"My apartment is in Venice Beach. There's no press there. And I know where to go to avoid that shit." I drop my voice to something low and seductive. "Of course, there's plenty to do in my apartment."
She blushes. "I'll think about it."
No, she'll talk herself out of it. She needs a push. And I have just the thing ready. "I have a limo reserved to take us back to L.A. I'm going to leave after lunch." I push myself to my feet and take a step towards the bathroom. "It's up to you Bella."
Desire spreads over her face as she watches me make my way to the bathroom.
I strip, wash, put A+D Ointment on my new ink.
This is a cheap move, but I don't care. I need a yes here.
I wrap a towel around my hips and make my
way to the main room.
Bella looks up from her cell. Her jaw drops halfway to the floor. She barely manages to pull it up.
She barely manages to look me in the eyes. "I thought about it."
"And?"
"I must be out of my mind."
Say it, Bella…
She stares into my eyes. "I want to go with you."
6
Joel
A few hours later, I'm standing in front of Bella's hotel room. I knock on her door.
She answers right away.
She's ready with her suitcase zipped, her hair in that same tight bun, her makeup and outfit as perfect as it was this morning.
Her expression is still hesitant.
"Do anything fun?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "Just reading."
"Anything good?"
"You'll laugh."
"Try me."
"Harry Potter."
"I made you come ten minutes after you told me you loved Harry Potter. Why would I laugh now?"
She blushes. "I guess that's a good point. But I… I really should read some more new stuff instead of rereading."
"Does re-reading it make you happy?"
"It's comforting."