“How is your life?” she asked curiously.
“Spent hiding from the press, hunted like a prey animal every time I step out the door. I can never assume I’m alone, because there are cameras everywhere. People break into my homes, and I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve changed my phone number,” he rumbled. “I might get attention, but it isn’t always pleasant.”
“I’d think you’d like that. Well, except for maybe the burglary part. You made it. You’re an Alister. Everybody wants you.”
“The fame is a part of what I do. I’ve been in the public eye since the day I was born because I’m a Sinclair, but never to this extent. I’d never want you to come under fire by the media. They’re fucking relentless.”
His words made her think about the day he was being pursued by a rabid group of fans. Kristin had taken pity on him that day and helped him get the women off his tail. Maybe it had been the quick flash of vulnerability on his face that had made her help him. He’d reminded her of a fox being pursued by a hungry pack of hounds.
Honestly, she hadn’t been thinking about her quality of life when she had said he wouldn’t want to be connected to her with pictures. She’d been thinking more along the lines that she wasn’t anything like the women she’d seen him photographed with in the past: A-list actresses, supermodels, and other beautiful women in the film business. “Nobody would believe we were dating anyway,” she shot back at him. “In case you haven’t noticed, my hair is bright red and unruly, I have freckles everywhere, and I’m overweight and dumpy. Like I said . . . not your type.”
She wasn’t exactly insecure, but she was realistic. Women like her didn’t go out on dates with men like Julian Sinclair. She was comfortable with the genes she’d inherited, and resigned to the fact that she’d never be model thin. Her body wasn’t built that way.
There was silence in the back of the limo as Julian’s gaze lazily swept over her face and body, his expression revealing nothing. “My dick doesn’t agree, and neither do I,” he countered.
Damn him! He’s trying to disarm me by being outrageous. Does he really think I’ll fall for his bullshit?
“Stop looking at me like that,” she insisted irritably, knowing he was just playing with her. He had to be.
He straightened up and leaned forward, his hands on his rock-hard thighs. “Like what?” he questioned in a low, husky baritone.
Kristin leaned back into her seat to put more distance between them. “Like you find me attractive,” she blurted out. “I don’t like it.”
“It’s not like I’m thrilled about sporting wood every time I see you, Scarlet. But I’m not going to deny that I do.”
She lifted a brow. “Scarlet?”
He shrugged. “You don’t like to be called Red.”
“I’d prefer not to be referred to as a color shade, either,” she told him huffily.
“I don’t exactly like being a hotshot,” he replied, his lips forming a small grin as he looked at her in challenge.
Kristin looked away from him long enough to realize that they were almost to the airport outside of town. Panicked, she put her nose to the glass window to try to see landmarks before turning to him again. “Enough! You have to take me back, Julian. You’ve had your fun.”
His grin got bigger. “We haven’t had any fun yet. But I’m sure you’ll learn how to smile when we get to Vegas.”
“I can’t go to Vegas. I can’t. This joke stops here.” Kristin was starting to become concerned that Julian really was going to get her on his plane, whether she wanted to go or not.
How far did his nonhumorous practical joke go? The situation was so brazenly outrageous that she was starting to feel like she was being punked.
“You’re coming,” he answered arrogantly, leaning back in his seat like he had every right to tell her exactly what to do.
Jesus! Was it possible he was serious? That this really wasn’t all a joke? He looked pretty unrelenting and serious now.
Had Mara really packed her suitcase, with her parents’ cooperation? What if he really did have her things in the trunk?
“This isn’t a joke, is it?”
“I never said it was,” Julian replied calmly. “My oldest brother is getting married, something I thought would never happen. Your friends are all going to be there. Do you really want to stay here in Amesport and miss the chance to see Tessa and Micah get married?”
He was looking at her expectantly, waiting for her answer.
His comment about giving up things she wanted sliced her through her heart. She’d been missing out on things most of her life, and she didn’t regret doing it. But sometimes it did make her feel different, and sometimes it downright hurt.
Her heart started to beat hard against her chest wall, and she licked her lips anxiously as she realized that Julian really was here to pick her up for the wedding.
Her indignation still simmered, but she had calmed down enough to feel her stomach begin to roll.