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Lisa.” Dallas grabbed my hand and led me away. Realizing that Lisa was right behind us, he stopped short of the door and whirled around. “Have a good night.”
    She scowled, probably because all her baiting hadn’t gotten either of us to slip. But she didn’t need our cooperation. She’d probably use the pictures of Dallas and I together to make up a story, simply because that was her job — to twist the truth and create controversy. I’d heard enough rumors about Jackie to know I should never take anything at face value. But other readers may not see through the lies.
    “Let’s go.” He tugged on my hand again, compelling me to trail after him.
    Although I wanted to go with him, the sane part of me knew this was a bad idea. Where was Stella? I glanced back, but didn’t see her. Dallas stopped just outside the back door. My gaze drifted to a group huddled several yards away and the cloud of smoke around them. The smoking section.
    Lisa hadn’t followed us outside, probably because she’d already gotten what she needed. Dread settled in my stomach. Jackie was supposed to be on sabbatical. She didn’t need to read a bunch of garbage about herself while she was still recovering from her previous humiliation. I glanced at Dallas.
    He was staring at me. “That was odd.”
    Oh, geez, what had I done?
    “You know they wouldn’t serve a minor here. Or was that just a clever way of getting attention?”
    Oh, crap. Of course they wouldn’t serve me with the press around. Worse, while I was being an idiot, I confirmed what a media whore Jackie was.
    “C’mon. You’re going to pretend you’ve never been served in a public place before?” I lifted a careless shoulder.
    “Not with the press around.”
    This impersonation gig couldn’t end soon enough for me. Life was much easier when I could just be myself. Except then I wouldn't see Dallas again.
    “So I forgot myself for a moment.” I rolled my eyes. Acting was kind of like lying. I felt bad deceiving Dallas, but isn't that why I was there?
    “Well, Lisa won’t see it that way. She’ll put a crazy spin on you refusing a drink, along with some trashy speculation. It’ll probably get picked up in every tabloid across the country.”
    “Does that kind of stuff ever bother you?” I asked, overlapping the lapels of his jacket against the chill night air and tucking myself into the fabric.
    He held his arms close to his sides and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Not tonight. You?”
    “It’s expected, right? Without publicity, an actor’s career could die. Goes with the job.” A generic enough reply while not really answering the question. I felt uneasy blatantly lying to Dallas and needed to keep it to a minimum.
    “It sure does.” He studied me a moment. “Do you want to go back inside?”
    Jackie would say yes. Not me. I’d shown up at the premier and that’s all that was required. My job was done. “No. You?”
    “Not really. Are you hungry?”
    I knew I shouldn't say it, but… “Starving. Haven’t eaten all day. I was afraid the dress wouldn’t fit right and I didn’t want to feel fat when I had to look good.”
    “It’s great to be a guy.” He flashed me a smile. “Did you drive here with Stella?”
    Stella. I kept forgetting about her. “Yes.”
    “Why don’t you leave the limo for her and I’ll drive you home?” He grinned. “Since I’m going there anyway.”
    He was impossible to resist. But he was my sister’s ex. Forbidden territory. Going there was not a reality for me, no matter how fab he looked in a tux. But I rationalized that we already knew he wasn’t interested in Jackie. He'd even made that clear to Lisa. What kind of trouble could I possibly get into? Dallas would drive me home and we’d say goodnight.
    “Sure. I’ll just text her and let her know the car’s all hers.” I reached into my purse to grab my cell. Four texts had come in, all from Stella. If I hadn’t turned my ringer off during the movie,