#Starstruck

by Wilson, Sariah

  Austin’s family room had French doors leading out to a terrace and a backyard the size of a football field. Everything was covered in big white tents. Over piano music and conversation, I heard a metallic buzzing sound. I followed the strange sound outside, where I finally spotted Chase. My heart tripped over itself when I saw him sporting a well-tailored black suit with a bright-yellow tie. He paced back and forth near a silver van, gesturing wildly as he talked on his phone.

  I didn’t know whether I should stay put and let him finish his call, but he saw me and stopped speaking. His mouth dropped slightly, and he blinked several times as his gaze raked over me. I couldn’t tell if his reaction was good or bad.

  “What? Yeah, I’m still here, Mom.” He waved me over. “Okay. I will see what I can do. I know it’s important to you. I understand. Okay. Bye. Love you. Bye.” He hung up and paused for a moment before he said, “You look amazing.”

  Then he enfolded me in a hug, enveloping me in his strength and his tasty scent. I sighed, loving how it felt to be in his arms. His breath danced against my skin. “I’m so glad you’re here.” He kissed me on the cheek, and my blood rushed up to meet his lips.

  Well, at least it wasn’t my forehead. He released me, and it took me a second longer than it should have to step back. I didn’t want him to stop holding me.

  “Talking to your mom?” I fought the urge to touch the spot where he’d just kissed me. I wondered if I’d be able to feel the warmth from his lips against my fingertips.

  “She wants me to come to this charity event she’s hosting. Baby seals or something.”

  “But you support ocean conservation.”

  He sighed. “I know. And I’m sure it’s a good cause. I’m going to have to rearrange my schedule. I guess it bugs me that she calls only when she wants something. Just like every other person in my life. Except you.”

  I had thought he might be open to the idea of coming to the Foundation benefit, but now I was fervently glad I’d never asked him.

  “What’s with the tie?” I asked as I ran a finger down the length of it. Silk. “You kind of look like a bumblebee.”

  “Have a thing for bumblebees, do you?”

  “Buzz, buzz.”

  That made him laugh, and he hugged me again.

  Only this time he didn’t quite let go of me. Just pulled his head back slightly while still holding me tight. Every cell in my body zoomed around with delight at his proximity, the feel of him. “Zoe, there’s something I wanted—”

  “Mr. Covington, you’re needed up front. It’s almost time to begin.” A woman wearing a headset and carrying a tablet interrupted him.

  Nodding, Chase let his arms drop, and I experienced that same sense of loss all over again. “I’ll be right there.”

  What had he almost said? It sounded important. Stupid wedding minion. Especially since she stood there, waiting, tapping her foot.

  “Time to stand up for my friend. Even though he’s marrying a woman who is far too good for him.”

  He followed the headset lady, and I went to the groom’s side and sat in the back row. I felt like a fraud sitting there as all these famous people and their equally famous spouses filed into the tent.

  There was a beautiful gazebo at the front, decorated with sunflowers. The chairs were soft and draped in white organza, and all the flowers were bright yellow with gray ribbons. Austin Adams came in with his groomsmen, and I thought it was a shame that Chase was so much prettier than the groom.

  A string quartet played classical music as I tried to stargaze without being noticed.

  Something whirred past my head. At first I suspected a bird, but I’d heard the same sound earlier. A metallic whirring. It was a drone.

  And it flew level with another drone. They darted at each other, like some kind of aerial Battle Bots match. I wasn’t sure, but it seemed like the paparazzi were trying to sneak some pictures with their drones, and somebody here had their own drones to block the shots.

  Clever.

  The music changed, and everyone stood as bridesmaids in yellow gowns that matched Chase’s tie walked down the aisle, followed by Austin’s fiancée, Marisol.

  Instead of watching the bride, I watched the groom. The look on his face—the openness, the love evident in his eyes—made me a little weepy. It was like he couldn’t wait to marry her.

