“We think so. Breck’s already on his way back to Vegas. Jo has another nine days of shows to do in her three-week stint. She’s even talking about a possible residency. In the meantime, I’ve already started Carbon Man 4, based upon what we hammered out during the last twelve hours. Breck will continue with the Mark Brockwell script for now.”
“That’s great. I’ll text you the number now.”
“Good work, Scarlett. I know it wasn’t easy going into the lion’s den and pitching such a wild idea. My advice? Take the rest of the day off and go do something crazy.”
She glanced at Wynn, thinking of all of the things she wanted to do to him. “I plan to. Talk to you later.” Then choosing to perform a cardinal sin for any LA lawyer, she turned off her phone.
Replacing the cell in her purse, Scarlett looked down at her hand in Wynn’s He’d claimed it as she’d spoken to Cassie, which had Scarlett’s heart racing. It had made trying to hold a coherent conversation almost impossible. That’s when she realized this was something different than anything she’d ever experienced before. Simply holding hands with this man had her adrenaline skyrocketing.
Wynn lifted their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. The best kind of chills ran along her spine.
“So, back to Lymon McGraw?” he asked.
“No. Cassie suggested I take the rest of the day off and celebrate. My sister-in-law has never given me better advice.”
Wynn paused at a stop sign, his eyes raking over her. “Where to, Lady Lawyer?”
“Your place,” she decided. “Wherever that is.”
His hand tightened around hers and he accelerated again.
They rode without speaking, the wind blowing her hair and the early September sun warming her skin. Scarlett couldn’t recall the last time she’d ridden in a car and not known where she was going but it didn’t matter. Being with Wynn was enough. If he’d headed east on Route 66 and kept going, she would willingly travel across the country without a backward glance. The law had been her life up until now. She’d thrived on the many challenges thrown her way. It was still important to her but a myriad of opportunities had opened up with Wynn Gallagher’s presence in her life. She wanted to make the most of them.
“When’s the last time you played hooky?’ he finally asked, long after they’d left LA and headed north on the PCH.
“High school,” she said, chuckling at the memory. “It was less than a week before graduation. I’d been one of those outstanding student leaders. Involved in everything. Suddenly, I was done with being upstanding and responsible. I wanted one perfect day, one just for me, so I took it.”
“What did you do?”
“A little of everything. I talked three friends into skipping with me. We went surfing early that morning. Hit Disneyland for eight hours. Went bowling. Then to a drive-in movie.”
“I loved going to the drive-in when I was a kid,” Wynn said wistfully. “I haven’t been to one in years.”
“We’ll find one. I’ll take you,” she declared.
“You’re on.”
“Where do you live?”
“Malibu, mostly. I’ve also got a small studio apartment in Universal City that I crash at if filming goes into the wee hours. There’s something about being on the water, though, that speaks to my soul.”
Ten minutes later, he pulled off the highway and stopped at a gate, tapping in the code. The gate swung open and he wound down a long drive. They finally reached the house, hidden from the road by large trees and massive foliage. A fire engine red Ford Mustang and a burgundy Corvette sat outside the house.
“Your fixer uppers?”
He nodded. “The Mustang is next. I guess with a delay in filming, I’ll have some time to work on her.”
“What’s her name?”
“That red screams for attention. I call this one Lola.”
“Like ‘Copacabana’ Lola?” Scarlett asked.
“Exactly.” Wynn looked pleased that she’d made the connection between the car’s sexy name and the old Barry Manilow song.
The garage door rose and he eased Philippa inside next to a Range Rover. Turning off the engine, he faced her.
“I’ll take as much or as little as you’re willing to give me, Scarlett. If all you want to do is sit on the deck this afternoon and drink wine and talk, I’m in.”
“That sounds good. Maybe I could sit in your lap? Naked?”
His smile was a thing of beauty.
CHAPTER 12
Wynn leaned over and softly brushed his lips against hers. Something had changed with Scarlett. He didn’t want to ask because he was afraid she’d spook and the switch would flip again.
Their status hadn’t changed. He remained her client. Maybe since she’d pulled off an amazing victory at Rylon today, she thought to wrap up that deal and pass him off to another Lymon McGraw partner so they could see each other socially.
Not a chance.
Scarlett Corrigan was a force of nature. Bright. Beautiful. Exactly the attorney he needed representing his interests, both now and in the future. More importantly, he wanted to keep her in his life for the long run. Because of that, Wynn decided to put on the brakes. It might’ve been their fast start which had shaken her up. Given her second thoughts. Made her pull back. He wouldn’t let that happen again. At thirty-five, he’d sown enough wild oats. He’d decided—after meeting her—he wanted to settle down. From what she’d revealed to him, Scarlett felt the same way. She was ready for children, whether she had a partner or not. They were compatible in so many ways and their chemistry was off the charts.
Wynn couldn’t afford to blow this a second time. As much as he wanted to launch a full frontal assault, both physically and metaphorically speaking, he was going to slow this roller coaster down. Right now, they were standing in line for the ride of their lives. He’d
