He releases my hand and shifts so he can bring both of his hands to either side of my face. Pressing our foreheads together he closes his eyes and lets out a deep breath. Those few seconds seem to slow down to hours as I feel the connection deepen between us. I study his beautiful face, his long dark lashes fanning out from his eyelids, his brows, relaxed from their pinched and angry position over his eyes, his cheekbones, angular and masculine all the way down to his chin.
He breaks my reverence when he opens his eyes, pressing a gentle kiss on my lips. “I love you Syd. Always.”
“I love you too, always.”
Bruce pulls the Suburban onto the brick driveway in front of the Four Seasons across from the Boston Common. He hops out and speaks with the doorman that greets him out front.
“I’m glad you had Bruce meet us here,” I tell Drew.
“He goes everywhere with me.” I arch an eyebrow at him and he smirks. “Everywhere that they drive on the right side of the road.”
Bruce motions to Steve and Evan who get out of the SUV. Evan holds the door open for us and waits for us to step out.
“Good morning Mr. Forrester, Miss Tannen,” the doorman says. “You’ve already been checked in and your man Bruce here has your keys, so just head on in to the elevator bank and up to the 6th floor. We’ll see to your bags when they get here and have them sent right up.”
Wow. Everything’s already done. I’m guessing Bruce checked us in before coming to the airport to get us. Steve leads the way into the gleaming black and gold lobby. It’s a Sunday, so the hotel is pretty busy with tourists checking in and out of their rooms.
I feel kind of stupid walking with an actual entourage, but I suck it up and keep my head down. Drew clutches my hand like it’s his lifeline, refusing to let go for even a second. If people notice us, I don’t care. I’m too excited to see Drew’s hometown and his family to worry about what people see or hear.
Bruce hands us our room key and leaves us. “I’ll be in my room if you need me,” he says. I give him a quick hug, and judging by the blush on his neck I surprised him.
“Good to see you Bruce.” I wipe the ridiculous tears out of my eyes.
“You too, Sydney.” Smiling, he exits on the 6th floor with us and walks the opposite way down the hall.
Steve opens our door and checks everything out while we stand in the foyer feeling ridiculous.
“It’s clear,” Steve says after checking for listening devices and who knows what else. “We’ll be down the hall.” He hands Drew the keycard.
“Thanks Steve,” Drew says as the big men leave the room.
I look around, walking into the living area of the Presidential Suite. It’s unbelievable. There’s an actual baby grand piano on one end of the room, tucked in front of wide bookshelves. The other end of the room has plush gold and cream furnishings in front of a fireplace. But what catches my attention are the glass doors that lead outside.
Drew notices my interest and takes my hand, “Want to see the view?”
I nod and he leads me over the thick cream area rug tossed onto the gleaming hardwood and unlatches the doors, swinging them wide to let in the warm summer air. I step out onto the brick balcony and take in the trees that dot the Common and the tall buildings in the distance.
“This is beautiful. I was worried that we’d have a view of the baseball field.”
Drew smirks, and then bursts out laughing, his earlier stress melting away. “I actually thought about it, getting a room near Fenway.” He steps closer to me, stopping just an inch from me. I can feel the heat coming off of his body. My heart speeds up as he locks his gaze onto mine, his smile becoming more serious. “But I knew you’d rather have a view of the park, and I live to make you happy,” he says in a low voice.
“Whatever makes you happy makes me happy.” I lift my hands and lay them on his broad chest.
“I’m happy that you’re here with me.”
“Me too.”
Yeah, we’re sickening.
We watch the people in the park for a while, as we relax on the terrace, holding hands and talking. It’s so normal that I almost feel as though I’m having an out-of-body experience.
“So we’re having dinner with your parents and the Grady’s tonight?” I ask Drew from my cozy spot tucked up under his arm.
“Yes.”
“Let’s have lunch on the Common.”
He looks surprised that I would suggest it. “You want to go out there, in public?”
“Of course I do. We’ll just put our human-repelling costumes on. No one wants to be within fifty feet of us when we wear them.”
“Let’s go then.” His smile is so big with excitement, I can’t wait to see his hometown.
