“Your sister picked up her dress and brought it over to ours, and I hung it up in her old room. I don’t know how, if someone left the door open or what, but Jester got in there.”
“Oh no!” I laugh.
“Don’t laugh, Vaughn. It’s not funny. Your sister is freaking out,” my mom says, sounding exasperated.
“Sorry.” I bite my lip. “How bad is it?”
“He got it outside. God knows how. That dog, I swear. The dirt, I can get off, but the bottom is all torn.”
“Shit. Well, tell her that I’ll just buy her a new one. I can probably get her a Vera Wang shipped in.”
“She doesn’t want anything but this dress, Vaughn. She designed it with the dress designer. She has her heart set on it. It’s all just a mess right now. She said she’s canceling the wedding. Your dad is going mad about the expenses if she cancels, and Greg’s at a loss for what to do. It’s just a nightmare.” She sighs.
“So, can’t she get the woman who designed her dress to fix it?”
“She’s in Hawaii.”
“Oh.”
“Right.” She sighs again.
“So, I was hoping you might know some dress designer who could fix it up.”
I lift my eyes to Charly. “Actually,” I tell my mom, “I have one sitting right in front of me as we speak. She’s really talented.”
Charly’s eyes flash to mine.
“You do?” My mom’s voice lifts with hope.
“Yep. She works on wardrobe here. Charly. She’s an amazing seamstress. I bet she could fix it, no problem.”
Charly’s brows lift. I fight back a smile.
“We’ll pay her.”
“I’ll sort that, Mom.”
“You’re my star, Vaughn.”
She’s been saying that to me since I was a kid. It never fails to warm my insides. Because she means it in a whole other way than the rest of the world does. She has always said that I’m her little star, that I brighten her world. And I might be a grown-ass man, but when your mom says something like that, you revert back to the five-year-old kid who thought she was the only woman in the world you would ever love. Well, that still is true because I haven’t ever been in love.
My eyes drift back to Charly, a different kind of warmth spreading across my chest.
“Tell Sasha it’s going to be fine. Take a picture of the dress, the damage, and send it to me. I’ll have Charly take a look and see if it’s fixable. And, if it is, FedEx it to me out here, Charly will fix it, and I’ll bring it back with me.”
“I’ll take the picture now. Sasha will be over the moon!”
“Don’t tell her until Charly says for sure if she can fix it.”
“Okay. I’ll send the pic now and then call me back once Charly’s had a look. And tell her not to worry if she can’t; we appreciate it all the same.”
“Will do, Mom. Love you.”
“You, too, baby.”
We hang up, and I put my cell down on the table.
“So…from the gist of that, I got that you need me to fix your sister’s wedding dress. I gather it’s for a wedding because of the Vera Wang comment.”
“My parents’ puppy went to town on my sister’s wedding dress.”
“Crap,” she says.
“Yeah, Sasha’s apparently freaking out.”
“Well, I’ll take a look and see what I can do.”
“I’ll pay you.”
She stares at me. “Don’t be stupid, West. I don’t want your money. I’m happy to help your sister.”
I reach across the table and take ahold of her hand. “You’re the best.” I lean down and kiss her hand.
“I know.” She grins, and I smile.
“And I’m totally lifting the sex ban for this, Pins.”
“That lasted all of five minutes!” She laughs. “I knew you’d cave before I did!”
“I did not cave.” I frown. “I’m being generous, you know, because you’re being so generous with fixing my sister’s dress.”
“If I can,” she says.
“You’ll be able to.”
“You have a lot of faith in me.”
“Because I know how amazing you are.”
Her eyes soften at my words.
“So…now that the sex ban is lifted, you wanna go and break the bed with me?”
She laughs, bright and loud, making me smile. “You’re one of a kind, Vaughn West.”
“So are you, Charly Michaels.”
And she is. My one of a kind.
“Isn’t your mom sending over the picture for me to look at to see if I can fix the dress?”
“Oh, yeah. We’ll wait till she sends it over, and you’ve had a look. Then, we can go fuck.”
“God, you’re romantic, West.”
“I know.” I shrug, grinning. “You’re a lucky, lucky woman, Pins.”
Truth is, I’m the lucky one to have her in my life.
Chapter 25
Charly
Vaughn leaves for his sister Sasha’s wedding in two days.
I fixed the dress. It was a bigger job than I had initially thought from the look of the pictures. There were some really fine tears within the lace of the bodice, and some crystals were missing, but I managed to get ahold of some that were almost identical from a store in Vegas. I finally finished fixing the dress late last night, and I did an amazing job, if I do say so myself.
I text a picture of the now-fixed dress to Sasha. I’ve been keeping her updated with my progress on it. She’s been so grateful, constantly offering to pay me money for doing it, but I keep refusing. Honestly, I enjoyed working on it, and it kept my mind off my silly feelings of rejection over Vaughn not wanting to take me to the wedding with him.
Because I am being silly.
We might be more than just sleeping together now, but that doesn’t mean he wants to take me home to meet his family. And, of course, it would expose our relationship, which I don’t want.
