What it Takes (44 page)

They rode like that in silence for a while before Patrick asked, “So are you excited?”

“Not so much anymore, no.”

He laughed. “That’s not what I meant, but I’m delighted to know you’re thinking about it.”

She nodded slowly. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to admit just how much she thought about it, so instead she asked, “What am I supposed to be excited about?”

“Seeing your name in lights for the first time?” He gestured in the air like he was showing off the marquee. “Watching a movie where you’re one of the stars? That has to be exciting. At least more exciting than pampering is fun,” he teased.

Kelsey grinned lazily. “I don’t know,” she replied. “It’s all sort of surreal. Almost unbelievable. People like me don’t see their name in lights very often.”

“People like you?” he questioned. “What exactly do you mean by that?” He put his other arm around her and held her closer.

“Small-town, country-raised people.”

“Hard-working, beautiful, smart, and talented people,” he added. “The two aren’t mutually exclusive. Don’t shortchange yourself.”

“I’m not. I know I’ve worked hard to get here. But I never really thought this could happen to me. It’s almost like a fantasy or a dream.” Kelsey sank into him.

“I’ll pinch you if I have to, just so you know you’re awake.”

“You may have to,” she agreed with a laugh as he pinched her side, causing her to squirm. He knew how ticklish she was and continued to torture her until she turned to him and, between giggles and gasping for air, asked him to stop.

Their eyes met and he ran his finger down her hairline then brushed her lips. Kelsey watched his eyes darken, as her heart skipped a beat. He dropped his hand, placed a light kiss to her mouth, and turned her, resuming the position they were in before.

The rest of the trip passed quickly. As they reached the traffic of the premiere, Kelsey sat up and retrieved her lipstick and mirror from her small clutch. Before she could recolor her lips, Patrick turned her face to his and placed a kiss on them.

“Just in case I can’t later,” he said with a smile.

Kelsey nodded but felt a little disappointed. They still hadn’t reached an agreement on what they’d say about their relationship. She understood his reasons for keeping it to themselves and, on a certain level, she agreed with him. But she was tired of having to monitor her words and actions when they were in public either alone or together. Well, mostly alone, together would be a dead giveaway.

They sat and waited while Grayson and Veronica got out of the limo in front of them and waved to the crowd. Kelsey watched them, making mental notes of the things she should do as their car inched forward. When the door finally opened from the outside, Patrick climbed out and Kelsey heard the roar of screaming fans, mostly women, as he paused to wave. Her heart raced with pride and a slight apprehension as he turned to help her out of the car.

The first thing she saw as she stepped out of the limousine was the flashes from dozens of cameras. Patrick pulled her to his side and whispered that they needed to pause for pictures before they continued. His arm was on her waist and they posed as fans and photographers continuously snapped pictures. After a few minutes, he directed her to “mingle,” sign autographs, and greet fans. She went to one side, he went to the other.

Between signing autographs and pausing for photos, Kelsey glanced at Patrick, letting her eyes wander over his body. In the last few weeks, seeing him almost every day, she’d almost started to take for granted just how handsome he was. His button-down, pale blue shirt was unbuttoned at the top, hanging slightly open. His black sport coat accentuated his broad shoulders, and his matching black pants made his long legs appear longer.

He was obviously enjoying himself as he laughed with the fans. His eyes met hers and his entire face lit up. Her heart fluttered and her cheeks warmed as she turned her attention back to the crowd. As Kelsey stepped back for a picture, he was beside her again. He lightly touched her bare back, causing her blood to warm through her veins. They posed together, then he stepped up to sign autographs and Kelsey walked to the other side.

They moved up the carpet in this fashion, on opposite sides for the most part. Patrick grinned or winked at her every time their paths crossed and her replying giggle thrilled him. As they approached Veronica, she called Kelsey over and they gave a joint interview. By the way they were standing, Patrick could tell it was most likely about their dresses and he paused to admire Kelsey again.

Veronica moved on and after a few solo questions, Kelsey stepped back to do the same. Patrick stepped to her side, needing to be close to her, and put his arm around her waist, pausing for a few more pictures to be taken.

He dropped his hand but kept it between them, lightly touching hers. “You ready for some more serious interviews?” he whispered across her ear as they walked slowly toward the door.

Kelsey shook her head. “No.”

“You’ll do fine.” He leaned closer, tempted to kiss her, but pulled back and smirked.

“Is that all I get?” she teased and Patrick walked away to talk to some reporters, laughing and shaking his head.

The first few questions the reporters threw at him were about the movie and the people he worked with. The next few started to get more personal, and he answered them as vaguely as possible before quickly moving on. He nodded and waved when he was finished and rejoined Kelsey in time to hear her tease the reporters. He probably should’ve told her that wouldn’t be a good idea, but her answers amused him.

When asked whether she and Patrick were together, she played dumb and answered “Yes we did arrive together.” Patrick tried not to laugh as they posed together and then answered a few questions honestly. “Define ‘item’?” he asked with a chuckle when they stepped away. “You shouldn’t be so mean.”

“That’s such a stupid term, don’t you think? Besides, I would think it’s obvious, wouldn’t you?”

“I can make it obvious,” he teased and raised an eyebrow. The look in her glittering eyes dared him, but that seemed to be all the photographers needed as flashes started to go off around them. “Oh well, guess I won’t need to now.” He laughed at her pout as they turned and waved.

