Craving Her Curves (7 page)

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“I
s that your way of letting me know that you’d like a second date?” I asked. Joey turned and grinned at me.

“There is no way I wouldn’t want another date with you, Miss Rivera,” he said.

You know that moment when the world seems to slow around you and you just know that something wonderful is about to happen? That was what was going on in that car just then. Nothing else mattered as we sat there together, our fingers intertwined as we leaned closer and closer across the cabin. We talked about our day lives, our jobs, and our friends and families. The heat of his breath on my lips made me pause as my pulse sped a touch, and it happened: the perfect kiss. He moved towards me just as I moved towards him, and poetry happened. It was wonderful.  It was safe. It was... causing lightning?

“What was that?” I asked as he pulled back and immediately began looking around.

“Oh hell,” he muttered as the man with the camera continued snapping pictures. I frowned.

“Paparazzi?” I asked, covering my face with my hand. He sighed and nodded.

“Yeah, sorry about that. It happens at the worst times,” he said with a grin. I laughed and shook my head.

“That’s going to take some getting used to,” I muttered with a laugh. He snickered and shrugged.

“He got us on film already, so I might as well kiss you goodnight before I go. It’s getting late, and I’ve got practice at 6 AM,” he said. I glanced over at the radio. It was three in the morning.

“You are going to be so tired tomorrow,” I said softly, suddenly feeling bad about sitting in my car and making out like a teenager with him. He laughed again.

“You’re adorable. I’ll be fine, don’t worry,” he said, motioning for me to come to him again and kissing me deeply before he reluctantly climbed out of the car.

“Good night,” I said softly. He leaned down with a smile.

“Good night, Charlotte. I call you tomorrow,” he said. I smiled, nodded, and backed out of the space with my head in the clouds.

T
he phone ringing jerked me from my sleep way before I was ready to be coherent, but I answered it anyway. I just wasn’t really nice about it.

“What?” I mumbled.

“Wake up!” Isobel said firmly into the phone. Izzy wasn’t ever that demanding. I sat up from the pillow.

“I’m awake. What’s wrong?” I asked.

“You are all over the Dallas news,” she said. I sighed.

“We’re all in the news pretty frequently, Izzy. We go to a lot of popular parties. Why is this a big deal?” I asked, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.

“Because they headline doesn’t normally read ‘
Pinks
Sultry Charlotte Snares Dallas’s Hottest Bachelor’,” she said. I had to let that one sink in for a second.

“What?” I asked.

“That’s
IT
magazine’s headline.
Nightlife
 chose to go with ‘Curvy New Girlfriend for Joey Parker’. They’re all like this, Char,” she said. Slowly, horror set in.

“Oh no,” I said, my face in my hand now.

“They’ve got pictures of you guys kissing in a car? Way to go, Char! But this is bad,” she said. I sighed.

“Yeah, I know,” I said softly.

“Have you heard from him?” she asked.

“No, but he’s got practice today, he might not even know yet.”

“Right. You might want to give him a warning call. Or maybe his agent,” she suggested.

“Yeah. I’ll call you back,” I said, before ending the call. And that was when it started, as if Izzy calling had opened the flood gates. My phone rang before I could dial Joey’s number.

“Charlotte Rivera,” I said.

“Charlotte, just who I wanted to talk to. How are you doing today, love?” That was Kelly Hence. She worked for
Nightlife
, and I couldn’t stand her. She couldn’t stand me either, which meant she wanted something, because she was being relatively nice.

“What, Kelly?” I sighed.

“I was hoping I could talk to you about these pictures of you with Dallas’s hottest bachelor,” she said. I flopped back onto the bed.

“No.”

“Oh, come on, Char. I know we’ve had our differences in the past, but can’t we put that behind us?” she purred. I closed my eyes.

“Goodbye, Kelly,” I said, ending the call.  It immediately rang again.

“Charlotte Rivera.” 

“Charlotte, what happened last night?” It was Jade. I sighed.

“Apparently, I went out with the wrong man,” I said. Jade laughed.

“There has been press camped outside of the office for hours already,” she said. I frowned.

“It’s not even a normal work day,” I squealed.

