Wicked Grind (Stark World 1)

Thinking about work, I glance back at Wyatt, only to find that his attention is already on me. "Hi," I say, because the silence is hanging awkwardly around the four of us, and I can't exactly pretend he doesn't exist.

"Sorry about that," Griffin says. "Wyatt, this is my sister. Kelsey."

"We've met," Wyatt says, before I can conjure words. "A long time ago, actually. In Santa Barbara." He extends his hand, and I take it without thinking. Then draw in a sharp breath when I see his gaze land on the infinity bracelet.

Griff looks between the two of us. "Well, that's a coincidence." Griff looks at me, the corner of his mouth hitched up just a little. "Why don't Bird and I go talk shop, and we'll let you two catch up?"

I want to kick him, but he just grins that annoying Griffin grin and slides away. He's never met Wyatt, but he knows the name, and when this party is over, I'm probably going to have to kill my brother.

"Looks like you're stuck with me," Wyatt says, as I tug my hand free. "I like your bracelet."

My heart twists. "Wyatt--"

"Walk with me," he says, and I do, falling in step beside him as easily as I used to all those years ago.

He leads us to the window, and we stand side by side, looking out over the hills, now tinted pink from the setting sun. The ground beneath us seemingly drops away, adding to the illusion that we're floating, which I suppose is appropriate since that's how I always feel around Wyatt.

"Listen," I say when I can no longer take the lingering silence. "I'm really sorry about last night. I know that I begged you to hire me, and then I totally bailed, and I really don't blame you for being upset, because--"

"You think I'm mad at you?"

I frown, turning slightly so that I can face him. "Aren't you?"

"I was--well, more irritated than angry. Mostly I've been mad at myself. That crap about punishing you. I had no right, Kelsey. I was just--"

He shakes his head. "It doesn't matter. The bottom line is that I was a prick, and I'm sorry, and I get why you'd be mad."

"I'm not," I say truthfully. Because the only one I'm mad at is me.

"Then why are you dodging my calls?"

"What are you talking about?" I swing my purse around so that I can get my phone out and show him there've been no missed calls. But my phone isn't there. "Ah," I say. "I think I see the problem."

I hold out my open purse for his inspection. "No phone. And it barely had any charge when I got to your studio. It probably fell out at Griffin's last night."

He laughs. "You're a strange woman, Kelsey."

I bristle a little. "Excuse me?"

"I'm not sure I've ever met a woman who wasn't surgically attached to her phone, and you've gone almost twenty-four hours without it."

"I'm a wonder among women," I deadpan.

"Yeah," he says, looking at me intently. "You are."

I swallow, feeling suddenly uncomfortable. "Why were you calling?"

"To apologize," he says. "And to ask you to come back."

"Oh."

"This show is pivotal for me. And I need you." He speaks with such intensity and honesty that it almost seems as though we're back in Santa Barbara, sitting under a tree holding hands. "And I know you need the money. It's good for both of us," he adds. "Kelsey, please."

A lump forms in my throat, because I have to say no. I have to disappoint this man once again. I'd hurt him when I ran out of the party, and now I'm doing the same thing all over again. "I should never have even tried out," I say. "I should have just stayed far away."

For a moment, he simply looks at me, his expression hard. My stomach twists, because I'm sure he's agreeing. After all, I destroyed so many things.

The silence grows heavy, and as I scramble for something to say, the Lyle Tarpin comes over and hooks his arm around Wyatt's shoulder. I sit there like an idiot staring, because he's my first up-close-and-personal movie star.