  The officiant began the service, and admittedly Marisol surprised me. Austin had been a bit of a player and tended to date lanky, overly thin, supermodel-perfect types. Of course Marisol had flawless makeup and perfect hair and a gorgeous wedding dress, but she looked normal. Pretty, but normal.

  Maybe there was hope for us regular girls, after all.

  Chase caught my eye and winked, and I couldn’t help but grin back.

  I hadn’t been to many weddings, but this one seemed to fly by. I wondered if that was partly because I was able to spend so much time admiring Chase in his expensive suit. The officiant pronounced the couple husband and wife, and they kissed as everyone cheered.

  Music from the reception area started before the kiss had even finished. “Let’s party!” Austin called out to more cheers. There wasn’t an orderly procession out, just people standing up and making their way to the other tents.

  “Are you hungry?” Chase asked when he’d jostled through the crowd.

  I nodded. “Starving, actually.”

  He told me Marisol had insisted on an informal buffet so guests could serve themselves (or not eat at all, as was the case for many of the actresses). But this was no regular buffet. It was a five-star restaurant version of comfort food, and there was enough of it to feed a small nation.

  “What’s with all the yellow?” I asked Chase as he filled his plate with chicken wings and Kobe beef sliders.

  “It’s Marisol’s favorite color. And Austin calls her his sunshine.”

  Aw. “That is so sweet.”

  “Yeah, he’s head over heels for her. They didn’t even sign a prenup.” He added some garlic potatoes to his plate. “Dessert now or later?”

  “Look at that,” I breathed. There was an entire table filled with candy and desserts in shades of yellow. Lemon macaroons on silver trays, mini lemon meringue pies in little shot glasses, an apothecary jar full of yellow M&Ms.

  And in the center of it all stood their five-tier gray wedding cake. “Why is it gray?” I whispered.

  “Trendy?” he guessed.

  “It looks like it died a hundred years ago and came back to haunt the reception.” Food was not supposed to be that color.

  “Says the woman in the gray dress.”

  “But I’m not supposed to be delicious.”

  “Says who?” His lazy, predatory expression sent sparks skittering across my already sensitive nerves.

  I shook my head as though he was silly, even though my heart was pounding louder than the bass from the speakers. He led me to an empty table, and I was glad. I didn’t really want to make small talk with people I’d watched on big and small screens my entire life.

  “I’m going to have to run an extra mile tomorrow,” he said with a sigh as he looked over the mountain of food he’d piled on his plate.

  “And I’m going to have to feel bad for you that you’re running an extra mile tomorrow.”

  He laughed. “Hey, did you see who’s here?” Chase asked after he ate a slider in a single bite.

  “Um, everybody in Hollywood?”

  “There.” He pointed with his fork, and I followed it to . . .

  “No way.”

  Alex Trebek, host of Jeopardy!, was here.

  “Do you want to meet him?”

  “What? No!” What would I say to Alex Trebek? “Maybe later.” After I’d built up some courage. I looked away, wanting to distract myself. I noticed a sign on the table and picked it up. It talked about how everything was sustainable, organic, farm-friendly, etc. “It says the confetti on the table was handcrafted from Austin and Marisol’s favorite books. Do you think anyone her
e knows you can actually buy confetti and not destroy books?”

  “You mean the people who have a live wedding painter in the corner? They may not know.”

  “A wedding painter?” I’d never even heard of such a thing. “How does that work? Does everyone just hold super still for four hours straight?”

  “Come on. It’s just like having a photographer. Only more pretentious.”

  We laughed and watched as Marisol shared the first dance with her father. Austin came to claim her as soon as the song ended. As they swayed to the music, I realized it had been a long time since I’d seen two people so blissfully in love.

  “They look so happy,” I remarked.

  “Too bad it won’t last.”

  “Why would you say that?” I leaned over to smack him on the arm. “Don’t be such a cynic.”

  “It’s not cynicism. It’s reality. The majority of marriages end in divorce. It’s a fact.”

  “Nobody gets married thinking it won’t work. They get married because they have hope that it will.”

