Page 81 of Let’s Make a Scene

Our eyes meet for an instant before Jack carefully eases himself back.

“Sorry,” he says, fingers going to the knot of his bow tie. “Got a bit carried away there.”

“I think we both did,” I agree, my heart pounding in my ears. “We should get back to the party.”

I press my hands to his chest. He catches my wrist in his fingers and brings my palm to his lips, placing a soft kiss against my skin before bringing it down, twining his fingers through mine so that he holds my hand at his side. It’s a surprisingly tender gesture.

“Sure,” he agrees easily, already back in control. “Let’s go and find those drinks you mentioned.”

We step out from our hiding spot while I try to keep my knees from shaking, and find that the crowd has grown. I’m about to tug Jack in the direction of the bar when I hear a familiar voice.

“Oi! Cyn!”

I turn, and I’m met with the sight of the man standing near the entrance, his smile so wide that his dimple is out on full display.

“Oh my God! Theo!”

Chapter 26 JACK

I’m still trying to get myself back under control after pinning Cynthie to a wall in the middle of an enormous party, and now it looks like her ex-boyfriend has turned up. Fucking perfect.

Be with you in a second, Theo mouths at Cynthie, who holds her hand up in acknowledgment.

She turns to me, and there’s no hiding how pleased she is to see him; it’s written all over her face.

“I can’t believe he made it!” she says.

I watch as Theo Eliott makes his way over to the photographers, his arm wrapped tightly around his date’s waist. The two of them stand in front of the photo backdrop, and I take a minute to look him over. No one can deny that he’s a good-looking man, and he certainly has that rock star magnetism, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Both photographers look flustered as he smiles and jokes with them.

The woman by his side is gorgeous in a sequinned black dress. Small and curvy with fiery red hair tumbling down her back, she’s what the Regency writers I’ve been reading would refer to as a “pocket Venus.” I can practically see her emerging from a seashell. The expression on her heart-shaped face, however, is one of deep discomfort, her smile frozen as the cameras flash. Theo leans down, carefully tucks her hair behind her ear and whispers something. The woman laughs, her cheeks turning pink, and she relaxes into his side. Her smile is genuine and—for a moment—dazzling.

The moment passes, and with a quick goodbye to the couple taking the pictures, Theo makes his way toward us, pulling the redhead along be-hind him.

“Hey, trouble,” Theo says when he reaches us, and Cynthie launches herself at him. He laughs, scooping her into his arms for a bear hug that lifts her off her feet. “I’ve missed you,” he murmurs against her hair.

“I didn’t think you could come,” Cynthie says when she pulls away from him.

“Thought you might need some moral support,” Theo replies, his hand squeezing her shoulder, and even though he’s still touching her and she’s looking at him like he hung the damn moon, I feel myself soften toward him at that. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get away sooner.”

“I’m just glad you’re here now,” Cynthie says, and there’s a vulnerability in her voice that has me stepping forward, ranging myself behind her.

“Oh!” she exclaims. “I need to introduce you. Jack, this is Theo, and My-Wife-Clementine.” At this Cynthie wraps her arm around the redhead’s shoulders pulling her forward and hugging her at the same time.

“Your wife Clementine?” I repeat, confused.

The woman laughs. “Don’t pay any attention,” she says in a sweet, husky voice. “Cyn’s just making fun of Theo. Please, call me Clemmie.”

“It’s how he introduces her to everyone,” Cynthie explains. “They got married six months ago and it’s still, ‘My-Wife-Clementine this’ and ‘My-Wife-Clementine that’ at literally every opportunity.”

“What can I say?” Theo shrugs. “I’m enjoying married life. With my wife, Clementine.” The dimple in his cheek pops out, and Clemmie rolls her eyes fondly.

“So,” Theo’s attention turns to me, and his expression sharpens. “Jack Turner-Jones…” I brace myself, ready for the sort of inquisition that I faced from Cynthie’s other friends. Instead, he says, very intensely, “What the fuck is going on with Caleb? Is he really dead? He can’t be, right?”

Caleb is the character I play in Blood/Lust and I blink. “How do you… Those episodes haven’t even been released yet.”

Theo grins. “Yeah, but I sweet-talked the studio into sending me them early.” He leans in closer, confiding, “Honestly, I think it’s half the reason Clemmie agreed to marry me.”

“Sixty percent at least,” Clemmie says earnestly. “But, seriously, Caleb can’t be dead, can he? Not after everything he’s been through…” She looks up at me, and her eyes have gone all big and pleading.