Page 14 of Hot Mess

“My cousin and her friends could not shut up about you. They dressed me. I’m taped in. How weird is that?”

She gestured at her costume, and it gave me an opportunity to openly ogle her and all of her perfect curves.

“They think you’re super-hot. They would probably pitch a fit right now if they knew you were speaking to me.”

I opened my mouth to say something.

“I’m aware I am a pariah as far as Hollywood cool goes.”

“Would you be surprised if I said I don’t give a fuck about Hollywood cool?” I hated that she felt out of place here. Hell, I felt out of place here. “Look, we clearly belong in each other's company, at least for the evening. You are the Ishtaria I would have liked to have been cast opposite.”

“I could use a party companion. I got ditched by everyone I came in with. And I hate to say this, but most of the people here are not like you.”

“Incredibly handsome, and yet still completely unrecognizable?”

She giggled and my cock jumped at the lyrical sound of her laughter. It wanted more. I wanted more.

“Nice. Funny. You don’t seem like you are here to prove anything. I met Marci Wolf.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said before I thought. Maybe she liked Marci. I shouldn’t have let my personal opinion out.

Kayla sighed. “Oh good. It was so awkward. So, it’s not just me?”

“What did she say?” I was prepared to go to battle for this woman’s honor. Even though I knew Isaac would skin me alive.

Kayla’s nose twitched up. She shook her head. “Nothing obvious. More passive-aggressive than anything else. A lot of this party is passive-aggressive.”

“I think this party is outwardly aggressive. Look, do you want to get out of here with me?” I found a large plant and a column that created a small, secluded space. I backed Kayla into the recess. I stood close, maybe too close for a ‘nice guy.’

“I want to get out of here, but not for the same reasons you do.”

“And why do I want to get out of here?” I ran my knuckle down the side of her cheek with one hand while the other stroked the skin of her arm. I leaned in. The urge to kiss her was automatic. Her lips were soft and silky. She made a small humming noise.

When the kiss ended, she looked up at me with those big eyes of hers. And bit her lower lip. “I’m… I can’t.”

“You aren’t that kind of girl. And I should have paid better attention.”

7

KAYLA

My brain was reeling. Everything was moving at a lightning pace. I was having a hard time keeping up. And now this incredibly handsome man was kissing me. Wanted to kiss me. This party was full of beautiful women, and I was the one he was flirting with, the one he was kissing.

I was a nervous sweaty mess. I really hoped he didn’t notice. He blocked me in, his strong arm on the wall behind me, his broad chest in front of me. I shivered with nerves as he kissed along my neck and ran his fingers down my bare arm.

“Are you all right if we keep doing this?”

His voice was a caress. His lips were stealing my ability to breathe. Everything about him was affecting me. I could barely think straight. I clutched the back of his neck, holding him to me. Maybe I should have agreed to leave with him. If his kisses were like this, what would making love to him feel like?

Was this all right? Yes, yes, this was amazing. Mom would bust a gut if she knew I was at a party making out with a half-naked man. I was about to bust a gut if I thought about it too much.

Los Angeles was so much more than I ever imagined it to be. I never expected to be at some celebrity-filled party. I certainly hadn’t expected one of Hollywood’s favorite leading men to be interested in me. The last thing I wanted was to say something embarrassingly stupid.

“I like kissing you, Nick.”

He laughed. “Damn, that’s good. I like kissing you too. I get it, you not being able to get out of here with me. We just met, but can I at least see you again?”

He stood up and eased back from me. After rummaging in a pouch on his belt, he held out his cell phone. A movie star was holding out his cell phone to me. I stared at it and back at his face. I only knew he was a star because my cousin told me, showed me his picture, and waxed poetic about how hot and bang-able he was. Right now, he was just a man, incredibly handsome, and interested in me. I think that was more nerve-wracking than his celebrity status.

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