Chapter 8

Brody’s lips moved over Cara’s as if they’d been made to kiss hers. This was better than any daydream. Tingles shot out, sending pleasurable chills across her skin. Nerve endings danced the tango. Or maybe it was the cha-cha.

He tasted hot and spicy. No doubt from the salsa.

His hands rubbed up and down her back.

Cara rose on her toes to get closer to him.

His kiss had been a total surprise. She had no idea why he’d chosen this moment, but she didn’t care.

Her arms wove around his neck. The ends of his hair tickled her skin.

She’d dreamed about his kiss for years. If her brain wasn’t overwhelmed, she could calculate the exact length of time, but she wanted to enjoy his lips against hers for however long it lasted.

A need grew deep inside her. An ache fueled by the rising heat. His kiss was hot enough to turn her insides to goo. That had never happened to her before, and she liked the feeling.

She lowered her hands to hold on to his shoulders. Falling would spoil the moment.

The ridges of muscles beneath her palms told of his strength. He wouldn’t let her fall. He had her back, and she had his.

Always.

She wanted more of him and his kiss.

She parted her lips…

A noise sounded. A moan.

From her.

The caress of his fingers against her sent her temperature boiling. A million times better than any fantasy or dream.

Eager to be closer, she arched against him and wound her fingers in his hair. She couldn’t get enough of his kiss, enough of him.

Another noise sounded. A click. Several clicks.

Not her.

Brody jerked away.

Startled, she glanced up at him.

The dressing room lit up. A camera’s flash.

Every nerve ending and muscle stiffened, frozen in place. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but the shock on Brody’s face matched how she felt.

He shielded her face, hauled her against him, and turned them away from the photographers. “Get out.”

One man snickered, an evil, mocking sound. “We got what we came for.”

The two men disappeared from sight. Less than a minute later, a bell jingled.

They must be gone. Thank goodness. She inhaled deeply, but that didn’t slow her racing pulse.

Brody let go of her. “You okay?”

Her heart pounded. Adrenaline flowed. Her lips tingled from his kisses. Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she did a double take.

Totally unrecognizable.

Her face was flushed. Her lips were pink and plump. Her expression was a cross between panicked and turned on.

She didn’t like the face staring at her or how she felt about Brody. Crushing on him was the last thing she needed.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

In a daze, she followed him to the front of the store.

“Who are you anyway?” Opal asked.

Brody removed his sunglasses and cap.

The woman gasped. “Brody Simmons. No one will believe this. Can I have your autograph?”

He turned his baseball cap around and put on his sunglasses. “No. And you missed out on more cash by not helping as you said you would.”

As they exited the store, he held Cara’s hand. “You okay?”

“I’m not sure.” She fought the urge to cling to him. “Go right. We’ll backtrack to the car in case we’re being followed.”

“How did they know where we were?” she asked.

“Caitlin.”

“Figures.” Cara’s gaze went to the right and then the left, but she saw only an older woman carrying a shopping bag coming toward her.

“The interview was broadcast today.” Brody adjusted his sunglasses. “Guess she wanted to give fans proof of our being together.”

“She’s the one who texted you in the dressing room.”

“Yes.”

“Unbelievable.” Cara’s frustration spiraled. “Opal sold us out, but she’s a total stranger so that’s not unexpected. Caitlin, however, keeps doing the same thing, and she’s family. I don’t understand why.”

“Caitlin wants our engagement to appear real to her fans. She needs them to believe her, but I don’t appreciate the methods she’s using.”

“Me, either.” But to be honest, this was nothing new for Cara’s sister. “I hope my face doesn’t show up in the photographs.”

“It shouldn’t have thanks to my expert—”

“Kissing?”

“Blocking,” he said a second later.

“Thanks for that.” She went around the corner. “But why did you kiss me?”

Concern was written on his face…or was it guilt? Caitlin had texted him. That sent up a red flag. Was he in on this with her? Cara hadn’t considered Brody might not be an innocent party.

His eyebrows drew together. “You were stressed, on the verge of panicking. I wanted to distract you.”

Wanting to distract her wasn’t the same as wanting to kiss her. Maybe there was more to this. “Or maybe you kissed me so the photographers would catch us.”

He stopped, his face hardening. His jaw jutted forward. “No. I would never do that to you.”

Cara wanted to believe him, but at the same time, a part of her didn’t.

Couldn’t.

Her toes remained curled from his kiss. The tingling of her lips hadn’t stopped.

A hot kiss meant nothing to him. Brody Simmons kissed beautiful, sexy actresses for a living. He didn’t get into those kisses.

I wanted to distract you.

Apparently, he hadn’t gotten into this one. Not the way she had. Knowing that sucked.

“It worked.” She tried to keep disappointment out of her voice.

“Good, but how come we’ve never done that before?”

She wanted to groan, but she didn’t. “You were too busy dating girls from the cheer squad and gymnastic team.”

