Page 18 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
As they neared the theater, his nerves became addled again. Paparazzi were known for stalking theaters and restaurants. Luckily, Jay was adept at evasion. He’d worked for Josh for five years, and in that time, had never let him down. He drove two blocks past the stone-faced theater and turned down a dark street.
Josh told Jay they’d walk home and opened Riley’s doorfor her.
“Didn’t we just pass the theater?” Riley asked as she stepped from the car.
“We’re just avoiding the media hounds. I don’t think you want to deal with Claudia seeing us on the front page of the newspaper tomorrow, do you?”
Her eyes grew wide. “Goodness, no.”
He couldn’t fight the urge any longer. He leaned in and kissed her quickly on the lips, wanting to do so much more. As he pulledaway, she leaned in and deepened the kiss, telling him everything he needed to know.
“Come on,” he said, taking her hand in his. They hurried around the corner.
“Mr. Braden, what a pleasure to see you.” The older gentleman who greeted them inside the back entrance had thinning gray hair and wore a white dress shirt and gray slacks. “Ms. Banks, we hope you enjoy the show.”
Riley squeezed Josh’shand. “Thank you,” she said.
When Josh made the arrangements for the tickets, he’d also prepared Frank Rimmel for their entrance. He could see by the light in Riley’s eyes that she felt as special as he had hoped she would. “Frank has run the doors here for twenty years. Thank you, Frank,” Josh said, and followed the concrete hallway through a maze that grew more magnificent with each step. Theywound their way down a heavily traveled red carpet to center-stage seats.
Riley let go of Josh’s hand as she took her seat, and Josh felt the emptiness like a missing friend.How could that happen so fast?
“This is so exciting. How did you get tickets so quickly?” Riley asked with wide eyes. She scanned the stage, the audience, and finally Josh. “Thank you for taking me here.”
“The show iscalledFirst Date. I thought it was appropriate, so I made a few phone calls,” Josh answered. He slid his hand into hers.
She looked at him with warmth in her eyes, and as she leaned toward him, he thought she might initiate a kiss. She whispered, “First Date?Really? You’re so thoughtful. This is incredible. It’s so majestic but so intimate at the same time. I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore,Toto,” she joked.
In the flash of her words, Josh was thrown back to the concert once again: comfortable and happy and full of wonder about the woman who had reentered his life without warning.
The musical comedy began, and Josh watched Riley more than he watched the show. Her laugh was loud and hearty and anything but feminine. She threw her head back with her mouth open and roared; tears ofjoy streamed from her eyes. Her enjoyment was infectious, and Josh found himself not curtailing his own laugh for the first time in years. He was so used to making sure he was projecting an appropriate image for a man of his status that he hadn’t realized how much of his life had been impacted by his career. Or perhapslimitedwas a better word.
By the time the show ended, Riley’s tears of laughterhad washed away most of her makeup, revealing the natural beauty that lay beneath. Her high cheekbones shone pink, and her thick lashes set off the glow of yellows and greens in her hazel eyes. Josh felt a tug in his heart, the speed of which threw him for a loop.
As they headed for the front exit, Riley slowed her pace. “Shouldn’t we go out the back?”
He’d been so caught up in her that he’dalmost forgotten. “The back will be swarming with people trying to get autographs. We’re better off going out the front with a bit of cover.” The last thing he wanted was to let go of her hand, but if he had any hope of shielding her from the media, they had to exit separately. Chances were strong that there wouldn’t be any media out front. Photographers usually stalked the back entrance after theshows to take pictures of the actors.
The thought of anyone but Claudia seeing them holding hands didn’t bother Josh, but Claudia could make Riley’s life miserable. “Riley, we should walk out like we’re not together. I’m really sorry, but just in case. It’s probably for the best. You can leave first, and I’ll follow. Go to your left and I’ll meet you around the corner.”
“Oh, good idea. You’reso sneaky.” Riley laughed. She let go of his hand and whispered, “I feel like I’m sneaking around in high school or something.”
“Me too, but you’re the last person I want to sneak with,” he said honestly.
She frowned, and he realized she thought he meant something other than what he’d intended.
“I mean I’d rather walk out holding your hand, but I don’t want to give Claudia a reason to treatyou any differently.”
“Why do you let her be that way?” Riley asked.
“I don’t let her. Claudia is who she is. There’s no changing her personality, but she’s the best design assistant anyone could have, and…she’s Peter’s niece.”
Riley flushed and looked down.
“What?” Josh asked.
“I thought you two were, you know…”
Josh shook his head. “What on earth would make you think that?” If Claudiahad planted that seed in Riley’s mind, he’d speak to her first thing in the morning.Thatwas going too far.
