20. Marina

CHAPTER 20

MARINA

" A ll right, and that's a wrap!" calls Simon. The whole crew launch into applause.

I wrap my arms around Ellis, who's holding Lila, and kiss my daughter on the head. I can't believe how quickly three weeks have gone by, and, true to his word, Ellis has deposited an astonishingly enormous amount of money into my bank account.

Tomorrow, I have a meeting with an accountant about savings accounts and investing and all sorts of stuff I need to figure out how to do but haven't got a clue where to begin. But that's tomorrow's news. I can be a responsible adult then.

For today, we can all breathe out.

"I cannot wait to have my house back to myself," says Ellis with a grouchy sigh. I can tell now when he's putting it on for effect, and that sigh wasn't truly grumpy.

"It'll be good to have your own space again," I say to him, as if I'm trying to comfort him, and he makes a face, like he's confused by my comment.

Too quickly, he says, "Stay tonight. I'm having a wrap party. You know, to celebrate, kick back a little. Unwind."

"Okay," I say, hesitant. "A whole party?"

"I've got a couple of other people coming over and some of the better guys from the crew. We're going to have a celebratory dinner."

"Sounds good," I smile. Anything to stop this feeling of everything coming to an end. "Is it okay if Lila sleeps in her nursery? If we'll be staying late and there's going to be a lot of people, I'd like her to be somewhere where she can be comfortable, to sleep and feel safe."

"Sure thing. It's all hers."

The crew filter away, and we say our goodbyes. Simon gives us a terse farewell before he goes. Now, that's a guy who I don't want to see again, and I'm certain the feeling is reciprocal.

I'm not sure exactly what to expect from a wrap party, but we have a couple of hours to ourselves before the guests arrive. We spend it all over each other, kissing with a teenage desperation like somewhere inside us, we know that this is ending today.

We fall into his bedroom, and he pulls me into his arms and into his bed, mapping every part of me with kisses and making me cry out for him. In return, I take him into my mouth, at the same time trying my best to memorize every inch of his toned chest, his strong arms. We kiss and make love and hold each other like this is a moment we have to cling to in case it slips away.

Like this is the last time I will ever breathe his comforting, musky scent in.

Like it's the last time he'll ever make me writhe in exquisite pleasure.

I shower before anyone arrives, still not quite ready for people to know what's happening between us, and not at all liking the idea of smelling of sex when people get here. Ellis has assured me that this isn't going to be a big deal, that it's just going to be a couple of the crew and a couple of his key team members who made this possible.

I have no idea what to wear, so I just slip into the same dress I was wearing when we went to the fake drive-in. At the very least, I want Ellis to look at me like he did then one more time.

He seemed so hungry for me then, like I was something so precious and wanted.

When I emerge into the living room, the chef is busy in the kitchen, and a couple of people are here already. I recognize the guys from the crew, but Ellis's employees are all strangers to me.

Except one particularly well-done-up woman who I've come to think of as Ellis's right hand.

Priscilla comes up to me and smiles appreciatively. "Congratulations. This is going to do wonders for the marketing. I was kind of worried that it was going to look false and terrible, but you really pulled it off in the end. Hell, I could almost believe you actually were a couple."

She laughs to herself, and I chuckle awkwardly with her. Fortunately, Ellis swoops in to save me, placing his hand on my back to offer some comfort as he greets his colleague. "Hey, Priscilla. When are we going to get the edit — do you know?"

"A few weeks, maybe," she says, raising both eyebrows as if to say didn't you just finish filming today? "I'll double-check, and we'll discuss it tomorrow, and the new marketing plans. Tomorrow. For once, take a night off."

Ellis throws both hands up in mock surrender. "Okay, fine. Just for tonight."

Priscilla gives him an I'm watching you gesture, and excuses herself to go and mingle with some of the other guests.

I glance at Ellis, then at the assorted crowd milling around. "What are we going to tell any of them if they ask about us? What if they already know?"

His shakes his head firmly. "They don't. And we don't have to tell them anything. Don't worry about it. But we should get dinner sometime next week. If you want to, of course."

"No, I'd love to," I say, accepting before he can change his mind, my heart fluttering at the idea. "That would be great."

"Good. I'll send you the details."

I smile at him and take his hand, relishing the last time I'm going to be able to do this for a while. If anyone's looking at us, it probably seems kind of strange to them that we're still being affectionate.

But I don't really care. Ellis wants to see me again. That's what he just said.

Ellis wants to go out for dinner.

He drifts off into the crowd, and my gaze lingers on him. He cuts through people, greeting them coolly, nodding and listening to whatever it is they have to say. All I can see is the man I've spent three weeks falling in love with.

Love? That's what it feels like, anyway. It feels like more than anything I've ever felt before.

The chef calls us to dinner, and we find the dining table spread with the most amazing display of charcuterie and gourmet finger foods. I have no idea how the chef managed to rustle this up so quickly, and I have a suspicion that some of it was brought with him, but it doesn't matter because it all smells and looks amazing.

I sit next to Ellis at the table, and we hold hands again under the tablecloth. I can't believe how much he's acting like he still wants me.

For the first time all week I finally let myself believe that maybe there is an us after all. Maybe what we felt in bed together wasn't just for show. I've had no doubt that he's meant every word he said to me this week.

I just didn't believe it would last.

Ellis stands up after everyone has settled and taps on his glass. "A toast," he calls. "A toast for the greatest employee of all time, Miss Priscilla Martinez, and to my lovely wife, Marina."

"To Priscilla and Marina!" The call echoes around the table, and I nod my head in thanks and embarrassment. Ellis looks down at me and winks, and the flush on my face deepens.

He'd better not be about to ask me to do a speech. I hate public speaking, and the last thing I want is to feel everyone's eyes on me even more than they already are.

Thankfully, Priscilla spares me by standing up herself. "You should count yourself lucky you can afford me," she says, and a murmur of laughter ripples around the table.

By the time Priscilla is done talking business, thanking me again, playfully ripping into Ellis, and making sweeping statements about the future, everyone is tired of listening. They all turn back to their dinners and conversations when she sits down, and I shrink into my seat, avoiding everyone's eyes.

Everyone except Ellis.

He holds his glass up to me and we clink them together. "Cheers," he says with a smile, his hand coming to rest on my thigh.

"Cheers," I echo.

"Stay tonight," he says, and it's not a question.

"Okay."

One more night of us . I can be happy with that. This is the start of the rest of my life. Tomorrow, I'll pack up, take Lila home, and start looking for a house. But for tonight, it's just us.

His smile widens as he brings his glass to his lips. "To my wife," he whispers.

I whisper back, "To us."