was sure of one thing. If she wanted to hold on to her panties and her sanity, she had to stay on her toes around Gabe. It didn’t matter if he made her insides go all fluttery. Besides, if she ever wanted her own solo client, then she had to keep her eyes on the prize and not on his muscles.
* * *
It was the chase. It had to be the chase. Gabe Alexander stared at Elina on the dance floor. She was laughing at something that Reece’s mom said and he was completely struck by her. Had been since yesterday. But no amount of charm and wit was getting through to her. She was like flirting with a brick wall.
Normally, women fell into his lap. He wasn’t used to doing so much work to get someone’s attention. But it didn’t matter what he did, Elina gave him nothing to work with. He already knew from Reece and Adam that she didn’t have a boyfriend. No recent breakups. She was single.
And he felt that electric current when they first hugged, so she was attracted, but she still didn’t take the bait.
Not like he had time to chase a girl right now. He was chasing funding for his first movie, and was running out of time. Stone Heart was the unofficial biography of his grandmother, Gretta Stone, and how she became the first Hollywood movie executive back in the fifties. She was the reason his father got a start in the business.
He’d wanted to tell the story for a long time, but the funding was difficult. Well, it doesn’t have to be difficult. But there was no way he was asking his father for the funds. That was the last place he wanted to go. Not that the old man would even back the film. Once he’d transitioned out of acting, he’d become a director, only focusing on the big-money projects. He didn’t think the movie would make him any money.
It didn’t matter, though; Gabe was determined to do this on his own. For once, he wanted his career to be his own with no influence from the old man. He owed his grandmother everything. Between her and his mother, they’d pulled him back from the brink. He was getting this story told.
As a kid, it made sense. He was Andrew Alexander’s son. It made logical sense to follow in his father’s footsteps. But soon, all anyone had ever seen when he walked into a room was his father. So, like any teenager, he’d rebelled. And he was still paying for that rebellion.
But he had a few friends in the business, and plenty of money, thanks to a wildly popular trilogy he did when he was twelve, but he didn’t have producer money. And the rest of the world saw him as that spoiled kid, acting out, boozing it up and sleeping with too many women.
Thanks to his grandmother, after college, he’d long since cleaned up his act, even made some wise investments. He needed to change that bad-boy image if he wanted a career in this business.
But even with everything going on, and everything on the line, he was completely drawn to Elina. It was mostly her laugh. Every time she talked to Reece she was happy and giddy. They laughed like two teenage girls snickering over some boy they liked.
But during the ceremony, Elina looked haunted, scared. He wanted to know why. More than that, he wanted to fix it. To make it go away.
“You stare any harder at her and I will make you declare your intentions.”
Gabe laughed and slapped Adam on the back. “How is the newly minted groom doing?”
His best friend grinned. “I’m perfect. I can’t believe it’s finally done. She’s mine.”
Watching Adam and Reece almost made Gabe want to settle down. They were so suited to each other, and really happy. “Good for you, man. I’m happy for you. And I hope you enjoy your wedding present to the fullest.”
Adam shook his head. “You didn’t need to lend us your yacht. You know that, right?”
“Whatever. It just sits most of the time. Someone deserving might as well get use out of it.” His father had bought the yacht and signed him as a co-owner, insisting it was a good investment and good for the image, but the old man never went near the thing. He hated the water.
“Well, we appreciate it nonetheless.” Adam inclined his head toward Elina. The photographer was shooting her in the dimming sunlight. “So what’s the word, man? Are you going to make a move or what?”
Gabe rolled his eyes. “Are you kidding me? I’ve been putting on all my best moves since yesterday. This is my game. It’s the only game I’ve got.”
Adam laughed. “Man, you’re going to need to work on that. That pretty mug will only take you so far.”
Gabe stroked his chin. “Don’t be jealous. Only one of us can be pretty.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “I’ll settle for being the smart one, then. Look, dude, if you want to get closer to Elina, you can’t spit game at her. You have to talk to her. Be real. She’s pretty cool.”
Gabe cocked his head and studied her. “What’s her problem with weddings, anyway?”
Adam stared into his scotch glass. “Problem? What problem?”
“Oh, come on. You can see it, too. She looks uncomfortable, unhappy even.”
“Okay, but you didn’t hear this from me. Her mother has been married seven times. It soured her on the whole marriage thing.”
Gabe whistled low. “Seven?”
“Yeah, a couple of times to Elina’s dad, but it never seems to work out. So Elina has a thing about weddings.”
That would certainly explain it. “I get you.”
Adam shoved him in the arm. “What are you sniffing after Elina for, anyway? Don’t you have your hands full?”
Gabe finished his drink. “Yeah, I’ve got a few things going on, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a beautiful woman.”
“Between the funding hunt, the movie and casting, how will you find the time?”
“You just let me worry about that. I’ve got the funding under control. Well, mostly anyway. I’m meeting with that fixer in the city on Monday. She’s got a lot of experience with entertainment clients. She’ll help me change my image as well as get some studio appointments. She’s a pretty big player and can help get some buzz around my name.”
“That’s great.” Adam studied his glass again. “Here’s the thing, Gabe. As the best-friend-in-law, I have to warn you, Elina’s not that girl that you screw around with and leave. Reece will have your rear if you break her heart. She’s very protective of Elina.”
“Would you relax? I have everything under control. I’m not going to hurt her.” He shrugged. “I just want to see her smile.” And that was mostly true.
Water, water, everywhere, and no way to swim to shore. At least not in her dress. Reece had left out one specific detail to Elina. She hadn’t mentioned the damn reception was on a yacht. With no way out, except to swim. And in the slinky vermilion-red mermaid-style gown, there was no way that was happening.
Elina grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing tray. If there was no getting off the boat, she might as well have a drink...or several. She searched the crowd for someone to talk to other than Adam’s spoiled, moneyed, Wall Street friends.
“You want to tell me why you’re all alone drinking away your sorrows?”
Elina smirked before turning around to face Gabe. God, the man was sexy. It really was unfair. The whole effect of movie-star-gorgeous looks was exacerbated by the impeccable Tom Ford tuxedo. She had to hand it to the man, he was wearing that tux.
“I’m not sad.” She lied, “I’m celebrating. Like everyone else.”
Gabe shook his head, the corners of his lips tipped up in a ghost of a smile. “Usually, happy comes with