Page 111 of Out of the Gold

“I wanted to catch you before all hell broke loose once the shoot is done.” He clicks his pen. “I’ve arranged for you to bring Cherie Adams to the red carpet.”

He looks at me expectantly, wanting praise for scoring one of the hottest young actresses as my date. I fail to applaud. I want to bring Melody, now more than ever.

“Did you hear what I just said?TheCherie Adams will be on your arm.”

“I heard you. Whatever.”

“Dude. Cherie Adams is not a ‘whatever.’ She’s the ultimate.”

No one compares with Goldie. “Yeah.” I finger the bodysuit hanging up. “Fine.” I double-check the snaps.

Thomas’s eyebrows disappear into his hairline. Behind him, the trailer door opens and Melody jumps in.

“I’m so sorry it took me longer than I thought to shower and get here, Charles!” She stops dead when she realizes we’re not alone. “I mean, Chase, I apologize for getting here late.”

“That’s okay, Melody. I haven’t been here long. Thomas and I were wrapping up some details.”

Thomas’s eyes take on a calculating beam. He looks between Melody and me several times and clicks his pen. “I just told him I scored Hollywood’s hottest star to be on his arm for theI Was Made for Herred carpet. The media will go crazy.”

“Oh.” Melody drops her tote bag next to her design suitcase and opens the top level. “Who, exactly, is that?”

Thomas straightens. “Cherie Adams.”

Goldie’s face takes on a decidedly green hue. “Wow. Yes, she is quite the score, Thomas.”

The pen’s clicking is the trailer’s only noise. Until Melody gives me the boxer briefs. “I need to get sewing.”

Before I move, Thomas says, “I’ve got tons to do for tonight’s wrap party. It’s the end of an era. Gonna be a blast.”

“Great. I’ll see you back here later.”

While he ambles down the hall, I rush into the bathroom and change into Troy Oro’s underwear. Nearly naked, I stride into the main area and grab the leggings. Sliding them up my body, I say, “I want to walk the red carpet with you.”

“I know you do. But even if I had changed my mind, Thomas has already lined up your date for the evening.”

“No one but you is my type.”

“After this red carpet’s over, we’ll come out as a couple, okay? I promise.”

Elation overcomes me for a moment. “I wish we could do it now.”

She drops the pillow to the floor, needle in hand. “Not too much longer.”

Bending down, I kiss her lips. “I’m holding you to that, Miss Hunte.”

She giggles as she sews me into the costume.

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