“Grace! Theo! Over here!” someone calls, and we both turn, flashing smiles in that direction, playing the game we’ve come to understand so well.

Grace glances at me with a look of mischief in her eyes, and I raise a brow, silently asking her what she’s plotting.

"Let’s give them something to talk about," she whispers, her lips brushing against my ear.

Before I can respond, she tugs me forward a bit, turning us so that she’s closer to the photographers.

She leans into me, her hand still firmly gripping mine, and I see the moment she decides to kiss me—right there, in front of everyone.

I’m not one for public displays like this, especially not under the glare of a thousand flashing lights, but Grace knows exactly how to disarm me.

She always does.

Her lips press against mine, and everything around us blurs. It’s just her and me on a red carpet full of people and flashing cameras.

When she pulls back, the cameras go wild, and I can’t help but chuckle at the chaos she’s just unleashed.

"Guess we're making headlines tonight," I say, low enough for only her to hear.

She grins up at me, not an ounce of regret in her eyes.

"Why not? We’re already the talk of the town. Might as well change the story while we can."

We move down the carpet, stopping for interviews, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around how natural Grace seems in all of this.

One of the reporters steps forward, mic in hand, and smiles at both of us.

"Theo, Grace, you two have been the subject of a lot of media attention lately. Everyone’s curious—how did you two meet?"

Grace glances at me, and I know she’s letting me take the lead on this one. I smile at the reporter, thinking back to that first day we met, so far from this glitzy world.

"Well," I start, "it wasn’t exactly glamorous. Her manager and I are good friends; he asked me to help her out."

Grace squeezes my hand, her thumb brushing over my knuckles.

“He’s being modest,” she cuts in, smiling at the reporter.

“Devon knew that Theo is a protective, caring man—the only one he could trust to keep me safe when my stalker was slipping through everything else.”

“It’s hard not to want to protect such a treasure,” I add.

The reporter laughs. "And Grace, what drew you to him?"

“He was a little grumpy at first, but it was intriguing at the same time.

We clashed a lot in the beginning.

But then I realized... he was kind.

There was a quietness about him, something different from the usual loud personalities I’m used to.

He didn’t know it at the time, but he saved me that first day.”

The reporter raises an eyebrow. "Saved you?"

She nods, looking up at me with that same softness in her eyes.

“He’s my knight in shining armor, really.