Breaking Stars (The Celebrity 2)

“It’s beautiful out here,” I said before turning to look at Tatum.

“It sure is,” he said, looking straight at me.

I felt myself blush as I wished he’d let me wrap myself up in his arms. The kiss on the cheek made me want more from him, but I was too scared to initiate anything physical. Tatum could make me feel amazing and wanted one second, and discarded the next.

“So, are you having fun yet?” He leaned his head against the back of his makeshift seat.

“I am. Everyone’s really nice.”

He grinned. “They didn’t leave you alone the second they found out who you were. How many autographs did you sign, Paige? How many pictures did you take?”

I shrugged my shoulders, not knowing or caring what the answer was. This type of thing was part of my job, and I was used to it. But there was a niggling in the back of my mind. A realization had forced its way through and I frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just thinking,” I admitted and forced a slight smile.

“About what?”

“Nothing. Everything. I don’t know.” I shrugged, stumbling on my words, my thoughts, my emotions.

“Why are you really here?” he asked. “There’s more to the story than what you’ve told me.”

“Of course there’s more to the story. We’ve barely talked at all. I mean, I try to talk and you get all pissy and shut down.”

He looked away briefly. “I know. I just…”

“You’re not good at making small talk. I know. You’ve told me that one already,” I said for him. “More than once.”

“That wasn’t what I was going to say. Smartass,” he teased.

“Oh.” I didn’t hide my surprise. “What were you going to say then?”

“I was just going to say that I have a hard time opening up to people.”

It was a small admission, but I felt like I’d just gotten to break ground on a new development project. Tatum had just smashed the first cinder block, and I planned on knocking down all the rest. One at a time, if that was how he needed it to be.

Leaning a little closer, I said, “I know we don’t really know each other, but I’d like to get to know you better. I mean, I’m going to be here for at least a week, right? Can’t we be friends?” I deliberately used the F word, hoping to put him at ease. Privately I hoped that his concept of friendship included hot-and-heavy make-out sessions in his converted barn. Knowing how proud Quinn would be of me and my dirty thoughts, I stifled a laugh.

“And here I was, thinking we already were, Princess.” Tatum winked at me and I suddenly wanted to sock him in the eye. And then kiss it to make it all better. Seriously, what the heck was going on with my hormones?

“You have to stop with the princess stuff,” I huffed. “I don’t hate much, but I think I hate that.” I ran my fingers through my long hair and tucked it behind my ears before taking a sip of the tea.

“Prove to me you’re not one then, and I’ll stop.” He took another gulp from his cup.

“You’re so irritating,” I snarled, even though I wasn’t really mad.

“But you like it,” he said before leaning into me, his shoulder pressed against mine. I did like it, but I refused to admit it.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Go for it,” he said as he poked me playfully in the rib with his finger, and I squirmed.

“That day when you picked me up. You said you knew who I was, right?” I wasn’t sure why I was bringing this up now, or why it even mattered. I think I simply wanted to continue chipping away at his armor and let him know that he could trust me. Which I was aware, was ridiculously ironic.

“Hell yeah, I knew. I told you that.”

“Then why were you so mean? I tried to shake your hand and you wouldn’t even touch me.” I thought back to when I first hopped into his truck.