So, the dress is safely inside its garment bag in Vaughn’s hotel room, where I am right now, and it’s ready to go with him to Oregon.
We finished filming at six p.m. Vaughn and I were starving, so he had Alex order room service for when we got back, and we had dinner together in his room.
We’re now lying on the bed, watching an episode of Julian’s show Dead Cop. I’ll admit, I’m totally addicted. Logan and I are always talking about it at work, but because Logan’s ahead of me, he’s careful not to spoil it for me. But the one thing we do agree on is that we want Julian’s character, Mason Banks, to get it on with his costar character Meredith Castle. And I also want them together in real life. But Logan reckons that Julian is gay. He said his gaydar was flashing loud and bright when he met Julian.
I don’t think Julian is gay, and I think he and Sara Parks, who plays Meredith, would be perfect together.
I keep meaning to ask Vaughn if Julian is gay. I guess now would be as good a time as any.
“Vaughn?”
“Mmhmm?”
“Is Julian gay?”
His eyes flick to mine. “What made you ask that?”
“Because Logan thinks he is. He said Julian set his gaydar off when they met. But I think he’s straight.”
“Why does it matter?”
“It doesn’t. I just really want him and Sara to get married and have babies.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “Sadly, Julian won’t be having babies with Sara.”
“So, he’s gay?”
“Yes. But that has to stay between you and me, as Julian’s in the closet.”
“Why?” I frown.
“Because he has a hell of a lot of female fans who watch the show because of him and his pretty-boy looks. Coming out could damage the ratings, as his female fan base could drop when they realize that he’s not fishing in their gender pool, and the network doesn’t want that.”
“That’s stupid.”
“That’s reality, babe. Women like to see the men they watch on-scr
een as available.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like they’re ever really going to get with them.”
“You landed me, didn’t you?” He shrugs.
“Ass!” I poke him in his side.
“Hey! No need to go crazy and start attacking!” He holds his hands up in surrender.
“Drama king.”
“No, babe, your King.”
“God, you’re so arrogant.” I roll my eyes.
“Just the way you like me.” He chuckles.
Shaking my head, laughing, I settle back down beside him and start watching the show again.
“Anyway, it’s only like you and me,” he says.
“What is?”
“Julian in the closet. We’re in the closet, albeit together. People don’t know about us.”
“For a completely different reason.” I can feel my insides starting to tense.
“Yeah. But whatever the reason, we’re still hiding. Just like Julian.”
I don’t say anything because…what can I say?
I’m partly doing it for him—the movie and keeping his reputation clean, not attracting attention to his love life again—but I’m also nervous about us going public, which is the truth but not for the reason he thinks.
I feel like I’m deceiving him.
I am deceiving him, and I hate it.
I just don’t know quite what to do about it yet. Well, I do know what to do, but at the end of the day, even when that’s done, I’ll still have to tell him the truth. I’m just not sure what version of the truth to tell him.
“So, I’ve been wanting to ask…” He pauses the show and shuffles down the bed.
He turns on his side to face me, so I do the same.
“Sounds ominous. It doesn’t involve something kinky and dirty, does it?”
“No, but it can if you’d like?” His eyes flash at me.
“I’m not averse to kinky and dirty, but let’s put a pin in that for later, so you can ask me what you wanted to ask me.”
“Will you come to Sasha’s wedding with me?”
He’s asking me to the wedding?
My heart soars.
“I mean, I know the dress is fixed, but I thought she might need you there, just in case, you know.”
And then it drops like a rock in water.
“You want me to come to help with the dress?” My voice is stilted. I know it is. I can hear it, but I can’t seem to help it. “The dress is fine. Sasha won’t need my help.” I sit up and start to get off the bed.
“Hey, where are you going?” He tries to tug me back to lie down, but I resist.
“Back to my hotel.”
He moves across the bed, so he’s sitting beside me. “Why?”
“No reason.”
“For fuck’s sake, Charly.” His voice is tense. “Don’t play games. Just tell me what’s wrong.”
I turn my eyes to him. He looks irritated.
So, I tell him the truth, “I overheard you talking to Natasha on set last week.”
His brows pull together. “About?”
“Sasha’s wedding. You hadn’t even told me, which was fine because you didn’t have to.”
“Clearly, it’s not fine.” His tone is resolute.
“Well…it just would’ve been nice if you’d mentioned it, considering all the time we spend together.”
“It wasn’t a conspiracy to keep it from you, Charly. I’m a guy. I don’t think of shit like that.”
“Natasha knew. And she knows about us. I thought we weren’t telling anyone.”
His eyes flash anger at me. “I didn’t tell her about you and me. She guessed I liked you back in the beginning when I yelled at you on set. And I trust Natasha. She’s not a gossip; she’s good people. And, as for Sasha’s wedding, Natasha already knew that, too. I’ve known her for a long time. She knew when my sister got engaged, hence her knowing about the wedding.”
“Okay,” I say.
“What else?”
“Who says there’s more?” I frown at him.
“Your body language.” He gestures at me, and I realize I’m pointing my body away from him.