A goofy, lopsided grin formed on his face. “Those were the days.”

“You broke a lot of hearts.” Including hers.

“Mine got broken, too.”

“True.” She couldn’t count the times she listened while he poured out his sorrows when that happened.

They went around the block. A mother carried a baby in a front pack while holding the hand of a little girl dressed in pink and purple.

He glanced behind them. “I don’t think anyone is following us.”

Thank goodness. Cara’s pulse hadn’t settled. This was more excitement than she was used to—kissing a hottie actor and being caught by paparazzi. Doing a jigsaw puzzle sounded nice and boring, exactly how she liked things.

“Let’s skip the store and go to my place,” she said. “I don’t want to take another chance of being spotted.”

“Sounds good.” He hit the key fob, and the car doors unlocked. “Who knows what the reaction to the interview will be? We should turn off our phones and not worry about it until tomorrow morning.”

Guess that meant he was planning to stay at her place again.

A shiver inched along her spine.

Brody was a longtime friend but being around him disconcerted her. She didn’t know if she should treat him like a guest, family, or…

Maybe she was overthinking this. Her tingling lips, too.

As long as he didn’t kiss her again, she should be fine with him around. At least, she hoped so.

♥ ♥ ♥

Eating a home-cooked dinner, sharing a bottle of wine, watching Loki select a wedding invitation, and putting together a puzzle relaxed Brody. The tension seeped from his muscles. The knots all but disappeared. Kicking back with Cara made him forget…everything.

No stress, only laughter and a good time.

He placed another puzzle piece of the windmill on Cara’s side of the table and then raised his glass. “This is exactly what I needed.”

“More wine?” she asked.

“Time with you.”

The way her face lit up pleased him. He sipped the pinot noir. Beer was his beverage of choice, but the red went down smooth. “How are you doing with everything that’s happened so far?”

“Can’t say I’ll ever be used to the paparazzi parked outside my building, but I feel safe inside.”

“Good because things will be crazy for a bit.”

“Don’t you mean crazier?” She swirled what wine remained in her glass. “I remember what it was like for you and Caitlin when your movie hit number one.”

Of course, Cara did. They had sought refuge from the insanity at her apartment. “So, you’re doing okay with all this?”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s not like we can stop it. I’m trying to find what positives I can.”

“Any luck?”

She refilled her glass. “We haven’t hung out like this in a while so that’s been nice.”

He couldn’t remember the last time. Oscar night had been scheduled with the award show and after-parties. “It’s been too long. My schedule’s been insane.”

Yet, he’d taken a few short breaks. Ones he’d spent in the mountains of Colorado or out of the country on a sunny beach. Not once had he thought to visit Cara in San Francisco. Bad decision. He needed more of this rather than sand or snow.

“How was the Academy Awards last week? As crazy as the last one?” she asked.

He’d gone with Caitlin, but he’d had more fun the year before with Cara, who’d been wide-eyed, full of wonder, and wanting to experience everything. “Yes, and I missed having you with me.”

“I have a new appreciation of what goes on now, especially during commercial breaks. This year, Loki and I celebrated by throwing our own Academy Awards party. He wore a bow tie.”

“And you?” Brody asked.

“I put on the dress.”

The dress had made him realize Cara had a similar body type as Caitlin, appealing curves in all the right places, but ones Cara kept hidden. A shame, really. “I wish I could take credit, but that was all Ainsley’s doing.”

“She used your credit card.”

“Best purchase ever.”

When Caitlin had gotten sick, Cara had flown to Los Angeles the night before the Academy Awards and stayed in a Beverly Hills hotel. Ainsley, his personal assistant for the past three and a half years, had taken care of Cara—picking her up at the airport, arranging a spa day and hair appointment, and getting her a dress, shoes, and jewelry to wear. He hadn’t seen Cara until the limo picked him up to go to the theater. He hadn’t believed the difference in her. She’d looked more like a starlet than a librarian who spent her free time scouring for books in old shops and dusty basements.

“We had fun that night,” he said. “Thinking about all the dancing we did at the after-parties makes my feet hurt.”

“Dancing was the second-best part.”

“The spa day was your favorite.”

“Nope.” She stared over the rim of her wineglass. “Seeing you dressed up in a tuxedo and presenting an Oscar was amazing. Remember how you talked about being on stage at the Academy Awards when we were kids? Experiencing that dream come true for you was such a thrill.”

Brody’s chest tightened. His dad was a mechanic and his mom a bank teller. They worked the same jobs they had for thirty years, even though he sent them money, gave them gifts, and offered to support them if they wanted to retire or simply quit. Most people back home had thought he and Caitlin would give up their pursuit of stardom after a year or two in Hollywood and crawl home in defeat. Success hadn’t come quickly. More than once, his parents had sent him money, as had Cara, but perseverance paid off. “I’ve been fortunate. And lucky.”

