Page 288 of The Perfect Spiral
“Nope, it’s a surprise... Don’t pull that face with me, baby doll! It won’t work...”
I pout at him, giving him my best puppy dog eyes. It usually works, but he shuts his eyes like he did in New York. Dammit!
“Alex, stop that! I want it to be a surprise!” He laughs at my antics. I should’ve known he’d close his eyes. He knows me too well. I lean up on my toes and give him a quick kiss on his lips.
“Fine... it better be good,” I tease him. I know it will be. He knows what I like. “No pressure,” he chuckles, playfully punching my shoulder.
Chapter 105
Hours later, I have two cats wailing on my bed, attempting to sing along to ‘Love Me Like You Do’ by Ellie Goulding. They’rebutchering the song.
My phone buzzes on the dressing table where I’m sitting, doing my hair and makeup for my date tonight. It feels like a dream, and any minute I’m going to wake up and I’ll be in my bed in Cali.
I burst out laughing at his message, but my two best friends are too engrossed in their song to notice. I quickly type back a reply, chuckling to myself.
His response is immediate.
I finish curling the last strand of hair around the wand, then grab the texture spray. I spritz a small amount into my hands and work it through my hair, breaking up the curls.
Slipping into my lilac dress and stepping into my strappy heels, I tousle my hair until it falls in loose waves. I swipe on a layer of pink lip balm and turn to face my friends, who have fallen silent.
“You look amazing, Alex! Can I borrow—”
“Yes,” I interrupt Andy, rolling my eyes at her. We’re all the same size, which is fortunate. We often borrow each other’s clothes.
“Okay, let’s go!” I grab my clutch and unlock the door. My best friends fall into step behind me. As I descend the stairs, I see him waiting by the door, chatting with the guys.
He halts mid-sentence to watch me make my way down. His smile grows wider with each step I take in my heels. Once I reach the bottom step, he extends his hand to assist me.
“You look beautiful, Alex,” he murmurs. I blush and smile at him. I take a few more steps closer to him and he leans down to kiss me softly.
“You look handsome, Knox,” I manage to say, my breath hitching at the sight of him. He’s dressed in a black suit with notie, a crisp white shirt neatly tucked in. His hair is tamed back, but still casual.
Taking my hand, we wave everyone off and I slide into the car. I wait for him to walk around and get into the driver’s seat. Once he’s in, he takes hold of my hand.
I can’t stop staring at him. He’s so sexy, and he’s all mine. I’m so engrossed in him that I don’t realize the car has stopped until he turns to me with a wide grin on his face.
Then the flashes surround us in the vehicle.
“Shit! I can’t go anywhere with you,” he jokes, staring out the window.
“Me?! I believe they’re here for you, Knox. Not me,” I retort, unbuckling my seat belt. He does the same, and I hear the swish of the material retracting.
Muffled screams echo behind the glass panes. Bodies rush around, trying to get a good angle.
“They’re here for us. They just want to get the first picture of us together. Our first outing as a couple... it’s stupid, but I want to show you off,” he says, grinning even wider.
“I don’t want to be shown off, Knox. I’m not a thing. I’m a person. I don’t need them in my business, seriously, I don’t want anything to do with the media,” I reply, my tone serious.
“I’m kidding, I know, babe. Just hold onto me until we’re inside,” he says, opening the door. He pauses, turning back to me. “You are absolutely the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, baby doll,” he says, making me grin.
I can’t stop. This is a side of him I’ve never seen before. I love it.
I take my clutch in my hands and hear my door open, along with screams from the crowd. I slip my hand into his open one andglide out of the car without a stumble.
Patting myself on the back for not making a fool of myself, he closes the door and starts to walk in front of me. There are so many paparazzi in the way, I still don’t even know where we are.
“Alex! Knox! First date as a couple?”
