And apparently, she was so nervous about the whole stupid walking down a carpet in front of the press thing, she was saying the word apparently far too many flaming times.
***
Zac glanced sideways at the woman fidgeting beside him. Christ, she was gorgeous. Even sat there looking like she wanted to bolt, in a dress that, while stunning, she clearly didn’t feel comfortable in.
He reached for her hand and held it in his. ‘We’re just walking into the cinema.’
She snorted. ‘Yeah, with cameras watching our every move, and reporters ready to pounce the moment they spot you.’
‘You could have gone with Mandy and Debs,’ he reminded her. He’d given her the opt out, though he’d likely ruined his magnanimous gesture by adding he’d rather she went with him. And then totally dipped into blackmail by telling her he wanted to show the world who he was in love with.
‘I could have, but that would have been the coward’s way out.’ She sat up straighter and gave him a determined look. ‘I’m not a coward.’
‘Exactly.’ It’s what he’d been counting on. ‘So, to a brave woman like yourself, this is a doddle.’
She had no time to argue with him because the limo glided to a halt, and a doorman, complete with uniform and white gloves, reached out to open it.
‘Shit.’ The curse was muttered beneath Kat’s breath. ‘I can’t believe you conned me into this.’
Laughter rolled through him as he watched her climb, a tad inelegantly, out of the car.
‘Relax.’ He held out his arm for her to take. ‘And remember, they’re far more interested in me, than you.’
She gave him a cool look, which only made him want to laugh harder.
He was accosted straight away, as he knew he would be. Being the star of the film, this was just one of many promotional events he was scheduled to take part in. Usually he disliked this part of his job – he was an actor, skilled at giving lines someone had written down for him, not ad-libbing his own. Tonight though, with Kat on his arm, it didn’t feel like a chore. It felt like fun.
Well, it had, until he noticed the way she kept looking around them as they made their way slowly up the red carpet.
‘Lift up your left hand.’ She gave him a strange look, but for once did as he asked. ‘What do you see?’
‘A bloody great rock.’
He smiled. ‘I was thinking more along the lines of a flawless four-carat emerald-cut diamond, but your version works, too. Why are you wearing it?’
‘Err, because you gave it to me?’
He could see another reporter lining up to muscle in, so he knew he had to make this quick. ‘You’re wearing it because you’re my fiancée,’ he hissed.
She rolled her eyes. ‘Well, thanks for the reminder but I already know that.’
‘Then why are you acting like my bodyguard?’
She huffed. ‘Because it’s easier being that right now.’
Immediately his heart turned to mush. ‘Hey, look at me.’ When she did, her brown eyes so full of trust, he smiled and kissed her. Then kissed her again. He knew damn well flashing bulbs were going off all around them but he didn’t care. ‘How about now?’ he whispered when he drew away.
Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing quicker. ‘I think I prefer being your fiancée.’ Ignoring the man with the microphone hovering to the right of them, she tipped her head back up to his. ‘But I need a bit longer to decide.’
Laughing, he bent to kiss her again, driving them both mad for a few more pulsing moments. ‘Umm, Zac Edwards. Snogging on the red carpet.’ She smirked up at him. ‘And I thought you were The Good Guy.’
He smiled. ‘Haven’t you realised it yet? I’m not The Good Guy, I’m Your Guy.’
THE END