She comes to an abrupt stop and frowns. “You dated Scott Parker, didn’t you?”

“You did?” Lori asks, her voice impressed.

“No comment,” I reply and wish with all my might that I wasn’t here. What was I thinking taking an interview in L.A.? I can’t move here.

“Hey.” Leo turns me around and hugs me, but I stay stiff as a board. “Sam, stop this.”

“Do your interview, take your pictures, and get me the fuck out of here.” I glare at him for a moment and then soften. He didn’t do this on purpose. He just wanted me with him.

I take a deep breath, my back to the rest of the room, facing Leo. He’s frowning, but his eyes are full of worry, not anger. I shake my head and grip his hands tightly in mine.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I just don’t want my picture in this spread.”

“Done,” he replies and kisses my forehead. “Her photo does not appear in this spread.” Melissa bristles.

“But this is a major scoop, Leo.”

“I don’t give a fuck. Unless you want to lose your job, you’ll leave her out of it.”

“Or we leave,” Eric agrees quietly. For the first time since Melissa walked in the room, I glance around at the other guys. They’re all glaring at her.

“You’re not TMZ,” Lori reminds her.

“Fine,” Melissa snaps, glaring daggers into me. “Let’s do this.” She turns her back and her heels click across the floor as she walks into the studio.

“She’s a bitch,” Lori whispers and winks at me.

“I’m not a fan of the press.”

“Yet you work in the industry.” Leo shakes his head and laughs at me.

“I am an editor for lifestyle magazines, not rags,” I clarify.

“So, you dated Scott?” Lori asks, catching my attention again.

“Briefly, a long time ago,” I murmur so Melissa and the interviewer she’s speaking with can’t hear me.

“He’s hot.”

“He’s an asshole.” I grin sweetly. “No matter how wholesome and sweet he wants everyone to think he is.”

“I knew it!” Lori laughs. “No one is that put together.”

“You have no idea.”

Leo is watching us quietly and catches my eye. I shrug.

“Let’s go guys!” Melissa calls. “We’ll be out of here in thirty.”

“Famous last words,” Lori mutters and lowers herself down into a chair as the guys move into the studio for photos and to answer questions. “Sit with me.”

“Okay.” I join her and watch the flashes go off in the other room.

“How long?” She asks, her eyes also on the studio.

“A few weeks.”

She nods. “These guys aren’t easy. Sexy as all get-out, but not easy.”

“Are guys ever easy?” I ask with a laugh.

“Good point,” she agrees.

“Do you two have a past?” I ask calmly. She glances down at me and back over to the men.

“No. It’s always been Gary for me. We’re good friends.” She sobers again. “He’s different you know.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Well, then.” She exhales and smiles down at me while she rubs her belly. “Welcome to the clan.”

***

“When are we heading back to Seattle?” I ask Leo when we are in his car, heading back toward the freeway.

“Thursday morning, why?”

“Do you have your heart set on going to the pier?” I turn in my seat to watch his face. I just enjoy watching him. He glances over at me and then back to the street.

“Do you have something else in mind?”

“I’d love to spend time at the beach, but I’d rather it was more private.” I smile over at him and run my fingertips up and down his thigh.

“Hmm, private, huh?” He grins and slips his sunglasses on. “I know a spot.”

“Great.”

He guides the car onto the freeway, and less than twenty minutes later, we’re in his driveway.

“Well, this would be private,” I murmur and grin up at him as he helps me out of the car.

“As private as it gets around here.”

“Do you actually own a piece of the beach?” I ask, excited to get down to the water.

“Yeah, I could have bought a small third world country for what it cost me, but it’s pretty great.”

I start to walk around the house, but he stops me. “Let’s go through the house.”

“I want to go down to the water.”

“So impatient.” He smiles down at me and leads me inside. “We need a few things.”

“Such as?”

“A blanket.” He winks and my stomach clenches and the cute little pink thong I wore with these khakis is immediately soaked. One look from this man, and I’m a puddle.

God, I love it.

“Let’s go.” I’m practically jumping up and down with excitement.

“You don’t get to the beach often do you, sunshine?”

“It’s January, Leo. I believe it was forty degrees and raining when we left Seattle. It’s seventy-five and gorgeous here. Hell yes, I want to go walk on the beach.”

“You can leave your shoes up here. The sand is soft.” He takes my hand in his and leads me down a wooden staircase to the soft white sand below. The water here is so different from the north coast.