She playfully slapped his shoulder. “How are you? It’s been way too long since we’ve talked.”
“Mm-hmm,” he agreed. “And it sounds like we have a lot of catching up to do.”
A light blush lit Lily’s cheeks as she rolled her eyes. “Okay, long story short, Nate apologized. We started talking again. And he just kissed me in the hall.”
Daniel narrowed his eyes. “I have a feeling there are more than a few details you left out.”
Lily sighed. “True. But I have a limited amount of time here. So let’s cover the important stuff first, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said with an over-the-top salute. “Fire away with the questions.”
For the next ten minutes, they talked business. Lily asked about how the new locations had affected this Pierce movie, how his character had grown, and how the film compared to the book. She also asked Daniel how he handled the responsibility of bringing such a beloved fictional character to life. Lily thought his response to that particular inquiry was especially telling.
“It’s hard to be entrusted with bringing a character like Grady to the screen,” he said. “People already have a very clear idea of who he is, and I’m certain that in most cases it’s not me. I find it so interesting when people say I gave the character life. In my mind, that’s not even remotely true. The writers—the original author and the screenwriters—gave birth to Grady. I just hope I’m doing them justice. I take the responsibility of embodying their work seriously. It’s a privilege to play him.”
“All right, that should be all I need,” Lily said, turning off her recorder.
Daniel grinned. “Finally done grilling me?”
“For now,” she responded with a grin of her own.
“So now are you going to tell me what happened out there?”
“I thought I already did.”
“You did. And I told you that I know there’s more to the story.”
“Nate did kiss me in the hall.”
Daniel motioned for her to keep going. “And?”
“And . . . we’re working it out. It’s kind of . . . undefined . . . right now, but I think we’re on the same page.”
“I’m glad you two were able to put it behind you. Unfortunately, paparazzi photos are just a fact of this life, and you two shouldn’t let it affect your relationship.”
“So that’s why it never bothered you?”
Daniel shrugged. “Yeah. I mean, I still don’t like it. And I also know that kind of attention is just part of doing what I do. I try to keep as much as I can to myself, but I know that doesn’t work all the time. The way I look at it, you two were sweating the small stuff.”
Lily offered him a grateful smile. “I honestly never meant for any of that to happen.”
“I know. And so does she. For what it’s worth, I’m happy you and Nate are . . . together again. He was a miserable bastard without you.”
Lily couldn’t contain her laughter. “Well, I was pretty insufferable myself.”
“I find that hard to imagine,” he said with a wink. “And I’m sorry for not doing a better job of staying in touch.”
“I completely understand. I got a couple of e-mails from Sam, so I knew it was a busy time for you.”
A quick check of her watch revealed that her time with Daniel was almost finished.
“Speaking of busy, I have to go, but I’ll see you at the premiere. Nate asked me to work the press line with him again.”
That was news to Daniel. “Really? That’s great. Just promise to keep him calm for me.”
“I’ll do what I can,” she vowed, giving him a quick hug. “See you soon.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
The few days between the junket and the premiere seemed to fly.
Lily knew this was important. The anticipation started to drive her crazy, and she said as much to her best friends during several phone calls.
“I don’t know why this feels like a changing point, but it does.”
“That’s because he asked,” Maggie said. “He’s the one who broke things off, but now he wants you again—both professionally and personally.”
“She’s right,” Colette interjected. “I have a good feeling about this.”
Lily smiled. “You know what? Me, too. I think this premiere is going to be just as important as the last one.”
“Go get ’em, tiger!” Maggie exclaimed.
Fashion took up a large part of their discussion. After several photos back and forth, they all agreed that a chic black suit with wide-leg trousers and a jacket with a wide satin ribbon that wrapped around Lily’s narrow waist was the perfect choice. Lily paired that with a fuchsia lace camisole, her Calvin Klein slingbacks, and black pearls.
She and Nate talked extensively about travel arrangements. Since he had to be in New York City a couple of days before the premiere, they couldn’t fly together. But Nate said he’d be more than happy to meet her at the airport, since they had reservations at the same hotel.
Lily’s flight landed in the early evening, and after checking in to the hotel, she and Nate decided to grab a quick dinner and go over the plans for the premiere.
It hadn’t taken Nate long to grab her hand once they’d exited the hotel. The smile on Lily’s face seemed permanently etched into her skin as she and Nate strolled down the streets, deciding on a restaurant.
Being in this city with this man brought back many memories.
“This feels familiar,” Lily said, echoing her thoughts.
Nate chuckled and squeezed her hand in response. “Yeah, it does.”
“Kind of nice, don’t you think?” she asked, her tone hesitant.
Nate smiled. “Absolutely.”
They agreed on grabbing a slice at a pizza place. As they ate their dinner, the discussion turned to business.
“If you don’t mind, I’d love it if you could take notes during the interviews again,” Nate said between bites.
Lily nodded, swallowing a bite of her own. “I don’t mind at all. It’s kind of interesting to hear what other reporters ask.”
“Great. People has been all over this, so I’m interested to see how they cover it tomorrow.”
