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Chris opened his mouth to say something, then furrowed his eyebrows and took another drink.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, feeling a stab of panic. Were they actually fighting? Was the wedding even going to happen? Because God knew I needed it to happen. My website was practically in flames with the negative reviews coming in, and I’d been tempted to temporarily disable the whole thing. All I knew was without Chris’ wedding, my business was very likely dead for good.
I tried not to let my brain follow that possibility too far, but it was unavoidable. I’d lose one of the things I loved most in the world, which was getting to create the perfect day for two people who were in love. I’d lose the last thin strand of respect my father had for me. I’d lose everything.
“You look like you might be sick,” Chris said with a touch of a grin.
“Can you please just tell me what’s going on? No more bullshit? Because something is going on. I’ve known it since we met in your brother’s office.”
Chris ran his tongue across his teeth, hand still on his drink. “It’s possible that a problem is developing.”
“A problem…”
“I don’t really know how to say this, but—”
I could’ve screamed with frustration when a sudden clamor of voices from the entrance of the building cut Chris off. We could hear someone trying to tell everyone to stay back, and then at least a dozen men and women with cameras came rushing into the dining room.
Guests at the other tables threw their hands up in disbelief while others pulled out phones and started recording.
I didn’t have time to process what was happening before we were surrounded by flashbulbs and shouted questions.
“When did you find out, Chris?” demanded a voice.
“You can’t follow me in here,” Chris said calmly.
“What did you think when you saw it?” another voice demanded.
“Saw what?” Chris asked through grated teeth.
Someone produced a cell phone with a still-frame of Mindy in a bathrobe. She looked like she was in an apartment somewhere and in the middle of one of her videos. Except the mirror behind her showed a relatively fuzzy image of a very naked, very erect man in the bathroom behind her.
Oh shit.
“When was this taken?” Chris asked with surprising calm.
“Last night. Do you mean this is the first you’re seeing it?”
The pace of flash bulbs and camera clicks rose to a fever pitch.
Chris didn’t speak for a few seconds, then he gestured for me to stand up with him. “I guess this is as good a time as any to come clean. Mindy was a hired actress to keep you guys from harassing my real fiancée.”
A storm of questions erupted, and I felt like pulling out my own phone and shouting a million questions at Chris right along with them. What the hell was happening?
Chris slid his arm around me and pulled me close. Suddenly I was facing him, then he was tilting my chin up and then—
Reality closed in around us. The camera clicks sounded muffled like I was in the fish tank instead of standing beside it. My focus zeroed in on the space between our lips. The quickly evaporating inches between the point when he’d take my heart, whether I liked it or not.
“Chri-” I started, but it was too late.
His lips pressed against mine. Hot. Warm. Sweet.
He cupped my chin as he kissed me long and passionately, and when he pulled back, the sounds around me came rushing back in like a wave crashing down. Clicks. Shouts. Bright flashes of light. And so many questions.
“Who is she?”
“What’s her name?”
“When were you planning to tell the public?”
I realized half of the questions and the focus was on me, now. But Chris had his hand on my back and was guiding me through the crowd of photographers toward the exit.
“But what about dessert,” I asked weakly.
Chris chuckled. “That’s what you’re worried about right now?”11ChrisBelle held her milkshake with trembling hands. She tried to find her straw and ended up nearly poking one of her eyes out, flinching back and then grabbing it for a sip.
“Just try to relax,” I said.
We were in a small diner we’d ducked into as soon as we got away from the paparazzi, and I hoped it would still be a while before any of them had a chance to find us again.
“Relax?” she asked. “I’ve been trying to come up with a list of complaints, and I don’t even know where to start. You just-”
“Here, let me help you. I kissed you without asking. Sorry, but I will say I thoroughly enjoyed it. And that thing you did with your tongue was a great touch. I vigorously approved. I also owe you a big explanation for the whole Mindy thing.”
“You mean your fiancée? And why aren’t you shaking with rage right now or something? That picture made it pretty clear she’s been cheating on you.”
