One Night by Diane Alberts

primal urge to protect his heart from her words. “I don’t like musicals. I’m not fond of actors, either. You’re all arrogant and out of control. Annoying, too—no offense.”
    He raised a brow, refusing to show her how much her words had hurt. “Would you like a dagger to stick into my back? It might be more effective.”
    “Let me finish.” She rested her hands on his chest, much like the extra whose name he still didn’t know had, but Lexi’s touch was soft. Gentle. “I don’t like any of those things, but I like you . And I like watching you do them.”
    He sucked in a deep breath. “Lexi … ”
    “Can we start over?” she whispered. Holding her hand out, she said, “I’m Lexi—boring stock broker.”
    He eyed her hand then closed his fingers around hers. “I’m Justin—an actor and singer.”
    “Good. Now kiss me.”
    She lifted up on tiptoes, her eyes drifting closed. He stared down at her, relishing every single detail of this moment while also battling the urge to whoop with joy and spin her in a circle. He wanted nothing more than to give her what she asked for, but still he held back. “I’m not done yet. We’re starting out honestly this time.”
    She blinked up at him, her forehead wrinkling. “Okay?”
    He ran his knuckles down her cheek. “I’m an actor, not a stage crew member, and I plan to spend my life on stage—until they kick me off. I’ve spent almost my entire life alone, and I’m not the best at being around others and trusting people. My parents died of drug overdoses. Not at the same time. My mom died when I was three. My dad when I was seven.”
    He stumbled over the words. He didn’t talk about this. With anyone. Ever. She reached out and pulled him closer, offering him silent support while her eyes filled with tears. She gave him the strength to go on and tell her about his wretched past.
    “As a teenager, I didn’t have anyone else. I comforted myself with hash and other drugs for a while. But I soon realized it would kill me, like it killed my parents. So I switched my focus to music. I fell in love for the first and only time in my life. I changed my goals and focus in life in to becoming an actor and musician—never taking the time to form a lasting relationship with anyone. Not even wanting to. But you bloody well make me want to change. And more.”
    “Justin … ”
    He cleared his throat. “And that’s me. The real me.”
    She gave him a shaky smile. “I’m a serious, far-too-cautious business woman who doesn’t have one-night stands. At all. I stayed with the same man since college—until he died. I haven’t been remotely interested in anyone or anything until last night. Until you knocked me into a puddle.”
    She wrapped her arms around his neck, staring up at him with soft eyes. “I don’t go chasing after actors or drinking in bars. I don’t want to put my heart back out there and risk losing everything again. It terrifies me. But with you? I kind of want to do all of those things. And more.”
    “Brilliant.” He closed his arms around her. “Then we can take the leap together. Together, we can’t fall.”
    She blinked back tears, entwining her hands behind his neck. “It sounds like a plan to me. If you trip, I’ll catch you. And if I slip … ”
    “I’ll pick you up.” He swept her into his arms, dropping his forehead to hers. “And I won’t let you go.”
    He melded his lips to hers, her sigh joining his. When her hands crept up to his hair, she pulled back and grimaced up at him. “Take me into the shower.”
    He grinned. “Don’t like my helmet hair?”
    “Nope. Know what else I don’t like?”
    He headed into the bathroom, his hold on her tightening. He couldn’t believe she was here. With him. “No. What?”
    “Seeing you kiss the woman on stage.”
    He choked on a laugh. “I assure you, it’s far from sexual. We count the seconds in our heads to make sure we stay together the required amount of time. Then