Rafi Reyes figures going along with a fake-dating stunt is only fair after Julian Gault saves his life. The young actor is famously cold and snotty, and Rafi's rock band is falling apart in the wake of betrayal. A shiny new romance might be just what both their reputations need. It's too bad they don't actually like each other, but they'll both benefit -- a softer public image for Julian, revenge against his ex for Rafi.<br><br>But as they navigate public events, attend red-carpet premieres, and play cat-and-mouse with paparazzi together, Rafi gets to know a different Julian than he expected -- one who defends horses, takes care of his troubled cousin, and has Rafi's back against his dysfunctional family. Rafi starts to hope he and Julian have something real together.<br><br>But Julian has secrets more painful than Rafi can imagine. With Julian's powerful and controlling uncle scheming to turn them against each other, their relationship must become something much deeper if it -- and possibly either of them -- are to survive.

Star Bright

“There.” Julian got to his feet. “It’s still going to be a sticky disaster until you take some kind of cleaning fluid to it, but it’s not a puddle everywhere.”


Unlike me. “Thanks. You go put these on and I’ll finish making the cocoa. With water, I guess.”


Cocoa accomplished, he found Julian sitting outside, of all places. The broad stone balcony was well-shielded from rain, if still chilly, and Julian was curled on the wicker-frame couch with a lantern flickering warm rosy light from the table beside him. It was some kind of battery-powered thing left over from a party, but it made for a nice ambience.


“Let me get us a blanket,” Rafi said, setting both mugs on the table. When he came back from pulling the top blanket straight off of his bed, Julian was sipping his cocoa and staring into the distance.


“The idea was to warm up, you know,” Rafi said, tucking the blanket around them both. “Not sit in the cold with wet hair.”


Chapter 47