Page 70 of Secrets in the Deep

She glanced toward the door. “Uh…another reason to come here. All the eye candy.”

Ryan followed her gaze to see Zac stepping into Bloom. “You calling my teammate eye candy?”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought the same thing.”

He laughed. Because he’d never had a thought even close to that.

Zac frowned as he approached the table. “Nora?”

“Unless I’m a doppelganger.” She rose and hugged him. The two had met a handful of times over the years and always got along well.

As they spoke, Ryan’s phone vibrated. He lifted it, thinking it was Emily. It wasn’t.

Melanie: I need to talk to you.

He scoffed. If the woman thought he’d listen to a word she said—again—she was wrong.

He was about to lock the screen when the phone rang.

He canceled the call and sent a text.

Ryan: I have nothing to say to you, Melanie.

Melanie: Is this a game to you? This is Emily’s life and you’re ruining it.

He switched off his phone, not needing to read whatever crap she spewed next. This washislife andEmily’s. Melanie had no part in either.

Nora was right. It was different this time. Emily wasn’t giving up anything. Maybe they could make it work. Maybe they could have everything he thought they’d lost forever.

16

Asmile curved Emily’s lips as she took in her reflection in the mirror, standing in her room at the inn. The mid-thigh-length denim dress. Her navy-blue wrap coat. Even her boots were cute.

But that wasn’t what really had her smiling. It was her eyes. They looked…different. Brighter. The shadows she’d become accustomed to seeing beneath them were gone.

She was happy. Happier than she’d been in a long time.

Because of Ryan.

She ran a coat of Petal Pink lipstick over her lips. Lips that had been kisseda lotover the last five days.

She grinned.

Five days. And boy, had they gone by quickly. But they also hadn’t. They’d seen each other a lot over that time. He’d been on set while she worked. They’d spent evenings together. She’d barely stepped foot inside this room. Why would she when there was his place?

She dropped the lipstick into her purse and stepped back from the dresser, the late afternoon sun causing a streak of light to cut across her reflection.

After twelve hours of shooting and starting her day at four a.m., she should be exhausted. She wasn’t. Apparently, reacquainting with the only man she’d ever loved was quite the energy booster.

Her phone vibrated with a text.

Her heart gave a little kick at the thought that it might be Ryan.

She pulled it from her purse.

The smile dropped. Not Ryan.

Mom: I’m having dinner downstairs soon. I’d like you to join me so we can talk about your next film.