Action (Hollywood Nights (Book 7)) by Cara North Read Free Book Online Page B

years. The rest of my living family is in Puerto Rico or scattered in different states. After my grandma died, I stopped going. I was never that close to anyone other than her.” He let her skip past the grief and she was grateful. Her big brother had been everything to her. His loss was still a wound that would never fully heal.
    “So the tall guy in that picture is your dad.” He pointed to the family portrait. She was instantly mortified. She forgot her mom had sent that to her and she sat it on the bookshelf thinking one day she would take it out of the frame and put it in an album.
    “Yeah. We got all of the height from him if you can’t tell. Carlos and I were both taller than my mom by the time we were in middle school. That picture was taken when Carlos was a freshman in high school and I was in seventh grade.” She looked at the lanky, frizzy haired girl with braces smiling big for the picture.
                  “You look happy.”
    She thought that sounded nicer than crazy because the combination of the hair, braces, and height was only surpassed by the outfit she had on in that photo.
                  “I was.” She looked at him. He had noticed qualities in her she felt sure she had. He didn’t make fun of her childhood, didn’t press for her to enter the grief, and he obviously didn’t care if people saw them together in public. “It’s been a long time since I was that happy.”
                  “Tell me about it. If I knew then what I know now…” He shrugged. “I guess I wouldn’t change a thing.”
                  “Really? I would change lots of things.” She kicked off her shoes and decided to settle in. It was nice just talking with him.
                  “Give me that.” He pointed to her foot. “Give it. Thank you. I guess I would like to alter a few things, but I wouldn’t because if I did I wouldn’t be here right now with you.”
    His large hands gripped and then pressed his fingers along her foot. It had been since never someone had massaged her that wasn’t paid to do so. She didn’t even ask. He just did it. Her eyes closed as his thumbs ran up the sole of her foot. Her entire body tingled from it. “Your hands are magical.”
    He laughed.
    “Seriously. I’ve only had that done by a professional and her hands never feel that good.” She sighed a long lusty sound of pleasure as he did it again.
    “You look tired, ” he said as he yawned.
    She was certain he was still tired. “You don’t have to stay here with me. You can go back to your place. You obviously need a nap.”
    “You don’t want to take a nap?” he asked.
    Then she realized he wanted to sleep with her. “I might be ready for another round by this evening, but I’m not ready now.”
    His eyebrows lifted. “Ready for what?”
    “You’re trying to have sex with me. You want to lure me into bed under the false pretense of sleep.” She crossed her arms.
    “Admittedly, I am trying to lure you to bed. Not for sex. At least not right now. I tossed and turned all night. I kept thinking about you. I worried about not being here if you needed something…I know. I know it’s ridiculous. I just met you. It doesn’t change the fact that I slept like shit because I was worried about you.”
    She watched his hands push int o her other foot. She did feel a bit more relaxed now. She had nothing to do since she had a week off from her regular job and no auditions lined up so far for her dream job. “What makes you think you will sleep better with me than you did without me?”
    “Two reasons. First, you will be there so I know you’re not setting your cast on fire trying to cook something. Don’t laugh at me. I woke up in a panic. Second, stop laughing. Second, if you did need me I would be right there.” He batted those big blue eyes at her and she was absolutely unable to resist him.

Chapter 3
     
    Two weeks