“I’ll walk you out.”
She reaches into the trailer, coming back with the same backpack she toted around Ibiza. The top is open, and I catch a glimpse of the contents before she flips the top closed.
“He can’t do what I can do, “ I say as we fall into step next to each other and head down the road between studios, runners and golf carts passing every minute.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
The clawing in my chest has my hands clenching into fists.
Hello, jealousy. It’s been a while.
“Tell me you’re not fucking him.” I laugh, but underneath, I’m livid.
“That is every shade of not your business.”
“It is because you still have feelings for me.”
Rae pulls up, looking indignant.
“You kept the headphones I gave you.”
She follows my gaze to the now-closed bag on her back, where I’d caught a glimpse of them in the sunlight. “They’re diamond.”
“And you live out of a single bag. You wouldn’t want the reminder staring at you every day. So, if you were over what happened between us, you would’ve pawned them without blinking, love.”
The endearment slips out, but I hide my surprise. She can’t mask hers, though, and it’s worth the mistake for the way she swallows hard.
When I talked with Leni, I was still telling myself I could move past Rae. Now, I realize…
I don’t want to.
I resume my ambling toward the road until she catches up to me, her fingers digging into my skin through the jacket. This might be the first time I’ve wished I was wearing a polo shirt instead of a suit, if only to feel her touch without asking for it.
“What are you doing here, Harrison?” she demands. “You think you can keep an eye on me?”
“I purchased a lot in Burbank. It’s an industrial warehouse I’ve been planning to convert to an entertainment venue.”
“You’re opening a new club.”
“I need an act opening night. And whether you get off on my cock or just thinking about it”—her dark eyes flash—“you still owe me two favors.”
“Not legally enforceable.” Her voice is full of disbelief.
“But you’re not a woman who goes back on your commitments. It’s why you don’t make them lightly. When you’re done arguing with yourself, you know where to reach me.”
I savor her stunned expression as I press the envelope into her palm.
It’s hardly enough to tide me over until she comes back, but it’ll have to do.
3
Rae
“No way that’s going to happen. We need staff on those hours,” says Callie as she rounds the corner to her cubicle and pulls up when she spots me.
“We’ll catch up later,” she says to the phone, clicking off. Her outfit is tidy business casual, a threadbare blue skirt and knit white T-shirt with nude sandals.
“Greetings.” I lift a hand.