“The streets are all cordoned off for blocks. Only cars with permits are allowed in. And then once you get past all of the barriers, nothing will be available nearby. There’s too many people affiliated with the show who don’t have limos and will need rides.”

He turned out to be right. Every ride I tried to schedule for my location canceled after I’d requested it.

“Great.” I sighed. “I don’t have a way of getting home.”

“I could give you a lift. I just have to go to this one little thing first, if that’s okay.”

I should tell him no, thank you. I could figure this out on my own. I also felt bad about him going so out of his way to take me home. “I’m in Pasadena. It’s not nearby.”

“We’re in LA. Thanks to traffic, nothing’s nearby.”

Wrestling with the decision, I blurted out, “That would be great. Thank you.” And it actually was great. I didn’t want tonight to come to an end just yet.

And even though I knew very little about men and their emotions, the look on his face made me think he was feeling the same way.

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER NINE

The Best Picture winner was announced, the final speech was made, and everyone started to leave.

“Stay close,” Noah told me. For a second it seemed like he wanted to take my hand.

And for a second I almost let him.

But he put his hands in his pockets as I followed behind him. Thankfully he was tall and broad enough that it was easy to pick him out in the crowd. Everybody wanted to get his attention or touch him as he walked past. And these were his colleagues and employers. I could only imagine what it would be like if he were walking through a crowd of fans. They’d probably dismember him. By accident, but they’d all want a piece.

We went into a hallway, and he came to an abrupt stop. I nearly smacked into his back.

“And who is this?” the woman in front asked. She looked very confused. I saw her glance down at my sneakers, and I tried to hide them beneath the hem of my dress.

“This is Juliet. Juliet, this is Reina, my publicist; Morgan, her assistant; and Annie, my groomer.” I figured it was a mark in his pro column that his whole team was made up entirely of women. Both Reina and Morgan seemed on the shorter side, but that was probably only in comparison to Noah. Reina had beautiful, waist-length chestnut hair and Morgan sported a bright smile. Annie was taller, with a blonde pixie cut. All three women were dressed in black, just like me.

Reminding me that I was more like the help here and less like Noah’s actual date.