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

Words continued to spill out. “I asked him about Christian once,” Julian said. “Uncle. He said of course not. Said that what he and I had was special, that he’d never felt that way about anyone else. I think he thought I was jealous.” He shuddered. “I wasn’t. I’m not as big a fool as Aaron. But fool enough to believe him. I can’t believe I believed him.”Julian was digging his fingernails into his own shoulders; they would draw blood any second. He deserved to bleed, deserved to hurt.


Rafi knelt in front of him and gently pulled his hands away.


Julian gave a choking sob. “You can still touch me? I can barely stand to touch myself.” It was Rafi’s skin his nails bit into now, digging into his wrists, but Rafi didn’t flinch, only cupped Julian’s cheek in one hand.


“What do you need from me?” Rafi said. “Whatever you need, it’s yours.”


Chapter 84