Paparazzi slithered back into the shadows of JC’s life. A few insignificant pictures surfaced of them running on the beach with the caption Boyfriend or Bodyguard? Reed, being a good sport, laughed it off in good fun until they walked out of the bar late at night to get bombarded with a barrage of flashing strobe lights. Apparently country music’s latest star was arriving at any moment and the sharks had already begun to swarm. Unfortunately, JC and Reed would suffice as chum until he showed.
Completely flustered by the unsuspected crowd, JC’s involuntary reaction reverted to panic. The pulsating loud music garbled together with the hum of traffic and photog yelling, Stop! How’s if feel to be back in the states? Who’s your new date?
Her clouded sense of sound disoriented her momentarily. Covering her eyes from the blinding bursts of white light, she bowed her head and hit the heal-toe express, making a b-line for the car and leaving Reed in the dust. Her abrupt reaction only fueled the fire making their pursuit more determined.
Reed jogged beside her, shrouding his arm around her in attempts of shielding her from the press. Her shoulders flinched with an uncontrolled recoil. He dropped his shielding arm to his side. Their eyes connected in slow motion for a fraction of a second. The hurt in his eyes and sullen rejection covering his face stopped JC dead in her tracks.
Trapped in her own angst, JC hurt Reed’s feelings. “Oh hell,” she mumbled, paraphrasing Reed’s most common saying. She blindly reached for his hand. He didn’t shy away from her touch, but remained stiff and agitated.
Halted in the middle of the sidewalk, paparazzi surrounded them in a new story feeding frenzy. She proudly slipped her arm around Reed’s waist, raising her opposite hand, granting them consent to snap away. “Just a few guys.”
JC eased against Reed, molding herself to his powerful frame, hugging him around the waist. He wrapped one arm around her shoulder, stroking her arm that crossed over his stomach. Her anxiety faded away, recognizing the appreciation wrapped into his heart-stopping smile.
She knew her actions would cost her months’ worth of privacy, but she didn’t care. Raising on her tiptoes, JC kissed his cheek, making Reed blush cherry red. “I love you.”
Her I Love You made the front cover of three magazines, blowing up the Internet and her cell phone. So-called friends she hadn’t spoken to in over a year left messages on her phone. JC refused to fall into the trap of false friendship ever again, explaining to Reed some people are addicted to fame and the spotlight that goes with it. She didn’t need people in her life who merely wanted to be next to her when the camera reared its lens.
Her family, however, she gladly spoke to. Cheers of Congratulations and We knew you were in love with him rang through the phone lines. Her mom and Tom even called from Bora Bora.
Her confidence and pride grew being out in Hollywood with Reed. The liberation was therapeutic, freeing her of old fears. She no longer dreaded being caught in public by paparazzi. They strolled the Boulevard, enjoyed phenomenal restaurants, ran on the beach. It didn’t matter where they went. Reed would never let any harm come to her or invade her space.
JC climbed out of Reed’s bed before dawn to go shopping at the farmers market for delicious fresh fruit in season. She made Reed breakfast in bed, his favorite salsa avocado omelet with a big cup of coffee.
“Let’s go to the beach,” he suggested, slipping into a pair of athletic shorts.
“That sounds perfect. It’s a beautiful day.”
She sauntered to the dresser where she kept a few of her things and pulled the drawer open. A tingling sensation pinged in her tummy. All of her socks and panties neatly filled the drawer. Her favorite picture of she and Reed rested on top of her delicates in a gorgeous intricately carved frame.
Butterflies swirled in her stomach as she stared motionless at her things.
Reed quietly moseyed in and stood beside her with a cup of coffee in his hands.
Slowly she faced him with a coy smile. “What’s this?”
Drowning a sexy hopeful smile behind his cup, he took a sip of his coffee and sighed. “My way of asking you to move in. Officially.”
“Is that so?” she questioned playfully. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst.
His gaze didn’t leave the open drawer. “Yes, ma’am.” A small pleasing tug lifted the corner of his lips. “That is so.”
JC reached in and took hold of the picture, positioning it perfectly atop the dresser. “I’ve been living with you since the first time I stayed the night with you,” she teased boldly, but realized it was true. His place felt like home to her from day one. “I just haven’t moved my stuff in yet.”