Page 6 of The Price of Fame

He smiled as her eyes grew bright, and her face lit up as she laughed. As she scolded the dog, her laugh got louder when she looked at him. Glancing down at himself, he noticed he was the one who got most of the sand and water.

Chuckling, he pulled her to him and couldn’t resist. His lips brushed hers, and his hands trailed down her back. Slowly his tongue slipped out, and he traced over where her tongue had been only minutes before. She tasted better than he imagined, a combination of chocolate and mint.

Her dog shook his wet coat again, and Kylie pulled away, giggling. Markus wished his running shorts weren’t so tight because there was no way he could hide how he felt. They walked in silence to her house.

Kylie sat on her bed, looking at her closet.

What do you wear to the Reptile Park with your fantasy man?

Her mind kept going back to the kiss. He had tasted like coffee and mint, which wasn’t what she expected with his fresh outdoor smell. The kiss had been mind-blowing, so much so that the whole walk back to her house she hadn’t known what to say. Her body tingled all over from his touch. Kylie’s shower had been cold and lonely.

She reached for her phone and called one of her girlfriends, Gemma. “I’m stuck. Help!”

“Well, hello to you too. What have I been up to, you ask? Why nothing much. Haven’t seen or heard from my friend in over a week, and she calls me up out of the blue asking for help.”

“Sorry, I know I’m a bad friend, but I’ve been kinda busy. I‘ve met my inspiration. And that inspiration has asked me to go with him to the Reptile Park. He’s also invited himself on my morning walks. What do I—”

Before she could finish, she was met with, “What? Why have you waited this long to tell me? When did this happen? How?”

Kylie hadn’t said anything to Gemma before because she knew her friend would make a big deal out of it. It also didn’t help that James and Gemma hated each other, and now that she thought about it, she and Gemma were probably the only two women in the whole of Caves Beach who were single and hadn’t slept with James.

“Gemma, don’t worry. You didn’t miss anything really. I’ve been stalking him all week. Sorta. I’ve been making sure I’m at the beach every morning as he stretches and goes for a run, and yesterday he was late. I was lying down, chucking Buddha’s ball, and I hit him. He came up to me, introduced himself as Markus, and I swear as soon as he touched me, I felt tingles all over my body.” She shivered as she remembered his touch. “Markus invited me to go to the Reptile Park with him. The problem is I don’t have a clue what to wear.”

Gemma squealed on the other end of the line. “Oh! I’ll be there in five.” Without another word, Gemma hung up.

Great, now she’d probably have to introduce her to Markus, or she’d never hear the end of it. Falling back on her bed, she groaned. A few minutes passed before her doorbell rang.

Gemma pushed past Kylie when she opened the door. “Oh my God! You’re still in a towel. When is he going to be here?”

Kylie stared at Gemma as she grabbed her hand, dragging Kylie to her bedroom.

Gemma bounced with excitement. Her red hair in its ponytail swished from side to side, and her blue eyes were bright. She wouldn’t let Kylie get a word in. “I’ve waited years for you to start dating again or just become interested in men.” Gemma paused and patted Kylie’s arm. “I know losing your parents was hard, and your sister being a total bitch didn’t help matters, but the last two years have been dull without you.”

Kylie laughed as her friend jumped up and down.

“Yay, this Saturday, after you help dickhead with his classes, we’re going out partying.” Gemma started to rummage through Kylie’s closet, mumbling, “Look at me. I’m so excited. I need to focus on you and getting you through today.”

Kylie watched as Gemma chucked clothes at her, making her try on everything until she’d finally had enough. “Okay, Gemma, I’m happy with this set.” She looked at herself in the mirror at the black singlet top and denim shorts, which she’d teamed with black gladiator sandals. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and put lip gloss on.

Closing her eyes, she tried to calm her pounding heart. She glanced at her watch and sighed in relief. “He might not even come. He should’ve been here by now.”

Gemma glanced around at the mess she’d just made, shrugged, and then turned back to her. “He’ll be here. I’ve got a good feeling about this with everything you’ve told me. I want every detail, too, when we go shopping on Tuesday.” Gemma looked into Kylie’s now-empty closet. “I know that’s one of your days off. You, my friend, are in desperate need of a new wardrobe.”

Studying the pile sprawled across her room, Kylie saw almost all the clothes were either faded or tattered. She tried to remember the last time she’d bought a new outfit. It must have been some time before her parents died.

She knew they wouldn’t have wanted her to put her life on hold for as long as she had. They would have wanted her to have fun and embrace what she’d been given. Feeling lighter than she had in years, she slowly took a deep breath and let go of her past, promising herself she would try and live life to the fullest again.

Glancing back at her friend, she nodded. “All right. I hate to admit this, but you’re right. No more moping about. Tuesday will be our shopping day.”

Gemma jumped up and down. “This is going to be so much fun. I love shopping, and I get to spend someone else’s money. That’s even better.”

A loud knock sounded on her door, and she shot a glare at Gemma. “Be good.” Gemma gave a huff as she followed behind.

Kylie opened the door, and her breath caught at the sight before her. Markus was so handsome, and all he had on were jean shorts and a plain black shirt with sunglasses sticking out of his shirt pocket.

Gemma whispered, “Holy shit.”

Markus had been staring intently and took a step back, startled as he glanced at Gemma.

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