Page 22 of Beyond the Red Carpet

The waiter returned, presenting a bottle of Chablis with practiced flourish. Vanessa’s gaze drifted to Kate as the waiterwent through the ritual of showing the label, cutting the foil, and removing the cork. The soft pop echoed across the rooftop.

When the waiter tilted the bottle toward Vanessa for approval, she gestured to Kate. “Would you like to do the honors?”

The waiter poured a small amount into her glass. Kate lifted it and brought the glass to her nose, inhaling the wine’s bouquet before taking a small sip.

A slight smile played at the corners of Kate’s mouth as she nodded. “It’s perfect.”

The waiter proceeded to fill both their glasses, leaving the bottle nestled in the silver ice bucket between them.

Vanessa lifted her wine glass, taking a small sip while scanning the rooftops across the street. A shadow shifted. There he was. The photographer blended into the darkness in his black attire, but years of dealing with paparazzi had honed her ability to spot them. They’d chosen this restaurant specifically for its rooftop setup, but now she noticed a flaw in their positioning.

The table placement meant the photographer would only capture her, missing Kate’s reactions entirely. That wouldn’t do. The whole point was to show them together, to let the public see how in love they were. They both needed to be in those photos.

At least the lighting was perfect. The string lights cast a warm glow that would look great on camera, and the moon hung low and bright over the ocean. But none of it would matter if they couldn’t get the right shot.

Her fingers played with the stem of her wine glass as she considered their options. Before they left, Vanessa would have to make sure that they stood at the edge of the rooftop and admired the view.

A light breeze carried the salt air across the rooftop, stirring Kate’s hair. The slight momentarily distracted Vanessa from her tactical planning. Kate looked radiant in the gentle light, and fora brief moment, Vanessa forgot about the photographer entirely. She caught herself staring.

Kate’s eyes met Vanessa’s, catching her mid-stare. A small smile tugged at the corner of Kate’s mouth.

“This is quite the setting.” Kate’s voice carried across the table.

“It is.” Vanessa took another sip of wine, savoring its crisp notes.

Kate’s blue eyes held Vanessa’s. “I know we don’t know each other very well, not really, but you can trust me. Yesterday must have been hard. And I just wanted you to know that I’m here if you want to talk about it.”

The genuine concern in Kate’s voice touched something deep inside Vanessa. She shook her head, pushing away the image of Lauren’s face from the party. “Let’s not bring down the evening.”

“Okay,” Kate said as she reached for her glass and took a sip.

“But thank you,” Vanessa added. “And we might not know each other well, but for what it’s worth, I do actually feel like I can trust you.”

The breeze picked up, carrying with it the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore. Vanessa focused on that rhythm, using it to ground herself in the present moment rather than dwelling on memories of yesterday’s confrontation.

“I’m glad,” Kate said.

Vanessa’s eyes lingered on Kate’s profile as the younger woman gazed toward the ocean.

“While we wait for our dinner...” Vanessa pushed back her chair. “The view from the edge is amazing. Would you like to see it?”

“I’d love to.”

They both stood, leaving their wine glasses behind. Vanessa extended her hand, and Kate’s fingers slipped into hers. The contact sent a small thrill up her arm. She led Kate toward theedge of the rooftop, conscious of the photographer’s position across the street but finding herself distracted by how natural it felt to hold Kate’s hand.

They reached the low wall that bordered the rooftop. The moon created a shimmering path across the dark water. A gentle breeze lifted Kate’s hair, and Vanessa watched as a few strands danced across her face. Without thinking, she reached up and tucked them behind Kate’s ear, her fingertips grazing the soft skin there.

“You look stunning tonight,” Vanessa murmured, her hand lingering near Kate’s face. The words came easily, naturally - too naturally for someone who was supposed to be acting.

Kate’s lips tugged into a smile, her eyes glinting with amusement. “You know that photographer can’t hear us.”

“I know.” She hesitated for a moment, her fingers still resting lightly on Kate’s cheek. The warmth of her skin was intoxicating, and Vanessa had to resist the urge to lean in closer. “But I wanted to say it.”

Kate’s smile softened, her eyes searching Vanessa’s face as if trying to read her thoughts.

Vanessa hated how much she wanted to kiss Kate, but at the same time, that was exactly what this moment called for. The photographer hidden across the street needed to capture the perfect shot, and this could be it.

Vanessa hesitated, her eyes flickering down to Kate’s lips. She could almost feel the softness, the warmth. The memory of their first kiss in the alley still lingered.

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