Page 143 of Out of the Gold

Melody

Time has passedin a blur. I’m taking our engagement slow, enjoying the process as much as possible. I toss a copy ofBride’sonto the coffee table and rest my head on my fiancé’s wide, muscular shoulder.

“What’s next on our to-do list?”

Charles has been so supportive in planning, having definite ideas on our décor. Especially the flowers, which he’s insisted all be shades of yellow. To match my hair. I fiddle with a long lock of it.

“I think we need to plan our honeymoon.”

He turns toward me. “Now you’re talking.” He kisses me, and all thoughts of wedding plans scatter.

My finger traces his cheek, ending in the dent in his chin. “You’re so hot.”

His eyes sparkle. “That’s what a man likes to hear from his woman.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Although your beauty eclipses mine.”

I accept his exquisitely-worded lie. I know I’m not special in the looks department, but Charles sees me this way, and I’m not about to argue. I rest my head on his shoulder. “I think we’ve gotten a lot of the major stuff taken care of for the wedding for a while. And we’ll figure out a super-awesome honeymoon.” I trace a heart on his upper chest. “I was thinking that we could work on something a bit different.”

“Uh-oh. What are you thinking?” He taps my forehead.

“Nothing bad. I was thinking I’d like to move. I love this condo, but my parents bought it for me when I went to college. I’d like to get something for us.”

“I like the sound of that, Goldie. Our place.”

I nod, my head bouncing on his body. “In the City, right?”

“Since I’m now a bona fide Broadway actor, I totally agree. I have my house out in LA that I can sell. We’ll never live out there.”

“Are you sure?”

Charles shrugs. “Yeah. We can use the profit as a down payment.” Not that we need any help in that area.

Blood races through my body and I kiss his cheek. “I’ll let Daddy know he’s getting this place back.”

His hands close around my body, and he rubs them up and down my back. “Our place. I like the sound of that. Stay in the Upper East?”

“Yeah. I like it up here. Maybe right on Central Park?”

He hugs me closer, his nose breathing in the vanilla from my shampoo. “I’m down with that.”

“Do you think we could hire King and Angie to find it for us?”

He pulls back. “That sounds like a great idea. I know they’re set up out in the Hamptons, but I trust them to find us something perfect.”

“Great.” I text my brother. We’ve spent more time together than ever, and he’s a pretty great guy. And the fact Angie will be my sister-in-law rocks. “I can’t wait to see what they have to show us.”

My phone dings with an incoming text. “King says he’s on board.”

“Great.”

“And he wants to know if we want to be featured on his reality TV show.”

Charles removes his body from mine. “Not great.”

I cock my head. “Why not? Having us on their show might help out their already high ratings. He is my brother, after all.”

He combs his hand through his hair. “I know King’s your brother. But I’m acting on Broadway now. I’m not looking to boost my next movie.”

“I know that. But you’re still a big movie star—”

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