Page 88 of Finding Forever

He had to admit, he didn’t enjoy seeing Fern in such awe of another man, even one as good-looking and undeniably charismatic as Trystan Abbott. The man was one of the biggest movie stars in the world right now, so her reaction was entirely justified, but yeah, he’d rather she not stare at the guy with such stars in her eyes.

He told himself it was because they were supposed to be pretending to be head over heels for each other here, but deep down inside he recognized that it was something a lot more basic and visceral than that. He was feeling territorial, and wanted to shove her behind him, pound his chest and growlmineat any and all who dare think otherwise.

Itdidhelp that the other man hadn’t even noticed them yet, he was too occupied with his own new wife, a solicitous arm around her waist, as he escorted her into the room.

Tim led them to the couch opposite Cade and Fern’s, still talking—well gushing really—a mile a minute. The guy seemed to have forgotten about Cade and Fern’s very existence because—after he’d gone through his spiel, gushed about how much he’d loved Abbott’s last movie, and secured a promise for aselfie with the star afterward—he left without sparing the Hawthornes a glance.

Abbott’s entourage had also disappeared—barring one massive sandy-haired guy who stood just inside the door, facing the room with hands impassively folded in front of him—which left the two couples staring at each other in curious silence for a quick beat.

“Tim must be new,” Abbott said, turning on the charm with effortless ease, as he leveled that instantly recognizable smile at them. “Usually, they introduce the guests to each other.”

“You’ve been on this show before?”

Both Trystan Abbott and his wife’s eyes reflected mild surprise at Fern’s question and Cade gave her a swift startled look, as he tried to see if she was being disingenuous or not. Even Cade, who didn’t follow the celebrity scene at all, had heard about how Abbott had stormed off Mike Holmes’s set a year ago. Which had been followed by that instantly viral interview where he’d publicly groveled for his now-wife’s forgiveness. But disingenuity wasn’t Fern’s style and all he saw in her eyes was genuine curiosity.

Abbott must’ve seen the same because he smiled gently and nodded.

“He’s been on Mike Holmes’s show a few times,” the small, pretty woman next to the actor informed with a warm smile. “I’m Iris by the way, and this is my husband Trystan. And the big, hot guy at the door is our muscle man, Chance.”

Fern threw an uncertain glance at the huge man and caught him rolling his eyes at the irreverent introduction before schooling his handsome features into impassivity again.

“Oh, gosh, I know who you are,” Fern said, her cheeks going bright red. “Iloveyour book. I must have read it five times. Oh… and I know of you too, of course.” This last bit was tacked on awkwardly and directed at the world’s biggest movie star. “But I don’t really watch a lot of movies, I’m afraid.”

Cade hid his grin at her words when he realized that the awe he’d seen in Fern’s eyes had been for Iris and not Trystan Abbot. Which was pretty much the most Fern reaction to the situation ever.

“I’m Fern Hawthorne. This is my husband, Cade.”

Cade exchanged nods with the other couple.

“Good to meet you,” he said, dropping a nonchalant arm around Fern’s narrow shoulders. She was still clutching the partially eaten granola bar in one hand and he leaned toward her and nuzzled her hair aside with his nose to whisper his next words directly into her ear. “Finish your snack, Fern.”

She shot him an irritated look, before pointedly setting the bar on the arm of the couch. Cade bit back a grin at the defiant gesture, but left it at that.

Tim’s head popped around the door.

“Mr. and Mrs. uh…” He consulted his tablet. “Hawthorne, five minutes before we take you backstage to get mic’ed.”

He disappeared again, and Fern moaned before dropping her face in her hands.

“Oh, I think I’m going to be sick,” she murmured.

Cade’s arm tightened around her shoulders.

“Take a couple of deep breaths, okay?” he whispered urgently, but she kept her hands over her face.

“I don’t think I can do this,” she cried.

Chapter

Twenty-One

Cade was startled when Iris Abbott sat down on the sofa next to Fern, her pretty, round face alight with sympathy.

“Hey, Fern?” she said, her voice quiet but authoritative. “C’mon, look at me, love…”

Fern lifted her head, to meet the other woman’s warm gaze. Iris handed her a glass of water.

“You’ll be fine. Honestly? This is mostly new to me as well. And I can’t say I love it, but it’s not all that bad. Mike will make you feel right at home, and you’ll have Cade there to pick up the slack if you find yourself nervous or freezing up.”

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