We have a great day in Boston, feeding the geese and ducks while we eat and relax. We take the T to Faneuil Hall and browse the shops at Quincy Market. Steve wasn’t too happy that we ride public transit instead of taking the car, but Drew was adamant about showing me the full Boston experience. Plus, I think he just wanted to feel like a kid again. The giant grin didn’t leave his face for the entire ride. The best part was that not one person noticed us in our hideous wigs and clothes and we couldn’t have been happier about it.
By mid-afternoon, we’re both exhausted from the travel and jet lag, so we head back to the Four Seasons to take a nap before dinner.
The alarm on my phone wakes me from the deepest sleep I’ve had in a long time. I turn it off and roll over to snuggle against Drew and notice that his side of the bed is empty. I throw on a hotel robe and wander down the hall to find him and hear pieces of a conversation. I try not to eavesdrop but Drew is agitated and so loud that it’s difficult not to listen.
“I just can’t even believe she has the fuckin’ nerve to think she’s still going.”
“Sorry, I know.”
“Yeah, well that ass Reynolds bettah not come.”
“Well fuck her!”
“Shit, sorry.”
“She bettah not start shit with me or Syd!”
“Sorry! I know!”
“Did you bring it?”
“Yeah.”
“Nervous.”
“Everything’s set?”
I walk into the living area and spot Drew on the phone by the windows. He sees me enter the room and smiles. “Hey, Jane. I gotta go. Yeah, see you tomorrah.” He slides the phone into his pocket and crosses the room to see me.
“Is everything okay?” My concern is certainly showing on my face.
“Everything’s great babe.” He kisses me tenderly.
“Then why did I hear you talk about Adam Reynolds?” I hate bringing up Adam’s name. It sets Drew off every time, but I want to know what’s going on.
Drew’s smile fades and his posture stiffens when I mention Adam. He’s beyond a hot-button issue for Drew. He sighs and holds me closer, hugging me to his chest. “Jane said Kiera Radcliff is still planning on coming to the ball on Friday.”
“What?” I yell, pulling back so I can see Drew’s face.
He scowls and his eyes turn hard. “She bought two tickets back when we were filming. I didn’t even know if I was going to go at the time. I thought she was just trying to support the cause, but now I wonder if she was going to try and make it seem as though we were going as a couple.”
“How can she still go after everything that happened?”
Upset, Drew steps back and runs his hands through his hair. “Sam says there’s no direct evidence that she knew anything about the recordings, only circumstantial.” I frown and cross my arms over my chest. “She knew the studio wanted us together and she knew that some of the articles were bullshit, but according to the FBI, James Shelton, the head of PR and marketing for the studio was the one who worked with CelebCast to record us and break us up.”
“I know this is going to sound petulant and childish Drew, but I don’t want her there.”
He drops his hands and reaches for me, clutching me to him again. “I don’t
either babe. All we can do is be happy together and show her that she didn’t win. But I swear, I’ve never been more tempted to hit a woman than I was the night I went to her hotel on my way to see you.”
I laugh. “I may just do it for you.”
Chapter 29
Bruce guides the SUV to a stop in front of the Forrester’s house in Brookline, a suburb just a few miles from downtown. It’s a massive brick traditional surrounded by a tall brick wall. Despite its large size, the home is still inviting and has that charming New England architecture.
Drew told me his parents fought hard against him buying them a house, but after fans kept ringing the doorbell of the Back Bay townhome where he grew up, they relented to get more privacy. Drew points out several homes on the ride over, including ones belonging to two Red Sox players and a member of upper management for the Celtics.
“Sydney! Drew!”
Caroline Forrester comes out of the front door and hurries over to the driveway to greet us before we can even exit the car.
“Hey mom,” Drew says, hugging his mom and giving her a kiss on her cheek.
“Hi Caroline,” I tell her and she sweeps me up into a huge hug as well.
“I’m so glad you’re both here,” she says, tears glistening in her green eyes that are so much like Drew’s that it’s scary.
“Mom, don’t get all emotional out here on the street.”