“Fine. I heard Natasha ask if you wanted to invite me, and you didn’t answer. You didn’t say anything.” I stare at the carpet beneath my feet. “And I know I’m not getting paid for doing Sasha’s dress because I don’t want to get paid,” I quickly add. “But, even still, I don’t want to go to your family’s home, feeling like the hired help.” And I don’t want you to take me when you really don’t want to.
“Jesus, Charly.” He grabs my face and turns my eyes to him. The look in his is fierce and determined. “I want you there.”
“No, you don’t. I heard you, Mr. I Don’t Take Women Home.” I mimic his voice. “And that’s fine, Vaughn, but just don’t make out that this is something it’s not. You don’t want to take me home as the girl you’re dating; it’s fine. And, like you said, we’re still in the closet, so it makes sense anyway.”
“First off,” he growls, “I’m glad you finally said we’re dating because that’s exactly what we are doing. And there are no worries about taking you home to my family as my girl.”
His girl.
It’s stupid how crazy my heart goes at that.
“My family knows better than anyone how my life is. They don’t talk about my private life or me—ever. And not just my family, but also the people in the town I grew up in Oregon. Keno is a small town and a safe place for me. My family has lived there for generations. After I got famous and my status started to rise, the press began turning up in town, trying to get dirt on me. The townsfolk quickly made them aware that they weren’t welcome there. And, yeah, the press knows I’m from Keno, but they don’t know I still live there now. Not many people do.”
But I do, and he trusts me with that information. I feel a confliction of happiness and shame because he doesn’t know everything about me.
“My house is well hidden. Exactly how I want it. And second”—he ticks off his finger—“I want you there as my date for the wedding. I want my family to meet you—”
“But—”
“Let me finish, Charly.” He presses his fingers to my lips, silencing me.
“Yes, I didn’t say anything in answer to what Natasha said because I hadn’t thought about it. I’m a guy. I’m slow, and I don’t consider these things. It’s not out of malice. And then my mom called about the wedding dress, and that took over. But I have thought about it…taking you home. I’ve thought a lot about it, and I do want to take you to meet my family. And I’ve wanted to ask you for a while now, but I’m a chickenshit. It seems like a big deal, asking you to come to my sister’s wedding with me and meet my whole family. I was worried that I might scare you away.”
He wants me there. He didn’t want to scare me away.
He wants me there.
My heart has fluttered out of my chest and straight into the palm of his hand. And I’m not sure if it’s ever coming back. Or if I want it back.
“You could never scare me away,” I whisper, toying with the hem of my top.
“What if I told you I wanted to spank you with a paddle?”
My eyes flick to his, and I see the playful look in them.
“Okay. So, maybe you can scare me away.” I grin.
He chuckles and then tugs me back down to the bed. This time, I go with him, and we’re back to lying face-to-face.
“So, will you be my date to the wedding?” He brushes my hair back off my cheek, tucking it behind my ear. “I really want you to be there.”
Then, it stupidly dawns on me that, after all the fuss I just made, I can’t go anyway.
“I want to go.” I grimace. “But I’m scheduled to work those three days.”
“But I won’t be here.” He frowns, like he expected I wouldn’t have to work if he wasn’t.
“I do dress other actors aside from you, superstar.”
“Yeah, well, I’m changing that,” he says, still wearin
g the frown. “I don’t want you accidentally pinning anyone else’s balls.”
“Asshole.” I slap his chest.
He catches my hand, kissing it. “Another of the many things you adore about me. And don’t worry about getting the time off work. I’ll sort it out.”
“You will? Well, okay,” I say, “if you really want me there—”
“I really want you there,” he says softly, his eyes caressing my face, making my insides gooey.
“Then, yes, I would love to go.”
“Good.” He smiles.
Then, he kisses me with that smile, and I let myself absorb that happiness, making it mine, too.
“Vaughn—”
“I was kidding about the paddle spanking.”
“Oh, good.”
“But let’s talk about the kinky and dirty that you’re not averse to,” he says, lifting my leg and hooking it over his hip.
“Cool. But, first, can we talk about what I’m going to wear to your sister’s wedding? Because I have two days and nothing to wear.”
“Oh God,” he groans, falling to his back, covering his face with his hands.
“What?” I say, laughing. I climb over him and straddle his hips.
He pulls his hands from his face. “I want to get it on, and my woman wants to talk clothes.”
“Hey, you knew what you were getting into when you got involved with me.” I smile, loving that he just called me his woman.
He sits up, putting us face-to-face. His big hands grab my hips, and he yanks me onto his cock, which is hard.
“Oh,” I say, my eyes widening.
“Yeah, oh. So, do you still want to talk about clothes? Or do you want me to make you come? Multiple times.”
I scrunch my nose up, like I’m thinking about it. “I guess…we can talk about clothes later.”
“That’s what I thought,” he growls. Then, he attacks my mouth with those gorgeous lips of his.
Chapter 26
Vaughn
My dad is waiting for us in the parking lot at Klamath Falls Airport.
We flew by private jet, like I always do when I go home. Charly had never flown private before, so she was pretty excited. It was cute to see. She kept taking photos of the plane and the views.
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