He’s an older version of Aidan, with wavy dark-gold hair. His eyes are a lighter shade of blue, but with none
of the animosity that I’ve come to expect from Aidan.
He also seems more relaxed, more at peace with the world, but why wouldn’t he be? He and Rachel are obviously crazy about each other.
It makes me long for what I could have had with Aidan.
“Liz!” Landon grins at me, then hands me a champagne flute. “This is exciting. I can’t remember the last time we had a genuine movie star in our home. I hope Aidan isn’t working you too hard.”
I shake my head. “He tries, but I’m used to working like a packhorse.”
“Really?” Rachel looks concerned. “Well, here now, relax and forget about work.”
“Aidan here yet?” Landon asks, looking around the room.
They exchange a glance I can’t quite decipher. “He’s on his way,” Rachel replies, then with a smile at her husband, she leads me away.
Most of the guests are people from the publishing world and a few faces I recognize from trending business news. There’s a wickedly funny woman who Rachel introduces as her cousin, Laurie. I spend the next few minutes confirming or denying some of the more scandalous stories from the Hollywood rumor mills.
“I hope Aidan isn’t being difficult to work with,” Rachel is saying. “I know he can be…intense.”
I shake my head, that need to defend him again trumping my desire for a confidant. “He’s a great director.”
She laughs. “Now there’s one way to avoid answering a question.” She beckons at a tall, youngish guy who has just arrived, and he walks over.
“Have you met Liz,” she says. “Liz, this is Finn McDonald. Finn, Liz McKay.”
He stares at me, almost slack-jawed. “I’ve seen all your movies,” he stutters. “Some more than once.”
“Me too.” I manage a laugh, watching him double over like I’ve just said the cleverest thing. I have a vague idea of who he is, something to do with investment and finance tech. He is one of the latest additions to the Forbes billionaires list.
Many women would be glad for the opportunity to meet him. He seems nice, and is good-looking in a wide-eyed, nerdy way.
Too bad I’m obsessed with Aidan.
“Why don’t you two get to know each other while I go get another drink?” Rachel gives me an encouraging smile, and I wonder what she’s doing. I’m sure she knows I came here for Aidan. Doubtless, she knows why I keep looking at the door.
She pats my arm and walks away.
“I heard you were in New York, but I never dreamed I’d get the chance to meet you,” Finn is saying.
“I’m sure you can meet anyone you want.”
He thinks for a moment, then nods. “You’re right. Sometimes I forget.”
I smile up at him. “So, which of my movies did you see twice?”
He lists them. He’s obviously a big fan. We’re talking about my experiences filming in the Moroccan desert when I feel the air thicken around me.
Don’t look.
I know I should keep talking with Finn, even flirt a little, maybe encourage him to ask me to dinner. Maybe Aidan needs to see that some men would give the world for a minute of my time.
But knowing he’s in the room, and I can’t hear what Finn is saying anymore.
I turn toward the door.
Aidan is right by the entrance, leaning on the wall, his arms crossed as he looks straight at me.