Page 46 of Hot Mess

“When it gets out who your family is, Hollywood and the paps will explode with rumors and conspiracy theories.”

“And that’s why it won’t get out,” I grumbled.

“They won’t hear it from me. Now if you are picking Kayla up you had better text her that you are headed over. By the way, she looks fabulous.”

“Hey, aren’t you going to show me the picture she sent?”

“Why would I do that? It will ruin the surprise.”

Isaac was right. When she stepped out of the hotel to climb into my car, she looked amazing.

19

KAYLA

Nick sat in his old convertible grinning at me. I made my indies flutter, and my toes curl up. He was a complete package in what had to be an old comfortable leather jacket, a tight band tee, and that car.

The doorman opened the car door and I slid into the passenger seat.

My cheeks hurt from smiling. I couldn’t believe I was in a convertible with a movie star on Christmas Eve. It felt unreal. It felt too good, like a dream I didn’t even know I had come true.

“What kind of event is this? Isaac said it was casual. I hope what I’m wearing is okay.”

I wore the only pair of jeans I owned. They were high-waisted, and boot cut in dark indigo. They were very much, not cool looking. Neither was the sweater I wore. I did have a draping neckline, and it displayed some cleavage. I figured that had to be what I needed to do.

Nick’s gaze felt like a touch, the way he raked it over my body, and let it hover on my chest made me blush. No one ever looked at me the way he did. I was either naiver than I was aware of, or he really did look at me with all the interest a grown man could physically have in a woman.

It was thrilling to be on the receiving end of that look. I probably looked at him as if he were good enough to eat. He had to be used to it. After all, he was a Hollywood hunk, known for his dashing good looks and rippling muscles.

I doubted it meant anything from him. I was certain he was ignoring the way I looked at him. It still made me shiver with the thrill of it. I just needed to keep that feeling tucked away, or I would embarrass myself.

“I didn’t pack anything for a Christmas event. Isaac didn’t send over a stylist. I’m sorry I wasn’t prepared.”

Nick laughed. “You look fabulous. And do you see what I’m wearing” He gestured at himself as if I hadn’t already sucked in eyefuls of him the second, I stepped out of the hotel.

“This isn’t an event. It’s a casual party.”

“A what?” I gulped. The last party I went to had ended rather abruptly. I had been overwhelmed and out of my league. But I had met Nick. And so far, that was turning into something I was really glad of.

Except for the blackmailing. I could do without that. I wanted to push that out of my mind for the night, but it found a way to seep into my mind at the least opportune moments.

“Isaac didn’t prepare me, or anything. He just told me to be ready.”

“Yeah, about that…”

I glared at him from the corner of my eye.

“Isaac didn’t text you. I did, from his phone. I didn’t want to seem like I was overstepping my boundaries in this weird situation we have found ourselves in.”

“You could have texted me, Nick. It’s okay. I mean, I am here to go to events and parties with you. That’s the point. Right?”

“It is, but mostly for when we will be seen together. The paps won’t be there tonight. The only cameras will be in people’s phones.”

I swallowed down panic. “Phone cameras take pictures too.”

“They do, but tonight’s dinner is with friends, people I know from work. It’s small.”

“It’s small?” Those words were not as comforting as Nick seemed to think they were. “How small. Are people going to talk to me?”

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