“Yeah, but here they are, waiting for you. You might want to stay inside today; if they’re here, they’re probably outside of your building, too,” she said. I groaned and covered my face.

“I knew I should have turned him down,” I said.

“That’s not fair, Char. This isn’t his fault and you know it,” she said. I sighed. I did know it, but that wasn’t really the point.

“I’m a prisoner in my own apartment, Jade,” I said. She sighed on the other end.

“I know. For what it’s worth, the pictures of you two kissing are really cute, in a grainy, taken while crouched in the bushes kind of way,” she said. I laughed.

“Thanks?” I replied.

“Look, you know we aren’t going to run a story on it, so you don’t have to worry about anyone here harassing you, but I’m not sure how you’re going to be able to get around in the meantime,” she said. I sighed yet again.

“Yeah,” I said softly.

“Is Joey being harassed, too?”

“Not sure. He had practice this morning, so he’s out at the practice facility,” I said. Jade hesitated.

“Okay. Stay in the house. Try and get Joey, and don’t answer your phone for anyone you don’t know. Talking to them, even just to say ‘leave me alone’, will just prolong how long they’ll harass you about this,” she said. I nodded.

“Right. Thanks, Jade,” I said.

“No problem. Good luck,” she said, then Jade ended the call. And it rang. Again. And just that fast, out of force of habit, I answered it.

“Charlotte Rivera.”

“Ms. Rivera, please hold for Michael Johnson,” A nasally voiced woman said. I sat up. Michael was national news. Holy crap. There was no way I was doing that, as I hadn’t even gotten to talk to Joey yet.  Instead, I hung up. And it rang again. And again. And again. Three hours later, I took the battery out of the phone.

I didn’t even bother trying to turn the phone on until almost midnight that night. It rang instantly, and I almost threw it across the room, until I saw that it was Joey’s number. I sighed and answered.

“Hey,” I said, sitting down on the couch.

“Hey, I’ve been trying to call you since I heard what's going on,” he said gently. I sighed.

“Yeah, my phone wouldn’t stop ringing with people wanting to interview me about our date last night, so I turned it off,” I said.

“I’m sorry about that. I really didn’t think it would turn into something this big,” he said.

“Yeah, I know. This is insane,” I said. We sat there in silence for a few moments.

“I think it’s just because...” he started, then stopped.

“Joey, I didn’t sign up for all of this. I’m not even totally excited about seriously dating,” I said softly.

“We’ve only been on one date, Charlotte. It hasn’t been long enough to be considered serious yet; the press just makes it seem like that. I really had no idea it was going to be like this, seriously,” he said. I sighed.

“I know, but the fact remains that this insanity is part and parcel with the whole going out with Joey Parker thing. Serious or not. I don’t need this, Joey; I have enough going on in my life,” I said.

“Are you breaking up with me after one date?” he asked.

“I’m just saying that I don’t think I’m the right girl for you. You need someone who is okay with all of this, all the time. I’m not okay with this after one day!” I said, putting my arm across my eyes. I had a headache.

“I disagree,” he said. I paused.

“You disagree with what, exactly?” I asked.

“I think that you are the girl for me, Char,” he said. He sounded so sincere, too.

“How can you say that after one date and a day of pure hell?” I asked.

He laughed softly. “I just know. I can feel it in my gut,” he said. I snorted.

“Your gut?” I repeated.

“Yeah, my gut. I always follow my instincts: they never steer me wrong. And right now, they are telling me that you are the girl for me,” he said.

“You want me to live in my own personal circle of hell because your gut says so?” I said with a grin. He laughed softly.

“Look, I can’t do anything about the press. You know even better than I do, they’re going to do what they want regardless; they’re going to keep calling you, me, and anyone else they think might know something until they either get what they want, or another story comes along,” he said. I sighed.

“You’re right,” I replied.

“I wish I could take it all, so you wouldn’t have to deal with it, but I can’t. What I can do is ask that you don’t hold it against me. Give me one more chance, Charlotte. Let me cook dinner for you tomorrow at my place. There won’t be any paparazzi around to take any more pictures here. Just you, me, and my cooking,” he said. I sighed again. I needed Isobel to be here and tell me what to do.

“I don’t know,” I said softly.