“Good to know. I’ll pay close attention to their interview.” Lily paused for a moment before continuing. “I know it’s at the same theater. Will Daniel go across the street to sign autographs again?”
Nate shrugged. “The studio’s security team always recommends against doing that, just because you never know what might happen. But he probably will, even if it’s just for a few minutes.”
“And do you advise him against doing that? I’m curious from a publicist’s point of view.”
“I’m not sure there is a right answer to that. As his friend, I’m concerned for his safety. As his publicist, I know how important those impromptu autograph sessions can be. Sometimes it’s hard to reconcile those two points of view. I suppose that’s why I ultimately leave it up to him in the end.”
“I have to admit, I like that he does that,” Lily confided with a hint of a smile. “No doubt he’s making the day, year, or decade of who knows how many fans.”
Nate snickered, his eyes full of mirth. “Spoken like a true girl.”
Lily raised an eyebrow. “You seem to enjoy all my womanly wiles.”
Nate hummed lowly. “You have no idea how much.”
A wicked smiled crossed Lily’s expression. “Oh, I think I do. But don’t worry, I’m a very grateful beneficiary of that enjoyment.”
Nate cleared his throat, trying to defuse the tension that surrounded them like the thick humidity of a sauna.
Lily winked at his clouded expression. “Let’s get out of here,” she suggested. “We both have a long day tomorrow.”
As Lily stood, he reached behind her chair to grab her coat. After she slipped her arms through the sleeves, he leaned down to kiss her.
She grumbled lightly when Nate ended their embrace, her eyes still closed. “Yeah—we definit
ely need to go.”
Nate laughed as he led her from the restaurant. He kept his arm around her shoulders, shielding her from the cold wind. But the temperature wasn’t the cause of the pink tint on her cheeks. Lily was warm with happiness.
When they reached the door of Lily’s hotel room, Nate turned her back to the wall and leaned toward her, placing his forehead against hers. She saw his lips turn up in a smile before they descended on hers. His kiss was urgent but tender, as if he were holding himself back from kissing her the way he wanted to.
Eventually, he broke the kiss with a small sigh. Her eyes remained closed, and his hands maintained their grip on her hips, holding her to him. When she did look at him, the emotion reflected back in his stare surprised her.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said quietly.
“I’m glad you asked me to be here,” she responded in the same soft tone.
She moved to kiss him again, wrapping her arms around his waist and pulling him to her. His own hands moved up, tangling in her hair, as he deepened their kiss.
Lily giggled as he moved his lips to her neck. “I thought we were taking it slow.”
He groaned and rested his forehead on her shoulder. “I know, I know. You’re right.”
After one more quick peck on her lips, Nate made his move to leave. “I want to stay, but I should go—before I don’t leave at all. I’ll come by here at three, and we’ll head over to the theater.”
Lily nodded, still a little dazed from their embrace. “Okay. I’ll see you then.”
“Sweet dreams, Lily,” he said as she opened her door. She winked at him as she closed it behind her.
She slept more soundly than she had in months, knowing that she and Nate were under the same roof.
Lily decided to pamper herself with a leisurely and decadent morning. She ordered an indulgent and filling breakfast from room service and scheduled a morning massage and manicure. Then she relaxed in the bathtub, surrounded by floral-scented bubbles as she primped and scrubbed.
Wrapped in a fluffy white bathrobe, she began the tasks of applying makeup and fixing her hair. She decided to keep things simple with light pink blush and eye shadow, a berry-colored lipstick, and her hair twisted into a business and evening-appropriate chignon at the nape of her neck.
After packing her black leather work tote with everything she’d need, she gave her appearance one final check and smiled with approval.
Just then, there was a knock on her door, and her smile widened as she opened it. “Hi. Come in.”
Nate stopped just inside the threshold. She turned off the television, switched on one of the lamps, and grabbed her tote. It took her a moment to realize that he seemed distracted.
“Is everything okay?” she asked as she dropped her room key into her tote.
“Hmm?” Nate responded. “Oh . . . yes. It’s just that you look . . . stunning. And that’s not even close to an accurate description.”
Lily blushed and took in Nate’s appearance. “Well, you look pretty amazing yourself.” She knew that she would never grow tired of seeing him in a well-tailored black suit. His platinum gray shirt and skinny black tie blended perfectly.
He crossed the room in three purposeful steps, and Lily knew exactly what he wanted.
“You’re going to get my lipstick all over you,” she said as he reached for her.
“Don’t care,” Nate whispered a split second before his lips met Lily’s.
A few minutes later, they faced the vanity mirror side by side as Lily reapplied her lipstick and Nate wiped the remainder off his lips with a tissue.
“That was quite a greeting,” she said with a lazy smile.
He winked at her. “What can I say, love? You inspire me.”
Lily’s smile grew when she heard his term of endearment. “It’s been a long time since you’ve called me that.”
“I know,” he said with a serious tone. “But . . . I want that again. I want you back.”
Lily met his eyes in the mirror before wrapping her arms around his neck. “Good,” she whispered in his ear. “Because I want that, too.”