  I could tell I hadn’t convinced him. Other couples began to join Austin and Marisol.

  Chase stood up and held out his hand. “Dance with me.”

  I didn’t have much experience dancing, Especially not the slow variety. “I’m not very coordinated. I would probably trip over your feet.”

  “Zoe. I’d never let you fall.”

  As I slipped my hand in his, I knew he was wrong. It was too late.

  I was already falling.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Chase took me out on the dance floor and wrapped my arms around his neck. He slid his hands around my waist, squeezing me gently as he did so. I took advantage of the situation, pressing myself tightly against him as we swayed to the music.

  He didn’t seem to mind.

  His mouth stirred the hair next to my ear, and the sensation on my earlobe nearly made my eyes roll to the back of my head. “Do you know,” he murmured, a dark roughness edging his voice as he spoke, “that you’re the most beautiful woman in here?”

  As if. “I thought we were going to tell each other only the truth.” It was somehow easier to talk to him when our eyes didn’t meet.

  “That is the truth.” I felt his lips brush against the top of my ear, and my stomach did flips as my knees went hollow.

  I struggled to speak. “You, uh, probably shouldn’t say that in front of Austin or Marisol.”

  “If they ask, I’m not going to lie.” One of his hands slid up to the top of my back, and he held me close against his chest.

  Feeling inspired by his declaration, I said, “The actual truth is that you’re the most handsome man here.”

  “Even better than James Cruz?”

  His touch, his voice, mesmerized me, putting me into a foggy haze. The name James Cruz sounded familiar, but I was having a hard time remembering who he was. “He’s the short, dark-haired one who looks like a jerk, right?”

  Chase’s hands pressed into me as he chuckled. “You could have pretended you didn’t know who I was talking about.”

  I didn’t. The only man I saw was Chase.

  Right then, right there, I had to know if he felt the way I did. “Are you attracted to me?”

  “What?”

  I was afraid, so I’d said the words too softly. I cleared my throat. “Are you attracted to me?”

  He went completely still but said nothing.

  Oh no, I’d done it. I’d ruined everything. I couldn’t have just waited to see where things went. No, I had to have explanations and definitions, and now I’d freaked him out. “I get it if you just want to be friends. That’s fine. I just don’t have very much experience with things like this. I haven’t dated all that much. No, I’ve dated a lot, just not the same person more than a few times. So I’m not an expert and . . .”

  Just shut up, my brain told me. Shut up!

  Without a word, Chase took me by the wrist and led me into the mansion, away from the dance floor and the other guests. He walked so quickly that I almost tripped a couple of times in my stupid high heels. He took me upstairs, and I ignored the people giving us a mixture of strange and knowing looks.

  He pulled me into a slightly darkened room, stopping to close the door behind us. Then in one smooth and sure motion, he whirled me around and pressed my back against the door. He stood directly in front of me, almost as close as we’d been just a few minutes earlier on the dance floor. He put his hands on either side of my head, pinning me into place. He looked angry, and though I probably should have felt a bit worried, it was strangely thrilling instead.

  “Why would you think I’m not attracted to you?” His voice sounded deeper, rougher.

  My heart pounded so hard I could barely breathe. “You . . . you don’t act like it. You’ve never even tried to kiss me.”

  I saw his Adam’s apple bob slowly, and he stayed silent, not moving, not speaking. When he finally did say something, I almost jumped out of my oversensitized skin. “Do you know what I want to do right now?”

  His voice had a rawness to it, a rasp I didn’t recognize.

  “What?”

  “What I want is to lock this door. I want to tear this very nice dress off you. I want to throw you on that bed, and I want, more than I have ever wanted anything, to spend the rest of the night showing you over and over just how attracted I am to you.”

  Heat bloomed in my chest, and my lower abdomen tightened at his words. “Oh.”

