Flee (The Aurora Lockette Series, Book 1) by Miranda Kavi Read Free Book Online

really good food.”
    Booths and tables lined the walls. The
lighting was dim. Greenery was everywhere, with ivy creeping up the
walls. A massive wine rack dominated the front of the restaurant.
Faint Italian opera music came through hidden speakers. The host
immediately recognized Gavyn.
    “Around the corner, sir?” he asked.
    “Yes, please. Thank you,” Gavyn replied.
    He led us to a section of the restaurant out
of view of the main door. Patrons gestured and whispered as we
walked through.
    There were only three small tables at the
back section, all empty. “Let’s keep this a private party,” Gavyn
said to the host, pressing a bill into his hand.
    A discreet waiter took our food and wine
order. We poured the wine and clinked our glasses together in a
silent toast.
    He watched me for a few minutes, not saying
anything. For once, I did not feel the need to fill the silence
that loomed between us.
    “Aurora,” he said. My heart jumped when I
heard him say my name. “You really are beautiful.”
    “Oh, my God, don’t start that again!”
    “Quit deflecting my compliments. I’ve been
all over the world, and believe it or not, people all start to look
the same. But not you. There is something about your face.
It’s…lovely.”
    “Wow, thanks.”
    “Not to mention your figure,” he said with a
more devious smile.
    “Watch it, mister.” I pointed my finger at
him.
    He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Just
sayin’. ”
    I smiled. “Okay. Duly noted. Can we talk
about something else now? How does one go about becoming a famous
movie star?”
    “Dumb luck.” He tapped the stem of his wine
glass with his finger while he talked. “I was in theatre
productions in London when I was a teenager. I liked acting, but I
never actually thought I could turn it into a career, so I just did
theatre in the summers for fun. A talent agent showed up at one of
our modest productions and scouted me. I was filming my first major
film six weeks later. The rest, you Americans would say, is
history.”
    “It sounds like a little more than dumb luck.
It sounds like you were picked out of a crowd.”
    “Just luck. It’s not a bad life and I can’t
complain about the money, but it’s been an adjustment. I can’t go
to a supermarket, or a shopping center, or to the movies, or to an
airport without attracting some attention. I’ve enjoyed myself
here. Not a lot of press, laid back culture, and there’s this very
special girl I’ve met.”
    His words moved through me. The rush of
euphoria set my body ablaze with sensations. Some were very
promising, some were scary, some were warning me I was on the edge
of floating out my chair...literally. I began my slow count
backwards from twenty, in my head.
    He placed his hand on mine. “You okay?”
    I smiled and glanced at our two hands
touching on the table. “I am now.”
    The food, as promised, was excellent. By the
end of the dinner, I was stuffed and a little tipsy. He paid the
tab over my spirited objection and we walked out into the balmy
night. As soon as we moved outside, his face changed. He put his
arm over my shoulder and pulled me close to him. “Walk fast.
Sorry.”
    “What’s wrong?” I followed his gaze to the
cluster of photographers across the street. “Oh.”
    “You’re not upset?”
    “They’ll crop me out of the picture
anyways.”
    He laughed louder and rubbed my shoulder as
we walked to the car. “I was planning on taking you to a wine bar,
but do you mind if we go back to my hotel and hang out?”
    “Not at all.” I pushed back the stream of
dirty thoughts popping into my head at the prospect of being alone
with him in a hotel room.
    He flashed me his bright smile as we got in
the car. He peeled out of the parking lot and whizzed down a couple
of side streets before making his way back to the highway. He
pulled in the front of a ritzy hotel downtown. A valet appeared and
took the car while Gavyn ushered me inside. The bronze elevator
doors