“You’re talented.”

“So are many others.” Some who’d started out at the same time he had were still working at restaurants or other jobs while waiting for their big break. “I’ll never forget those who helped me in the beginning.”

“Is that why you’re doing the audio narration for that author’s new series?”

He straightened. That wasn’t public knowledge yet. Only a handful of people knew. “Did Caitlin tell you?”

Cara nodded. “It’s a great idea.”

“Only if I can nail the female point of view.”

“Your voice is like melted chocolate. You could read a grocery list and have people listening in rapt adoration.”

Interesting. He leaned across the table. “Do those people include you?”

Picking up a puzzle piece, she studied each side.

If she was playing hard to get, it was working. “So…”

Cara placed the piece in its spot on the puzzle.

“Yes or no?” he asked, impatience getting the best of him.

The laughter in her eyes told him she knew it, too. “If you used that British accent from your spy movie, then yes, I would be included.”

“You liked Maxwell?”

“Loved him. Like every other woman with a pulse.”

“I don’t care about other women. How did you feel?”

Placing her hand over her heart, she tapped it. “You know how we used to make s’mores in your backyard, and the marshmallows would be all hot and mushy?”

“Yes.”

“That’s how I felt when I heard Maxwell’s voice.”

Hot and mushy was awesome. Maxwell Armitage, a working-class James Bond type with a bad-boy reputation, was the first role he’d done without Caitlin as a costar. The film hit number one at the box office for two weekends in a row. He’d done skits as the character for the last year on various talk shows, so slipping into Maxwell’s skin wasn’t difficult.

He tilted his head and gave Cara his most smoldering look, one a cameraman had spent hours working with him to perfect. “Have a list handy, love. I’d enjoy getting to you.”

Cara’s lips parted. “Oh, no. Don’t do that. I may forget who you are, and then we’d really be in trouble.”

Cocking one brow, he flashed a you-know-you-want-me look. “My type of trouble can be fun. Let’s have a go.”

She covered her ears. “La, la, la, la, la. I can’t hear you.”

He burst out laughing. Cara used to tune him out like that when they were younger.

“You would find this funny.” She lowered her hands. “But seriously, Maxwell is a babe magnet. Or would be if he were real.”

“I’ll remember that the next time I’m trying to pick up a woman.”

“As if you’d have any trouble.”

Brody shrugged, but he was over the dating scene. He preferred having one woman—a special one—in his life. Someone to talk to, spend time with, and make him forget whatever was going on in the world.

Like tonight with Cara.

But finding that wasn’t easy. He never knew if people wanted Brody the man or Brody the movie star. At least he could trust Cara and Caitlin. Well, the latter with a few caveats. They’d known each other their entire lives. Nothing would come between them.

Including the pretend engagement.

Loki meowed. He rubbed against Cara and then jumped on the table. Jigsaw pieces fell to the floor.

“He’s ready for bed.” Cara picked up the pieces. “So am I. It’s almost midnight.”

“Feels earlier.”

“Time flies when you’re having fun.”

“This was fun.” He hated for the day to end. “We could watch a movie.”

“And be a zombie tomorrow?” She picked up Loki. “I can’t function without enough sleep. I have to meet with Hannah Yee at the Bay View House before we decide on a menu.”

“Hannah?”

“The wedding dress designer. Not sure why I need her to make me a gown. Something off the rack would be fine. It’s not like I’m going to wear it.”

“Appearances. If Hannah has something for you or ideas about a dress, humor her.”

Cara shifted the cat to one arm before downing the remaining wine in her glass. “Will you be okay sleeping on the couch again?”

“I’d rather be in bed with you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”

“More comfy,” he backtracked, wishing he’d kept his mouth closed. Ever since the kiss, weird thoughts about her had been flashing in his mind. “But I’ll be fine on the couch.”

Loki gave Brody a triumphant look. The spoiled cat would watch Cara undress, sleep on the pillow next to hers, and cuddle against her.

“Well, goodnight, then,” she said.

“No goodnight kiss?” He used his Maxwell voice.

“Not tonight. Things are complicated enough without letting tiredness and wine muck things up.”

“I’m good at cleaning up muck.”

Smiling, she blew him a kiss. “See you in the morning.”

Probably for the best. He’d enjoyed kissing Cara, but she was correct. They didn’t need more complications. Best not to cross any lines and touch lips again. Even if he was thinking of her in ways he hadn’t before, she was his friend. Always had been, always would be. Kissing more could screw that up. Now that she was back in his life, he wanted to keep her there.

Though sleeping on the couch sucked.

The minutes turned into an hour.

The more restless and uncomfortable he got, the more he thought about Cara.

That told him one thing.

He’d been working way too much. He needed to go out more. Have some fun. As soon as this fiasco with Caitlin was over, he would figure out a way to do just that.

He couldn’t wait.