whispers. “And not because of who you are in the show-business community, but because of who you are.”

I lean into him and sigh when he loops his arms around me and holds on tightly.

“Back at you,” I reply happily. “Right back at you.”

Chapter Eight

~London~

My phone is ringing.

I rub my eyes as I roll over in bed and reach for my cell, happy to see that it’s Finn FaceTiming me.

“Hey,” I say, and push my hair out of my eyes.

“Good morning,” he says with a smile. He’s already dressed in his suit, clean-shaven, looking ridiculously handsome. “I’m sorry I woke you.”