“What?” he asked.
She swallowed. “I’m sorry I called you a shallow movie star when I first met you,” she said. “You’re a good man, Blake.”
Warmth filled his chest. All the admiration of his fans didn’t compare to Jessie’s seal of approval. But if he was so fucking good, why’d his movie franchise hire a hack to read through his script proposal before they agreed to his terms five hours ago?
Though Jessie said all the right things, he couldn’t completely trust the words. He wanted to—and that confused the hell out of him. “It was the right thing to do,” he said, shrugging. Better to downplay what he had done.
“Not every guy does the right thing,” Jessie said. “But you do.”
The knot in his stomach doubled. He’d hidden the truth about the screenplay he’d sent to the studio days ago. Sure, he’d wanted to tell her earlier. He’d held back because she’d put a sexual buffer between them. Their heated encounter in the sauna had been awesome, but it had made him wary of her reaction. “I try,” he said. He’d tell her about the next Quinn Sawyer movie’s direction during his sister’s New Year’s Eve party. Right now he didn’t want to spoil this tender moment, the afterglow of their lovemaking, with his current battle to sell more than a hot body on the screen. Not when her smoky blue eyes sparkled as if she hadn’t a care in the world, and happiness lighted her lovely face.
“I’m glad I met you—the real you. Not just the man I read about on the internet.”
Hearing the sincerity in her voice unraveled his inner resolve to hold back the truth, smoothed out the lingering remorse and tension. “I’ve considered quitting the role.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Move my career in a different direction.”
She blinked. “You can’t. Everyone loves Quinn Sawyer.”
What if she didn’t like his screenplay? Yes, he’d gotten approval from the studio, but deep down, he wanted hers. And that scared the crap out of him. “They love a fantasy.” He polished off the last of his burger. “I’m a make-believe hero who doesn’t even dodge real bullets.”
“No fair using my words against me.” She brushed her lips against his. “People need to believe that good triumphs over evil. And a Quinn Sawyer movie gives them an escape.”
“What you did—being part of the Marine Corps—was important. What you’re gearing up to do with the fire academy is important. I’d like to do something that matters, too.” He nearly let the truth slip out. But bitter memories popped into his head, stopping him before he made a total ass of himself.
She curled her arm around his waist. “Then keep making your movies, Blake.”
“I doubt the audiences will want me to play Quinn Sawyer when I’m old and gray,” he said, stroking her arm.
“Probably not, but you’re a smart man.” She tightened her hold. “Based on how well you know the other side of the camera, I bet you’d make a fantastic director.”
“Already on the table,” he said. “Among other things.” Like writing kick-ass scripts for the franchise. Still, he drop-kicked the compulsion to reveal that extra information. Why risk upsetting Jessie when everything was so damn good?
“You’ll be hotter than ever when you return to Hollyweird on the third. Actresses will be sucking up to you for movie parts,” Jessie said.
“That’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” Blake said.
Every woman he’d ever been with only wanted him for what he could give. First, the girls in high school had used him for sex and as a way to freak out their folks. Not that he’d minded the sex. Later, when he’d made it big in Hollywood, the women he dated wanted to use him to advance their careers. Or they had wanted a marriage license because he was a quick ticket to the good life.
And no way was he going to let any woman use him that way.
“Well, you’ve shown me how to have my own happy ending even if it’s not on the big screen.” She covered his hand. “That’s a gift.”
Her gray eyes softened, turned to pools of silver blue. A strange sensation stirred. For the first time since he had fought to gain the respect of his movie franchise and transcend the role of Quinn Sawyer, Blake longed to be worthy of only one person. Jessie. But he’d held back something important. Something that could draw her nearer to him or tear her apart. He didn’t want to hurt her when he’d given her what she’d needed most: her own path to happiness.
She didn’t need him for anything more.