Ray picks her up, laughing, and the tableau is broken. I bite my lower lip, then look away. Suddenly there’s a hand on my arm. “You all right?” Lucas asks.
“I’m fine.”
“If you’re nervous about Blake, don’t be. Everyone’s on your side.”
“Really?” I blink up at him.
He nods, sidling closer. “It’s just dinner. I promise they won’t try to have you as an appetizer.”
I laugh despite myself, and we go out together. The Bentley SUV is waiting for us outside, sans driver. I give Lucas a look, and he shrugs. “It’s Thanksgiving. I gave the man the day off.”
“I need to grab Mia’s child seat from Ava’s car,” Ray says.
“It’s okay. I already had one installed for her.”
“Thank you. That’s very thoughtful of you,” Darcy says.
“My pleasure, ma’am.”
Lucas waits until everyone’s settled before starting the car. Of course I’m seated next to him, since there’s no place I’d rather be.
I don’t say much during the drive, thinking of a good time and place to tell Lucas everything. Darcy and Ray chat about what they’d like to do while in L.A. and Lucas throws out a few suggestions. He even offers to set them up with a concierge, but they decline.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Lucas says, giving me a quick glance.
“Just imaging if Ryder’s mansion is as grand as people say.”
He snorts. “It’s more like a fortress. The only things missing are a moat and some catapults.”
I bite back a laugh. “Seriously?”
“That’s the word. Ryder takes security very seriously.”
“Is it because of his wife?” Ray asks. “I saw some articles about her. Nasty stuff.”
“That probably cemented his hatred of the media, but it was already pretty full-blown. Some crazy fans were stalking him for a while…one actually tried to run him over, screaming that if she couldn’t have him, nobody could.”
Three gasps rise. Mia merely laughs as though she finds our shock hilarious.
“Wow,” I say.
Lucas gives me a look. “Yeah. Since then he’s been stricter with security, although I think it makes him unhappy that he’s lost his privacy.”
“The price of fame,” Ray says.
“Unfortunately, yes. Although Ryder would prefer that people didn’t bother him so much. He enjoys acting more than all the trappings that come with being a star. Since his wife has been targeted a few times, he’s doubly upset about that.”
“It’s a shame.”
“Par for the course in Hollywood. But Paige is very understanding. She knew what was going to happen, since she worked with him before as his assistant.”
Soon we reach Ryder’s place. Lucas hasn’t exaggerated at all. The wall surrounding the estate looks forbidding, and the security cameras mounted everywhere don’t appear to be just for show. Lucas pushes a button at the gates and says, “It’s me.”
“Welcome, Mr. Reed,” comes a growly male voice, and the gates open automatically.
I gape as our SUV follows a winding road through an immaculate garden and past a huge pool. The place is practically a resort. The mansion is exceptionally large, with three stories, and Lucas kills the engine in front of the entrance. I spot a few other fancy cars.
“Paige’s family’s here too, I think,” Lucas says. “Her sister and husband are in L.A. and her parents are from Ohio, if I remember correctly.”