“Please, Char. I’m begging you. I am a big, burly football dude and I am begging you.  Please let me cook dinner for you tomorrow night,” he said. I smiled in spite of my resolve to be serious.

“Joey, stop,” I said, trying to hide a giggle.

“Pleeeeaaaaase, Charlotte,” he drew it out like a little kid and the laugh escaped my lips before I could catch it.

“Fine, I’ll let you cook for me. Just stop doing that,” I laughed. He snickered.

“What, begging? I will beg you for anything and everything if that’s what it takes to keep you in my life.” He said. I pulled my legs up underneath me and grinned. He really was a great guy. And what did I know... who was I to say his gut wasn’t right?

T
he next night, after changing my mind about dinner countless times over the course of the day, I’d finally gotten dressed for the date. Six times, actually. I hadn’t really settled on the outfit I was wearing; I’d just refused to let myself change again, texted Joey that I was running late, and now I was currently slipping my shoes on in the elevator with my keys in my teeth.

Joey’s directions to his building had been easy to follow, but as I stood there in front of the high rise, glass fronted, marble foyer building that had a waiting list and an interview process before you were even allowed to tour the place, I stopped.

“Wow,” I said under my breath. I felt like I shouldn’t touch anything because I might not be able to replace it in there. Not that I wasn’t doing okay myself, but nothing like this.

“You have to actually get closer to the door to go in, you know,” I jumped at the sudden voice behind me, startled.

“Joey, you scared me,” I laughed, hitting him softly in the chest. He grinned.

“I couldn’t resist, I’m sorry,” he said with a pout that was not even slightly genuine.

“You are not.” I said with a frown. He laughed and offered his arm.

“No, I’m not. Come on, I had to run out for a second. I’m starving,” he said as we walked into his building together.

Joey’s condo was very modern: clean, uninterrupted lines, stark contrasts between light and dark. The decorations were sparse, but tasteful and well-placed. And the view from the balcony was amazing.

“I can see half of the city from here!” I squealed, running out on to the balcony as the breeze whipped my hair up around my face.

“We’re 33 floors up. It’s one of the reasons I picked this condo. Sometimes, it’s nice to come out here and just let the sounds of the city surround you,” he said, coming to stand beside me. Our eyes met and I felt like he was staring straight through to my soul for a moment before I blinked and turned away, blushing.

“So, um, I got stuff to make pizza, if that’s okay with you,” he said, clearing his throat before moving back inside.

“Sure, that’s fine,” I said, following.

“Um, look... Charlotte, I’m really...” He sighed deeply and ran his hands roughly through his hair. I stopped looking around and leaned against the back of the sofa.

“You’re what?” I asked, waiting.

“You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?” he said with a slight laugh. I smirked.

“I am many things, Mister Parker, but easy is not one of them,” I said. He sighed again.

“About the pictures and the stories... The press and everything, I really am...” I stopped him with a hand to his lips.

“Stop stumbling over an apology that you already gave me for something that is not your fault and completely out of your control. I understand why you feel the need to apologize, but if I hadn’t accepted it last night when we spoke, I wouldn’t be here for dinner with you tonight,” I said. And then I kissed him. Slowly and softly, a kiss that a man would remember and still feel for hours afterwards. His face was a bit flushed when I pulled back, and I giggled.

“Wow,” he whispered.

“Indeed. Come on, let’s make pizza,” I said, wandering idly into the kitchen.

“That kiss was more of a ‘making babies’ kiss,” he said from behind me. I laughed.

“Not easy, remember?” I said. He smirked.

“Which just makes me want you more,” he said, walking into the kitchen and handing me an apron as he slipped on his own.

“I’d prefer we not make a total mess. I’m a bit of a neat freak,” he said. I glanced around at the spotless condo and gave him a look.

“Really? I couldn’t tell,” I said, the sarcasm dripping from my words. He laughed and took my hand tightly in his, pulling me to the table.

“Come on, smartass. You can slice the pepperoni while I flatten the dough,” he said, handing me a rather large knife and an equally large pepperoni.

“How much pizza are we making?” I asked, eyeing the sheer amount of food in my hands.

“They don’t come in specific sizes, Char,” he said with a laugh.