Starstruck: Hollywood Heat, Book 3 by Ashleigh Raine Page B

took her hand, because the words weren’t enough.
    She squeezed his hand. “Thank you. It’s okay, though. I mean, of course I miss her, I’ll always miss her. I was blessed to have the most awesome mom on the planet. She was my best friend, my roommate, my support system, my late-night-talks, share-everything-with girlfriend, and I got to spend twenty-five amazing years with her, learning from her, becoming who I am because she believed in me and supported me in everything I did. I’m here, working in Hollywood, because of her. So no matter what it takes, no matter what I have to do, I’m going to succeed. For her and for me.”
    Micah’s chest constricted at the fierce determination behind Jenna’s statement. He wasn’t an idiot—he had connections in this industry that would take years for her to acquire. He could make a phone call and get her name and face in front of people who mattered.
    Except he wanted to be the one who mattered most to Jenna. Not who he knew or what he could give her.
    Five days ago that would’ve been the warning he needed to walk away from Jenna.
    Five days ago he hadn’t been in love with her.

Chapter Eight
    Jenna felt a bit like Cinderella. Or maybe Alice in Wonderland. There were definitely some fairytale qualities in her life right now. She’d fallen down a rabbit hole and found a prince. Now she just had to avoid losing her shoes or her head. She was already well on the path to losing her heart.
    She looked at Micah. The lights from the passing cars and streetlights played over his face, making his green eyes shine and the angles of his cheekbones and sexy, stubble-laden jaw stand out in sharp relief. He’d dressed trendy casual—gray slacks, gray sports coat paired with a beige T-shirt underneath. Rolling out of bed in the morning, wet in the shower, however or whenever, he was absolutely beautiful. He wasn’t only beautiful in the looks department though. Every moment they spent together he made her feel special. He seemed almost too good to be true.
    “What are you thinking about?” Micah said, shooting a glance her way. “I want to know what put that smile on your face so I can make sure to repeat it often and always.” The words didn’t match his tone. He looked and sounded serious, bordering on somber. He’d been quieter than usual since she’d told him about her mom. Nothing like talk of cancer and death to put a damper on the evening.
    “You.”
    He shifted his focus off the road and on to her, a dark question in his eyes. “Me what?”
    “This silly perma-grin on my face?” She tapped the corner of her mouth. “It’s this strange side effect of being around you. I kind of get ridiculously happy. Like right now, I have no idea where we’re going, but I don’t care. I’m with you and the destination doesn’t matter.”
    Micah slowed the car to a stop at a red light. Leaning over the center console, he scooped a hand behind her neck, tugged her to him and kissed her.
    And wow, it was one heck of a kiss. An amnesia-inducing kiss. The intensely powerful kind that made her forget her name and where she was, and she didn’t care. She just wanted to keep kissing Micah because it was just. That. Good.
    He pulled his mouth away—darn it—but he kept his hand on her neck, his fingers rubbing delicious circles into the top of her spine. Melting into the buttery-soft leather seat was a definite possibility.
    His gaze had returned to the busy L.A. streets, but his mouth tilted up at the corner. “So if I said I’m taking you bungee jumping…?”
    “I’d say I’m glad I put my panties back on.”
    “Damn. There’s a downside to that plan.” He eased his hand from her neck and moved it to his upper thigh, where it was clear to see she wasn’t the only one affected by that kiss or the memories of how she’d come to have her underwear off in the first place. He tugged on the front of his pants.
    “No, no. This plan has serious possibilities. Would this be