Page 6 of Call Sign: King
The problem was, Khloe understood too. That didn’t stop her distress at not being able to share some of the most important moments in her life with the man she loved.
Pushing down her disappointment, she tried to change the subject. “I wish you’d steered the production company towards giving the exclusive to someone better than Kathleen O’Malley. She’s always rubbed me the wrong way.”
Angie paused long enough from checking her own reflection to answer. “I don’t particularly care for her either, but her show is moving up in the ratings and there’s talk of her weekly podcast hitting syndication. Not to mention, the e-magazine version of her program is now being translated into six languages. She’s too big to ignore.”
Trevor came to her aid. “I’m not saying we need to ignore her, but I’m with Khloe. O’Malley is the Rita Skeeter of Hollywood. She’s ruined as many careers as she’s helped. I don’t trust her at all.”
“Who the hell is Rita Skeeter?” Michael, Khloe’s second bodyguard asked obtusely.
Ricky, who Khloe was pretty sure had a crush on Michael, swatted the muscular guy’s thigh playfully while answering. “Haven’t you read Harry Potter, silly?”
“I don’t have time to read,” her guard replied.
Khloe found it curious Michael didn’t bother removing Ricky’s hand. Was it possible the two of them were a thing? One glance at Trevor told her he was thinking the same thing.
The limo had slowed to an almost stop during their conversation as they approached the venue. Khloe looked out at the throng of adoring fans and photographers being held back by a flimsy red velvet stanchion rope. In spite of her disappointment that she’d once again be walking the red carpet alone, the excitement of opening night festivities couldn’t be denied. By almost any measure, the movie was a success, and she really did know just how lucky she was to live the life she lived.
“Showtime!” Ricky announced as the limo stopped just in front of the grand entrance to Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Festive balloons and bright spotlights swayed in the early evening breeze. “Good luck tonight,” he added as the passenger door next to Khloe opened. “I’ll meet you at the other end of the gauntlet.”
When Trevor failed to step out of the car first as he always did, she threw him a look. Why was he breaking their normal security protocol?
The grin on his face was her first clue, but she didn’t get her hopes up until a hand reached into the back seat from the sidewalk next to her. Seconds later, the love of her life leaned down, poking his head into the back seat.
“You gonna leave me hanging out here all alone, Princess?”
Ryder’s mischievous grin made her tummy do flips, just as it had been doing for the years they’d known each other.
“You came,” she managed to blurt out, placing her hand in his.
“You doubted me?” he teased.
“Not normally, but since I know how much you’ve dreaded stepping onto the red carpet with me, I admit I wasn’t sure you’d show.”
Leaning in farther while closing the car door to shield them from the photographers, Ryder snuck in a quick kiss. Khloe didn’t even mind if he smudged her lipstick.
“Baby, I know how important this is to you and to be honest, I can’t wait to see the finished movie after hearing all about it during filming. I happen to have it on good authority that the leading lady is the most talented actress in town.”
“You don’t have to butter me up, you know. I’m going to sleep with you tonight with or without the compliments,” Khloe teased, feeling almost giddy that she was going to get to share this important night with her secret husband.
“Oh, don’t I know it. Let’s get in there and get the party started. The sooner we start, the sooner I can get you home to that bed.”
Khloe had just started to move when Ryder’s smile dipped. “Remember, I’m just your security detail. No names. No PDA.”
“I know, I know,” she confirmed, still wishing she could shout her love for this amazing man from the rooftops.
Patience. Maybe one day.
As Khloe stepped out into the summer’s night air, the calls of her name from the nearby crowd overpowered the loud clicks of the photographer’s cameras. She plastered on her show-business smile, waving to the fans as she moved in the direction of the media gauntlet.
Just knowing Ryder was following a few feet behind her made her happier than she could ever remember. The only thing that could make tonight be any better was if he could be holding her hand… or placing his hand possessively on her lower back to show the world she was his. Unfortunately, the only place they felt free to be seen together like that, other than at one of their homes, was at Black Light, the secret BDSM club her old friends owned.
Shouts of “Khloe, who are you wearing?” warred with “Can I get your autograph?” as she moved down the red carpet, stopping often at the multiple step-and-repeat stations hosted by the competing media outlets and sponsors. Having started her career in her teens as a runway model came in handy as she worked the best poses and angles to her advantage.
Half-way down the long walkway, she found a group of her co-stars from the movie already there waiting for her. Relieved to be part of a group, the cast had fun posing for photos together, hamming it up for the reporters there to get a scoop.
As much fun as she was having, Khloe found it hard not to keep glancing in Ryder’s direction — in part thrilled that he was nearby on such an important night in her career — in part longing for him to be hugging her close.
Her feet were beginning to ache in her too-high heels by the time she arrived at the final media stop before entering the theater. Thankfully, the Entertainment Roundup team had set up inside the air-conditioned lobby, otherwise she was sure they’d capture lines of sweat beading down her face to drip onto her sequined gown.