Caroline smacks his arm. “I’ll get emotional wherever I want young man. I haven’t seen Sydney since … well, since that night.”
She’s referring to the night of Drew’s premiere, when a crazy stalker stabbed me. Drew sent his family back to Boston before I woke up from surgery. The last time I saw them was in the theater lobby before the movie started.
I wipe the tears that have started to form in my eyes and sniff. “It’s okay, but let’s not talk about it tonight. We have other, less depressing things to discuss.” I turn and look at Drew with a mischievous look on my face. “Like all of the embarrassing things Drew did as a child.”
Caroline grabs me and we laugh like schoolgirls, walking arm and arm into the house. Turning back, I see Drew shaking his head and smiling as he follows us.
“Sydney!” A loud squeal practically ruptures my eardrums as Allie comes flying out of the kitchen and hugs me, tight.
“Allie, you’re going to break me,” I choke out.
“Hey, don’t squeeze her to death,” Drew says, laughing at his sister’s enthusiasm.
“Hi yourself, brother.”. He kisses her cheek and in return gets a torturous hug from her as well. She starts dragging me into the kitchen. “C’mon Syd, you have to meet the Grady’s. They’re so excited to meet you!”
We enter a huge kitchen accented by a large stone fireplace and cherry cabinets. Five people are either sitting or standing around a massive granite island in the center of the room.
“Guys! Sydney and Drew are here!” Allie yells out so everyone can hear, and probably everyone in the next house as well. Difficulty with volume control is obviously a Forrester family trait that Drew shares with his sister.
Andy Forrester walks around the island and shakes hands with his son, doing the whole man-style pat on the back hug that guys do. “Sydney,” Andy says as he hugs me. “This is Patricia and Anthony Grady.” He motions to a couple in their fifties and we shake hands.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Great to meet you Sydney,” Patricia says. “We’ve known Drew since he was just a little kid and he’s never brought anyone home before, has he Caroline?”
I’m surprised at her words. She can’t be serious that Drew never had a girlfriend that he introduced to his parents before. Then again, I never asked and truthfully, I’m twenty-four and have never had a boyfriend before so maybe it is true.
“Stop embarrassing me Patty,” Drew says, hugging her and kissing her cheek.
“Hello Sydney. Call me Tony,” says a tall blonde man in a Red Sox shirt.
Jeez, the people in this town are really obsessed with baseball.
“Hi Tony, nice to meet you.”
Andy turns me to the other couple in the room, a guy and girl about Drew’s age. “This is Mike Grady and his wife Sandy.”
Drew and Mike hug and backslap, smiling like crazy. “Way to go breaking your hand, buddy!” Mike says. Drew just shakes his head and laughs. They immediately begin to discuss baseball.
I roll my eyes and shake hands with Sandy, a raven-haired woman who seems to be a little shy, which I’m sure doesn’t help her much around this boisterous crowd. “Hi Sydney,” she says to me, revealing her gorgeous smile.
“Hi Sandy. Quite the group here,” I joke. She agrees.
“Syd, this is my best friend Mike,” Drew says, pulling Mike over to me. “Mike, this is my girl, Sydney,” he says proudly.
“Hi Mike, I’ve heard a lot about you.” I offer my hand to shake.
He looks at my hand like it’s poisonous, then at my face. “Hell no! This is how we do it around here!” He pulls me into a bear hug and swings me around in a circle as I let out a small squeak in surprise.
“Hey, stop groping my girl,” Drew says in mock irritation, chuckling at my discomfort. Now I know this is his best friend, because if anyone else touched me like that, Drew would have knocked them out cold.
Mike sets me down and pulls his wife into his side, grinning like a loon. “Sydney, did this guy ever tell you about the time that we put firecrackers down in the …”
“Hey now!” Drew interrupts. “We don’t have to go there already, you’ll scare her off.”
Mike leans in close and fake whispers, “I’ll tell you later. I have tons of ‘em to fill you in on.” He winks playfully and steps back.
“Okay everyone! Let’s get drinks,” says Drew’s dad as he uncorks a bottle of wine.