At her declaration, his arms wound around her waist, lifting, and spinning her in a small circle. “I’m so happy to hear you say that.”
She tightened her arms around his neck. “I was just waiting for you.”
He placed her back on the ground and sat on the edge of the king-size bed, pulling her between his knees. His hands remained on her hips, holding her steady as he looked up at her. “I truly do love you, you know.”
Lily placed her hands on his cheeks as tears filled her eyes. “I do. And I love you, too, Mr. Brennan.”
He grinned and stood, then pecked her lips one more time. “Good to know. Now will you do me the honor of joining me for a night out on the town?”
Lily laughed as she took his offered elbow.
Once they reached the venue, Lily and Nate focused solely on business. Their fingers remained entwined throughout the cab ride, and Nate even held her hand as they entered the building. But when they crossed the door, their minds were on the job before them.
“Daniel is scheduled to arrive and walk the carpet at 6:00 p.m.,” Nate said as they entered the press area. “I’m going to check in with him while you check in with the studio’s publicity team. Why don’t we meet in the lobby at five?”
Lily nodded and moved to kiss his cheek. “See you then.”
She spent the next hour or so memorizing where each media outlet was stationed while Nate finalized Daniel’s schedule. At five they were as prepared as they could be.
“Hey, beautiful,” Nate said when he reached Lily in the lobby. “Ready?”
Lily grinned. “As I’ll ever be!”
Lily noticed her heart speed as they stepped into the chaos. It wasn’t that she was nervous. She felt confident that she belonged here. Instead, she found the excitement of the crowd seeping into her own system. The adrenaline spike served its purpose, though. She’d have enough energy to last well beyond the event.
She waited with Nate near the drop-off area for limos at the opposite end of the red carpet. Fifteen minutes later, the security team let Nate know that Daniel’s limo was next in line. When Nate leaned over to whisper that information in Lily’s ears, she glanced behind her, letting a wide smile spread across her face. She knew a deafening roar would erupt as soon as Daniel’s name was announced.
Lily became Nate’s shadow as he moved to open the limo door. The crowd screamed as Daniel stepped out and shook Nate’s hand.
Few people except Lily noticed a certain actress in a steel gray, strapless, knee-length gown and matching platform pumps with red soles gracefully exit the limo. Lily gave her a subtle wave as she made her way into the theater through a side entrance.
After a quick word with Nate, Daniel kissed Lily’s cheek, causing her to blush.
“It’s good to see you smile,” he said close to her ear.
Lily simply shrugged and grinned. “Yeah, well, making up with your boyfriend will do that to a girl.”
Daniel chuckled. “Well, it’s about damn time.”
“I heard that,” Nate said, surprising them both.
Daniel rolled his eyes. “I meant for you to hear it. All right, time to get started.”
Nate and Lily didn’t even try to stop Daniel from crossing the street to the barricades.
Half an hour—and countless autographs and fan photos—later, Nate dragged an unwilling Daniel back to the press line.
It didn’t take long for him to fall into the rhythm of question and answer, nor did it take long for Lily to fall into the rhythm of taking notes about his interviews. Before she knew it, they’d reached the end of the red carpet. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Daniel give one last wave before walking into the theater.
Lily finally took a deep breath, feeling like she’d run a marathon.
Nate wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her toward him. “Thank you,” he said, k
issing her temple.
Lily leaned into him, snaking her arm around his waist. “You’re more than welcome. Now let’s go watch this movie. I can’t wait to see it again!”
Nate couldn’t help but chuckle at her enthusiasm.
This time, watching a premiere with Nate proved to be a completely different experience. There still seemed to be a static charge between the two as soon as the lights lowered. He took her hand when they took their seats and accepted her embrace when she leaned toward him. They could have been any couple enjoying a movie, making Lily feel like things really were back to the way they should be.
As the lights came up, Lily sighed with contentment.
“That was just amazing the second time around,” Lily commented as they waited for the theater to clear. “Now I’m more than a little sad there won’t be any more Pierce movies. What a way to end the series!”
“So I take it we can expect a positive review from FilmInsanity.com?” Nate asked in a serious—and slightly sarcastic—tone.
Lily burst into laughter before hitting Nate on the shoulder. “You already know that I think Daniel is a tremendously talented actor. But his performance in this one was . . . incredible.”
“Well, let’s go celebrate my client’s accomplishment . . . and party at the studio’s expense!”
Lily smiled as Nate led her toward the exit. “We do have quite a bit to be happy about.”
By the time Nate and Lily arrived, the after-party was in full swing. The champagne flowed into vintage saucers while a jazz group played on the stage, recreating the feel of a 1920s speakeasy. It was lush, lavish, and over-the-top. Lily couldn’t imagine a more appropriate theme for a night out in New York City.
They each took a glass of champagne from one of the waiters as Daniel motioned for them to join him.
“Daniel, the movie is simply . . . wonderful,” Lily said as she sat beside him. “Congratulations!”
It surprised Lily to see his cheeks warm with a slight blush. “Thank you, Lily. That means a lot to me.”
She smiled. “Well, get used to it, because I think you’re going to get tons of praise for this one.”
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