I looked away and bit my lip nervously. "I just figured you'd want to be alone. I mean...well, I thought maybe you'd be back at the penthouse instead of staying here."
"Why?"
His question made me turn to look at him, and he seemed genuinely confused by what I thought. There was a gentleness in his eyes that made me want to say what was on my mind, so I came clean.
"I'm so sorry I said that back in Dallas, Tristan. I didn't mean to put words in your mouth. It's only been a short time that we've known each other. I mean, it feels much longer since we've spent so much time together, but..." I let my sentence trail off and finally said, "I didn't mean that I actually thought you felt that way."
He extended his hand and held it out for me to take it. "Come with me."
I took a deep breath and slowly lifted my hand to place it in his. He closed his fingers around mine and began leading me to his bedroom. We said nothing as we walked, until finally he closed the door behind me and whispered, "You belong here with me. And you don't have to be sorry for anything you said."
For the moment, remaining silent seemed like the best idea. What could I say? That I wished he really felt that way about me so I wouldn't feel ridiculous for falling in love with someone after only two weeks? I knew how that would sound. I mean, I'd been the person who'd told friends time and again that it took months or even years to truly fall in love with someone and here I was full on, head over heels in love with Tristan Stone, no less.
He sat on the edge of the bed and looked over at me like he wondered what I was doing all the way over near the door. The chair near the window was empty, so I sat there, so not wanting to talk about this anymore.
"I think we should talk."
Ugh. There it was. The international signal for what's about to come next is going to rock your world. I said nothing while my stomach dropped and I swallowed hard. I had no idea what he'd say, but as the seconds ticked by and he still hadn't said a word, the room began to feel like it was shrinking around me. The fun house feeling was anything but fun.
"This has been moving pretty fast, Nina. I didn't intend on things getting to where they are so quickly."
It was so much worse than anything I'd imagined. He was dancing around the elephant in the room, but it was no use. He was breaking up with me. This explained the extra five grand. That was my parting gift, like the losers got on game shows.
I wanted to run away and hide. Standing up, I tried to steady my legs and get the hell out of there, but I didn't take three steps toward the door before they gave out and I was in a heap on the floor. All I could think was that was the perfect moment to be struck by lightning and disintegrated into dust.
"Nina, open your eyes. Talk to me."
Tristan's voice was laced with concern, and I opened my eyes to see a matching look on his face. Or maybe it was pity. Either way, I was still there in one piece and he was leaning over me.
I propped myself up on my elbows and plastered a smile on my face. "I'm fine. Just slipped. No big deal."
Scooping me up from the floor, he lifted me in his arms and onto the bed. He was so gentle, but I was even more convinced that he was breaking up with me. Now he probably just felt bad.
"Are you okay?"
Silently, I nodded. I was fine. The same old Nina I'd always been and always would be. It had been fun and the thought of being Tristan Stone's girlfriend had been very seductive, but it was over now.
"Tristan, I think I should go back to my room now. I don't feel so well."
"You should stay here where I can be sure you're okay," he said so sweetly with that tender smile that melted my heart.
I looked up at him and suddenly everything came flowing out of me. "Why? I know what you're going to do. My falling shouldn't stop you. I understand. Guys like you don't need or want just one woman. You can have anyone in the world, so why stick with just one?"
His eyebrows lifted as I spoke and he grimaced. I guess the truth hurt. Well, I understood that.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me. You're breaking up with me. Don't worry. I'll be fine. It's not like we were together for years. I won't make any trouble for you either."
"Oh. Well, that's good. I wouldn't want to have to sic my lawyers on you."
Before I could tell him that I thought he was acting really shitty, he smiled and smoothed my hair from my face. "I wasn't breaking up with you. I just wanted to talk after the awkward business the other day."
I sat up and stared at him, confused. He wasn't breaking up with me? "What do you mean? I thought I scared you off with the L word."
He sat down next to me and hung his head. "I have to admit I did freak out a little when you said it. Sorry about that."
"I just said it because you kept writing it in your notes. It wasn't like it was a big deal."
Tristan turned to face me. "It is a big deal. I don't say I love you to every woman I date."
"That's good to hear," I mumbled.
"I don't think one word is a reason for two people to stop spending time together, Nina."
"I guess not." Sitting up, I blew the air out of my cheeks. "So what do we do now?"
"We could forget anything like this ever happened and continue like we were," he said in a hopeful voice.
"What were we doing, Tristan? You meet me one night, convince me to work for you, make me move in here, all the while sleeping with me. I haven't dated thousands of men, but I can safely assume most people don't call that dating."
"I'm not most people, Nina." He leaned toward me and pressed his forehead to mine. "I need you to trust me. This is the only way I can do this. Can you trust me?"
I closed my eyes and imagined not having Tristan Stone in my life. Suddenly, my chest felt hollow, like my heart had been drained of every drop of blood and all that was left was an empty, useless part of me. I didn't want to lose Tristan. I wasn't sure what this was we had together, but being with him was so much better than not.
"Yeah. I can."
He kissed me long and deep, making my legs go weak all over again, but for a good reason this time. We may not have been at the place where we said we loved each other, but it felt like it.
And I loved that.
Chapter Fourteen
The summer went by and every day Tristan and I grew closer and closer. By the time we'd known each other for four months, I could honestly say I loved him. I loved the way he left flowers in my room some mornings and surprised me with jewelry other days. I loved how he slowly withdrew from attending events with the actresses to spend time watching movies with me.