Page 63 of Hot Mess

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kayla asked as she stepped out of the skirt.

I could help but stare at her as she stood there in the shapewear, she wore under the fancy dresses. I knew it was all about functionality and binding and supporting, but it was pretty damned sexy in its own right.

“Are you serious? You’re showing up dressed as a couple. And I’ve heard a rumor…”

I shook my head furiously. Grace needed to stop now.

The look on Kayla’s face said I was too late.

“Grace, what are you talking about?”

“You should probably ask him.” She pointed right at me before returning to sorting through the dresses on the rack.

“Nick?”

I grimaced. Busted. I had intended on telling her last night, but the second I had her in my arms I forgot about anything other than how many orgasms I could give her before I couldn’t handle it anymore. Three, I made it to three before I had to be inside of her.

Maybe if I hadn’t let her out of my sight for two weeks, I could have held off longer. Then again, maybe not. I loved how she turned me inside out. Orgasms with her were more intense than I could remember. Maybe my body just really, really wanted to get her pregnant. I had to stop thinking that way, because I found that idea entirely too appealing. The last thing I wanted to do was accidentally compromised a condom. Pregnancy was her choice, not mine.

I shrugged. “So maybe on set I told a few people they needed to not disrespect my fiancée the next time she was around if they wanted to continue on projects I was associated with.”

“Fiancée? You told people we were engaged?”

“Grace, can you give us a minute?” She was already headed toward the door when I asked her to step out.

“It’s not a big deal.”

She covered her mouth and looked at the clothes racks. “That’s why the couple’s look. Oh Nick, I don’t know if I can do this.”

I stood and crossed the room to her. Part of me understood her panic, part of me was not happy. Why wasn’t she happy that I had told people we were engaged? It wasn’t such a bad idea, was it?

“It’s just a rumor. The matchy-poo outfits play off of that. It doesn’t mean anything. You won’t be wearing any rings, and if anyone asks, you can’t confirm that.”

Her jaw dropped a few times. “That’s only going to make people think we are hiding something.”

“Look, the studio is going to eat it up. If you’re worried about your mom finding out, just tell her the truth, and please do not say anything to anyone else.”

“I can’t tell my mom!” Kayla sat on the edge of the dais and put her head in her hands. “My mom thinks I work for a personal assistant and that you are one of my boss’s clients and an old man.”

“Hey, fourteen years isn’t that much older than you. So your mother doesn’t know why you’re in LA?”

She shook her head. “And my cousin is spying for her. If I’m fake engaged and they find out… What am I going to do Nick? You said I was going to be a pretty girl in the background, no one would notice me, and the studio would get off your back.”

I sat next to her and pulled her against my chest. “Look Kayla, you are not just a pretty girl in the background anymore, are you? You are so much more than that. I was mad that someone on that set hurt your feelings, and it was the only way I could think of to get them to treat you with the respect you deserve. We have tonight and then I’m gone again for another month finishing up this shoot. I don’t want you mad at me.”

“I’m not mad, Nick.”

“No, but you are worried. Right now, it’s simply a rumor. I may have started it, but there is no truth behind it.” My chest tightened as I tried to soothe her. Having anything fake with Kayla was simply not possible for me. Our fake dating hadn’t lasted long before I made something official between us.

Maybe I should consider making what we had more official. I certainly reacted to her on a physical level in a way I never had before. Well, today wasn’t the time to be thinking about this.

We had a red carpet to get ready for, and the longer we kept Grace, the more we pushed back the rest of the team. There were still manicures and hair and makeup to be done.

“Hollywood is full of random rumors, how you respond to them is the true measure of your character. You can continue to tell your mother I’m an old man you work for, and your cousin can shove it. Ignore it all. Keep your eyes on me all night. If anyone asks you a question you don’t like, tell them to ask me.”

I tipped her face up so I could look into her eyes.

“Can you do that for me?”

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