was just as pleased. He’d tried unsuccessfully to start a relationship between the two of us when the gossip mags snapped a few shots of us out to dinner. We’d run in the same circle for a few months back when my dad was filming season one of his show. I’d made the mistake of trusting Ezra, and it didn’t take long for me to regret it.
Everyone wanted to see Hollywood’s bad boy hooking up with the daughter of a movie icon. It was the stuff the paparazzi dreamed of. For a while, it was what I dreamed of.
“Not nearly long enough,” I smiled, and the men laughed. “I didn’t think you were coming back for season two.” By not coming back, I meant he’d been written out of the show after a few weeks of partying hard.
“I hadn’t planned on it, but the movie I was going to be working on fell through and your father couldn’t stop raving about how nice it was here.”
“Really?” My eyes went to my dad, and he shot me a wink. I swallowed hard, struggling to maintain my composure. “Well, I’m sure you’ll love it. Beautiful scenery.”
“It sure is,” He replied, his gaze flitting down my body and making me want to squirm. “You’re looking lovely as ever.”
“We’re heading out early to dinner so we can catch a show. I thought maybe you could show Ezra around, help him get settled.” My dad looked at me expectantly.
“Settled?”
“I’ve found the perfect little place to stay just a few minutes from here,” Ezra explained.
My smile widened.
“But it won’t be ready for a few more days… couple weeks tops. Your father has been gracious enough to let me crash here.”
“Has he,” I gritted out, struggling to maintain my smile. My dad was utterly clueless as to what had transpired between us, but I didn’t think he’d been entirely blind.
“I trust you two will be on your best behavior.” My father’s hand clamped down on Ezra’s shoulder, and they both laughed.
“Of course, sir. I’ll keep an eye on Riley.”
“I’m sure you will,” My dad smiled as he grabbed his keys from the counter. “I have a few things I need to take care of, but when I get back, we are having drinks.”
“Sounds like a plan, sir.”
“Come on, Ezra. You know you can call me Nate… or Dad .”
I groaned, heading to the staircase.
“Riley, would you mind showing Ezra around the property?”
“I’m sure he can manage to find his way around. He’s not completely helpless.”
I heard Ezra say something to my dad, but his voice was too low for me to decipher his words. I shook my head and climbed the stairs to the second floor.
***
My phone chimed throughout the night as Tatum sent me snapshots of her yearbook and I approved of who would be invited to my party. I made a list of things I would need and sent it to Clint, my father’s new assistant that replaced Piper when she got on her knees. Clint could barely even dress himself, but Piper was adamant that my father hire a man, out of fear she would be replaced in her new job.
By the time I was ready for bed, I could hardly keep my eyes open. If it weren’t for the creaking of the door on its hinges, I might have not even noticed someone entering my private space.
“Dad?” I called out, struggling to see through the dark and into the entryway.
“I was just popping in to say goodnight.”
I groaned, flopping back against my pillow. “If my dad catches you in here, Ezra, he’ll kick your ass.”
Ezra laughed. “You mean, have his stunt man do it? I remember a time when you used to love me sneaking into your room at night, and we’d watch movies for hours.”
“That was before I knew how big of a douchebag you were.” I rolled my eyes even though it was too dark for him to see before I reached up and turned the lamp on beside my bed. “What do you want?” I asked, tired of his games.
He held up his hands in front of him. “I just wanted to apologize for the way we’d left things back home.” His hands fell
Everyone wanted to see Hollywood’s bad boy hooking up with the daughter of a movie icon. It was the stuff the paparazzi dreamed of. For a while, it was what I dreamed of.
“Not nearly long enough,” I smiled, and the men laughed. “I didn’t think you were coming back for season two.” By not coming back, I meant he’d been written out of the show after a few weeks of partying hard.
“I hadn’t planned on it, but the movie I was going to be working on fell through and your father couldn’t stop raving about how nice it was here.”
“Really?” My eyes went to my dad, and he shot me a wink. I swallowed hard, struggling to maintain my composure. “Well, I’m sure you’ll love it. Beautiful scenery.”
“It sure is,” He replied, his gaze flitting down my body and making me want to squirm. “You’re looking lovely as ever.”
“We’re heading out early to dinner so we can catch a show. I thought maybe you could show Ezra around, help him get settled.” My dad looked at me expectantly.
“Settled?”
“I’ve found the perfect little place to stay just a few minutes from here,” Ezra explained.
My smile widened.
“But it won’t be ready for a few more days… couple weeks tops. Your father has been gracious enough to let me crash here.”
“Has he,” I gritted out, struggling to maintain my smile. My dad was utterly clueless as to what had transpired between us, but I didn’t think he’d been entirely blind.
“I trust you two will be on your best behavior.” My father’s hand clamped down on Ezra’s shoulder, and they both laughed.
“Of course, sir. I’ll keep an eye on Riley.”
“I’m sure you will,” My dad smiled as he grabbed his keys from the counter. “I have a few things I need to take care of, but when I get back, we are having drinks.”
“Sounds like a plan, sir.”
“Come on, Ezra. You know you can call me Nate… or Dad .”
I groaned, heading to the staircase.
“Riley, would you mind showing Ezra around the property?”
“I’m sure he can manage to find his way around. He’s not completely helpless.”
I heard Ezra say something to my dad, but his voice was too low for me to decipher his words. I shook my head and climbed the stairs to the second floor.
***
My phone chimed throughout the night as Tatum sent me snapshots of her yearbook and I approved of who would be invited to my party. I made a list of things I would need and sent it to Clint, my father’s new assistant that replaced Piper when she got on her knees. Clint could barely even dress himself, but Piper was adamant that my father hire a man, out of fear she would be replaced in her new job.
By the time I was ready for bed, I could hardly keep my eyes open. If it weren’t for the creaking of the door on its hinges, I might have not even noticed someone entering my private space.
“Dad?” I called out, struggling to see through the dark and into the entryway.
“I was just popping in to say goodnight.”
I groaned, flopping back against my pillow. “If my dad catches you in here, Ezra, he’ll kick your ass.”
Ezra laughed. “You mean, have his stunt man do it? I remember a time when you used to love me sneaking into your room at night, and we’d watch movies for hours.”
“That was before I knew how big of a douchebag you were.” I rolled my eyes even though it was too dark for him to see before I reached up and turned the lamp on beside my bed. “What do you want?” I asked, tired of his games.
He held up his hands in front of him. “I just wanted to apologize for the way we’d left things back home.” His hands fell
Similar Books
