Page 23 of Beyond the Red Carpet

“Can I kiss you?” Vanessa asked softly.

“Yes,” Kate murmured, her eyes never leaving Vanessa’s.

Vanessa leaned in, her eyes locked onto Kate’s, the anticipation building between them like a rising tide. As their lips met, it was as if time itself had slowed down, allowing them to savor every moment of this slow, sensual dance. The softnessof Kate’s lips against her own was intoxicating, a gentle caress that sent a ripple of electricity through Vanessa’s entire body.

Kate’s hands slid beneath Vanessa’s blazer, her fingertips grazing the silky fabric of Vanessa’s camisole. A shiver ran through Vanessa, her breath catching in her throat as a wave of desire washed over her.

This kiss was different from the ones they’d shared before. It was slow, deliberate, a languid exploration that Vanessa couldn’t seem to get enough of. Kate’s lips moved against hers with a tenderness that made her heart ache, and Vanessa felt herself melting into the kiss, her body leaning into Kate’s, her hand slipping underneath her hair, resting at the nape of her neck.

Vanessa could feel the tension in her body, the coiled heat that threatened to consume her. She wanted to lose herself in the moment, to forget the photographer, the public, the carefully crafted image that they were trying to present. She just wanted to kiss Kate for the sake of kissing her, for the pure joy of it.

Kate’s thumbs traced circles on Vanessa’s waist, sending waves of heat coursing through her, and Vanessa knew that she had to pull away.

Vanessa’s eyes fluttered open, meeting Kate’s gaze. She searched Kate’s eyes, looking for a reflection of her own feelings, but Vanessa had no idea what Kate was thinking.

Vanessa swallowed. The photographer across the street had surely gotten what he came here for, but in that moment, Vanessa realized that the lines between reality and illusion were blurring, the boundaries of their staged romance crumbling beneath the weight of her desire. The kiss had been a part of the performance. But it had also been real.

At least for Vanessa it had been.

“We should probably get back to our table.” The words came out thick, her throat tight.

Kate nodded, and they walked back to their seats in the center of the rooftop.

Vanessa’s lips still tingled from Kate’s kiss. That wasn’t acting. Not for her.

She’d spent decades perfecting her craft, inhabiting different roles, different personas. But that kiss… Nothing about that had been a performance. Just raw, unfiltered want that scared her more than she cared to admit.

Vanessa reached for her wine glass, desperate for something to ground her. She took a careful sip, using the moment to compose herself. She set her glass down with steady hands, determined not to let her inner turmoil show. Kate didn’t need to know how much that kiss had affected her.

How much all their kisses had affected her.

The waiter appeared at their table, plates balanced expertly in his hands. Steam rose from the perfectly arranged dishes as he set them down. Vanessa stared at her sea bass, its crisp skin glistening under the candlelight. The aroma of herbs and citrus drifted up, but her appetite had vanished.

Her mind kept circling back to the kiss. To Kate’s hands on her waist. To the way Kate’s body had felt pressed against hers.

The waiter disappeared, leaving them alone again. Vanessa picked up her fork, more for something to do with her hands than any real desire to eat. The fish flaked perfectly under her fork. Kate took a small bite of her risotto, closing her eyes briefly as she savored it. The sight of her obvious pleasure sent a jolt through Vanessa’s body. She forced herself to look away, to focus on her own plate.

This was getting dangerous. These weren’t the kinds of thoughts she should be having about someone who she’d entered into an agreement with. Someone who was only kissing her for the cameras, to help her. Someone who was so much younger than her.

Vanessa had to get this under control quickly, or she’d have to put an end to this right now.

And maybe she should.

Their plan had worked perfectly. Too perfectly. The photos from the alley kiss had gone viral, sparking endless speculation and discussion. Social media couldn’t get enough of them. Even the most cynical entertainment journalists seemed captivated by their story.

She could end it now. Walk away while they were ahead. They’d achieved what they set out to do: improve her image after Lauren’s betrayal and give Kate a platform for coming out.

There was no reason to continue this charade.

And if they called this whole thing off, then maybe she could stop thinking about Kate’s smile, or the way her eyes lit up when she laughed, or how soft her lips felt.

The smart thing would be to end it now.

She could call Elliot tomorrow. They could let the public believe they were still seeing each other, but maybe they were just being more private from now on. And then they could officially break up in a few weeks, just as they’d planned.

The logical part of her brain screamed at her to stop this now, while she still could.

While her heart was still mostly intact.

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