Veronica and Grayson joined them for group photos, then walking four across they turned to enter the theater. Patrick paused just before they went in the door and made Kelsey look up at the sign.

There it was.

The title of the movie in large letters and just below it, to the right, was her name. A large smile crept across her face as she stared at it. Patrick gave her a moment before he put his hand on her back to guide her into the building. He stayed by her side as they walked through the lobby of the theater. Kelsey looked at him again and grinned as their eyes met.

“You did great, you’re a natural,” he murmured then lightly kissed her cheek.

“Thanks,” she whispered.

Veronica stepped to her other side. “We should probably go find our seats,” she said and hurried off to find Grayson. Patrick took Kelsey’s hand as they walked to their reserved section of seats.

Twenty-Seven

T
hey were quickly escorted to the limos that were waiting behind the theater to take them all to the after party when the movie was over. Patrick helped Kelsey in, then slid into the seat beside her, and closed the door. She smiled at him and he leaned closer, eyeing the photographers on the sidewalk behind her before he gave her a quick kiss.

Patrick twined her fingers with his as she sat against him. “So, did you enjoy the movie?”

“I did,” she replied with a nod.

“What was your favorite part?”

“They were all good, but I especially liked the first kiss.”

Patrick felt the excitement of that scene all over again. “That was a good one,” he agreed.

“What was your favorite part?” Kelsey repeated his question as she turned to look at him.

He didn’t attempt to hide the pleasure on his face at the memory of filming his favorite scene. “I really liked the love scene.”

“That was okay,” she said blandly.

Patrick’s eyes widened with shock. He’d been sure she’d enjoyed it as much as he had. “Okay?” His voice was heavy with disappointment. “Why just okay?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged and stretched until her lips were inches from his. Patrick narrowed his eyes and he watched her cautiously as her smile broadened mischievously. “It wasn’t nearly as fun as the real thing.”

“An excellent point,” Patrick said before he kissed her.

As much as he didn’t want to, he kept the kiss short and sweet and when he pulled back, he looked into her rich, emerald eyes and wanted to get lost. But he had something very important to ask her, so that would have to wait.

“Speaking of the real thing, I’ve been thinking,” he started and waited for the haze of passion to leave her eyes before he continued. When the apprehension began to appear, he caressed her hand gently, hoping to comfort and reassure her. “Tonight,” he said and she slowly nodded, “why don’t we go back to my place.”

Kelsey was struck speechless. She turned her body to his as she searched his eyes. They were full of honesty and love, and at the same time a slight anxiety. He took her other hand in his and she started to give him an answer when the door opened and Veronica slid in.

“Hi,” Veronica said brightly as she was joined by Grayson and annoyance flashed across Patrick’s face.

“Hope we’re not interrupting anything,” Grayson joked as he closed the door.

“What’re you doing here?” Patrick asked coolly and Grayson looked at him and frowned.

“They needed a limo for someone else, so we offered ours,” Veronica answered, ignoring the tension rolling off Patrick. “Hope you don’t mind. I thought it’d be fun.”

“No, it’s fine,” Kelsey said and squeezed Patrick’s hand. “It’ll be fine,” she reassured him softly. As the limo started to move he put his arm around her and she leaned against him. He inhaled deeply as Kelsey settled herself.

Had he just asked her to move in with him? She shook the thought away; she was getting ahead of herself. He probably just meant for her to stay the night. But still, that was a big deal for him. He’d told her himself, he’d never had a woman to his house, even for a night. He’d taken such a huge step in simply asking for that, she was starting to feel that she owed him the truth. He’d proven himself to be a good man; she knew she could trust him. And if she was going to spend even one night in his home, she didn’t want any secrets to come between them.

She had to tell him about her baby.

“So, what did you all think of the movie?” Grayson asked, smiling widely, interrupting her thoughts.

Kelsey glanced at Patrick, still looking out of his window with a scowl on his face, then turned back to Grayson. “It was good,” she replied.

“Just good? C’mon Kelsey, it was great,” Veronica said. “I found your love scene especially interesting. It was so intense, I felt voyeuristic.”

Kelsey blushed hotly and turned to the window.

Grayson laughed loudly. “You just say whatever you’re thinking, don’t you, Veronica?” he teased. “Aside from that, what did you all think? I, for one, felt sorry for Seth. Poor guy never saw it coming. His wife was a sneaky one.” He narrowed his eyes as he smirked at Kelsey.

“I felt bad for Chloe,” Kelsey said and grinned when Veronica clapped.

“Why Chloe?” Patrick asked with a knit in his brow.

Kelsey turned slightly toward him, keeping her arm on his leg. “Of the four of them, she was the only one without a secret.” And, at least in the context of this movie, secrets destroyed lives. She only hoped hers wouldn’t.

“There’s nothing unusual about that,” Grayson said. “Not everyone has secrets.”

“Maybe,” Kelsey agreed. “But most of the secrets affected her unfairly.”

“But Seth was affected too,” Grayson said casually.

“He wasn’t as much a victim as Chloe,” Patrick said. “He had his own secrets that were destroying his marriage.”

“That’s right,” Veronica chimed in. “Poor Chloe was the most honest of them all.”

“Honesty has nothing to do with it,” Kelsey snapped and quickly looked down. She realized that reaction was a little stronger than it should have been, and she hoped she hadn’t raised suspicions. She cleared her throat, “I mean honest people can have secrets too. It doesn’t make them bad.”