The ride home is quiet after the lively and boisterous conversation at the Forrester house. I’m starting to think maybe uncontrollable volume is a New England thing and not just a Forrester thing. Sandy and I were the only ones who kept it under 100 decibels the entire night, and she’s originally from Seattle.
“I had a great time,” I tell Drew as he plays with my fingers, drawing circles on the palm of my hand and stroking each finger sensually.
“Me too. You should see when we get the entire extended family together, my mom’s sister and dad’s brother and sister plus all of my cousins. Some of my cousins even have kids, so it gets pretty rowdy when they’re all under one roof.” He’s bursting with pride as he describes his family.
My eyes tear up and despite my attempt to squeeze them back one escapes down my cheek. I move to wipe it away but Drew catches it with his thumb before I can get it.
“What’s wrong?” He places his hand on my chin to turn my face towards him.
“Nothing, I was just thinking.” I pause for a moment and he waits patiently for me to continue. “I haven’t got any family. Just my mom … and my dad who I haven’t even seen in twelve years. My mom’s parents died in a car crash when I was a baby, my dad’s father was dead before he even graduated high school, and my dad’s mom died when I was seven. Neither of them had any siblings.”
Drew tilts his head until we’re nose to nose, his green eyes barely visible in the dark car. “I’ll be your family Syd.” My heart nearly bursts from the emotions coursing through me at that moment. He kisses me, almost reverently, then holds me tight for the rest of the ride home.
We get back to the hotel and Drew leads me into the bedroom, lit only by the moonlight filtering through the windows.
“I want to make love to you Sydney. To feel connected to you,” he says against my mouth, rasping his lips across mine. The gentle touch makes every nerve ending in my body ignite at the same time, causing a scorching heat to build between my legs.
Instead of answering, I step back and pull my shirt over my head then shimmy out of my jeans, kicking my shoes off at the same time. I reach up and remove the ponytail I wore to his par
ents’ house, letting my long auburn hair spill over my back and shoulders.
“Jesus Syd.” He moves to touch me, his hands running down my arms and settling on my waist. “So fucking beautiful.”
Not dropping my eyes from his face I reach out and put my hands on his chest, dragging them down to the hem of his shirt. I pull it up and over his head and he lifts his arms to help. Tossing it aside I grasp his waistband, flick open the buttons on his jeans and push them down to his ankles. Drew steps out of them and kicks them aside, standing in front of me in only his skin-tight red boxer briefs.
I allow my gaze to fall to his body, looking at all of him from top to bottom. His mouthwatering washboard abs and that sexy ‘v’ at his hips tapering and disappearing under his briefs. My eyes wander to his powerful legs, muscular and strong, then roam back up to his face. He’s watching me drink in every bit of him, his eyes burning with lust.
Drew reaches behind me and unclasps my bra, letting it slide down my arms and fall to the floor. My nipples are already tight and hard in anticipation, aching for him to touch and lick them. He brushes my hair off of my shoulder and drags his tongue up from my collarbone to my ear, making me shiver in pleasure. I hook my thumbs under the edge of my panties and push them down, then step back and sit on the bed, ready for him.
“I want you.” I’m breathless even though he’s hardly touched me. I feel a trickle of wetness on my upper thighs, evidence of my desire and what his presence does to me.
He takes off his briefs and climbs on the bed, pushing my legs apart with his knees. Dipping his upper body down he kisses me passionately, diving in with his tongue forcefully yet lovingly. A moan escapes from the back of my throat and he lets the length of his body press down on me, his hard arousal sliding along my silken warmth. He drops his head to my breast and teases the stiff peak with his teeth, softly nipping and licking before moving to the other one. Worshipping, that’s what he’s doing to my body. There’s no other word for this.
“Drew, I need you inside. Please,” I beg, writhing under him as he tortures me with his touch.
He brings his mouth back up to mine, capturing my bottom lip in his and sucking on it. I throw my head back and close my eyes, “Look at me. I want to watch you.” Drew positions himself and thrusts forward. I gasp as he pushes into my tight entrance until he’s buried to the hilt.
Absolutely Famous (Famous Series) Page 23