“No. Some people love it. For me, though, it’s the least enjoyable aspect of the business. Well, losing my privacy probably ranks higher, but you know what I mean.”

Dani closed her eyes, and Harper wondered what she was thinking about. She let her gaze roam freely over her. Dani was extraordinarily beautiful and Harper imagined the camera loved her. She had an itch to see one of her movies, to see if the Dani she’d come to know was anything like Danielle Stevens. Dani had told her once that she wasn’t really acting, that she was simply being herself. Harper wondered if that was really the case.

Her gaze traveled back up to Dani’s face, finding blue eyes looking back at her. Harper didn’t pull away from Dani’s stare…she couldn’t.

“What?”

The question was whispered quietly, and Harper finally blinked and looked away. She cleared her throat before speaking.

“Sorry.”

“For what?”

Harper shrugged. Yes. What was she sorry for? For blatantly roaming her eyes over Dani’s body when she thought Dani wasn’t looking? For ogling her? She smiled slightly.

“You’re very beautiful.”

Dani had a soft blush on her face. “Thank you.”

Harper raised an eyebrow. “But it’s a curse?”

Dani smiled at her. “I think you’re very attractive too. Is it a curse?”

It was Harper’s turn to blush. “Reid says I’m cute in a tomboy sort of way. But you…well, you’re—”

“I told you I was quite a tomboy growing up. I learned when I got older, though, that my looks…well, that I could pretty much get whatever I wanted. Kinda sad, really.”

“To use your looks while pretending to be something you’re not?”

“Yes. Pretense. Like the movies. I had lots of practice.”

“I don’t get the impression that you’re pretending with me. Am I wrong?”

Dani wasn’t afraid to meet her eyes, holding her gaze once again. “For the first time in…well, forever, I guess…I feel completely comfortable around someone—you. I don’t have to pretend to be Danielle Stevens with you.” Dani sat up and leaned forward, resting her arms on her thighs. “I like you a lot, Harper. You’re…you’re real to me. You don’t know me and you don’t owe me anything, yet, here we are…together. Because you care.” She smiled. “You probably wished you didn’t care, but I know you do.”

Harper smiled too. “Yes. Guilty.”

Dani surprised her by moving closer and kissing her on the cheek. “I’m very, very glad I chose you,” she whispered before pulling away. “You have the most honest eyes I’ve ever seen.”

Harper sat still, paralyzed as Dani’s hand—her fingers—touched her cheek.

“You’re a good person, Scout. I’m so lucky.”

Harper swallowed, not knowing what to say. Then Dani smiled and took her hand away.