  The right side of his mouth pulled up in a rueful half smirk. “But I can’t. Because I like you and care about you, and I respect you. And your decisions. Even if I’m going to be personally responsible for California’s next water shortage, thanks to all the cold showers.” He moved closer, trapping me between him and the door, and my breath knotted in my lungs. “I haven’t kissed you yet because I was afraid if I started, I wouldn’t be able to stop.”

  There was nothing I could say. Mainly because I now shared his concern. If I was this excited just by standing close together, I didn’t know how I could handle it if he kissed me.

  Chase brought his right hand down, running his fingers along the side of my face, leaving trails of fire. He moved his hand to the back of my head, massaging my scalp while his palm pressed against my cheek. Our noses grazed against each other as his lips hovered above mine, mingling our breath. It made my lungs constrict and my legs threaten to give out.

  “Zoe . . .” He said my name as both a plea and a warning.

  I realized he was offering me the chance to say no. To move away.

  I didn’t.

  “Tell me I shouldn’t. Tell me to stop.”

  Still, I stayed quiet.

  “I put an entire ocean between us so I wouldn’t do this. I’m not known for my restraint. I don’t trust myself.” He used his other hand to rub this thumb across my jawline and over my tingling lips, sending shivers cascading down my spine.

  Somehow I reached up and slid my hands to his chest. I could feel how fast his heart was beating. Just as quickly as mine. The air around us felt charged, like the feeling you get when you stand outside just before lightning strikes. “I trust you.”

  With a growl of both disbelief and need, his lips crashed into mine, like waves against a cliff in a storm. Which sent me into shock because of a total system overload. So many sensations overwhelmed me at once that I didn’t know what I was feeling. Every part of me, including parts I didn’t know I had, responded to his passionate kiss.

  Forget the butterflies. He had unleashed the entire zoo.

  “Kiss” felt like a poor description of the way he ravaged my mouth. I thought I understood what kissing should be like. I was seriously mistaken. Because no one had ever kissed me like this before. Not with this hot, hungry intensity. Not with this confidence, this surety, this level of skill. Like somebody would be grading him later on how well he kissed me, and he planned on getting an A.

  And going for extra credit.

  His lips gl
ided over mine in a rhythmic frenzy that had me tilting against him, holding on for dear life. His insistent, wild, bruising kiss made me dizzy, and I concentrated on the taste of his mouth. The feel of his muscles underneath my hands. The sound of his labored breathing. The delicious heat from his body pressing against mine. The intoxicating, masculine scent of his expensive cologne.

  The pleasure of it all flooded through me.

  My hair came undone as he ran his unsteady fingers through it, tugging and soothing, those sensations balanced by the pressure of his firm lips moving on mine, igniting sparks with each touch. He devoured me, making my body shudder from all the waiting, all the pent-up frustration and denial he let go with his kiss.

  I’d been right. I knew that if Chase burned, I’d be consumed. We were like two bonfires edging closer together, merging into one super fire, glowing hotter and brighter in the night.

  He moved from my lips to nipping and pressing hot kisses against the side of my throat. I dug my fingers into his shoulders, trying to pull him closer, wanting this feeling to last for eternity.

  Because this was more than just physical. The reason I’d never been kissed like this before was because I’d never had feelings like this for any man. My brain was too woozy to understand those emotions. I only knew I wanted to be near him and didn’t want to lose him.

  And I never wanted to stop kissing him.

  “Zoe.” His harsh whisper against my skin felt like a branding. I turned my head, intent on bringing his lips back to mine, but he pulled back slightly, just out of reach. I wanted to whimper in protest. It sounded like he said my name again, but I was having a hard time hearing. Because I didn’t know which was louder: my desperate, shallow breathing or my thundering heart.

  “Tell me I can lock the door.”

  That shot a bolt of clarity through my fuzzy mind. I knew what he was asking. What he’d just told me he wanted. And it all began with a locked door.

  He started nibbling on the bottom of my ear, and I slumped down as my bones turned liquid. He put one of his strong, muscled arms around me and kept me upright. He was not fighting fair.