The dress was exactly how I’d pictured it on her — deep green, fitted through the bodice and flaring softly at her hips, with shortoff-the-shoulder sleeves that showed just enough skin to make me insane. She’d left her hair down, waves tumbling over her shoulders, and her lips —fuck.
She was fiddling with the clasp of her clutch, not even looking at me. Like she had no clue what she was doing to me just by existing in that damn dress.
“Junie.” My voice came out rougher than I intended.
Her head snapped up, eyes wide. “What?”
I stepped closer, letting my gaze roam over her shamelessly. “You’re—” I shook my head, grinning helplessly. “You’re gonna ruin me tonight.”
Color rose high in her cheeks, but her mouth curved into a small, pleased smile. “It’s just a dress, Barlowe.”
“No,” I said, reaching out to catch her hand in mine, bringing it to my lips for the quickest kiss. “It’syouin the dress.”
Her fingers flexed against mine, and for a second, I let myself imagine we weren’t about to walk into a room full of cameras and flashing lights. That I could just pull her back into the room, press her against the door, and kiss her until we both forgot our names.
I tried to rein my thoughts back in before I let myself imaginetoo far.
The dress on the floor.
My hands in her hair.
Her mouth on my —
I stepped back just enough to offer her my arm. “Ready to knock ‘em dead?”
She rolled her eyes but looped her hand through my arm anyway, squeezing gently. “Lead the way, movie star.”
The second the SUV door opened, the lights hit us like a freight train. Flashes. Shouts. A dozen voices calling my name, and — yeah — hers.
“Ansel! Over here!”
“Juniper, how long have you two been together?”
“Ansel — are you finally off the market?”
I felt her hand tighten on my arm. Just slightly — but I felt it. So I leaned down, my lips brushing her hair. “Eyes on me, kid. Just me.”
She tilted her chin up — brave, steady — while I guided her down the carpet. The cameras loved her.
Ofcoursethey did.
The dress hugged her just right; the color making her eyes look like goddamn jewels under the lights.
Every time someone shouted something about ‘The Way We Move’, or the pool photos, or my ex-wife, I ignored it. I just kept my hand warm on Juniper’s back, steering her gently like we were the only two people on that carpet.
At one point, I caught our reflection in a wall of glass — a perfect picture. Her on my arm, laughing up at me like I was saying something just for her.
They didn’t need to know I had just promised her every special edition book she’deverdreamed of if we could sneak out the emergency exit and leave the Red Carpet behind.
“Keep smiling, Junie,” I murmured, leaning just close enough for the photographers to lose their minds. “You’re making me look real good right now.”
She huffed a laugh, eyes sparkling. “Shut up.”
“Careful, the paparazzi love a red carpet kiss, troublemaker. “
Juniper tugged on my collar, dragging my lips down to meet hers. I thanked whatever deity would hear me — I’m so glad I forwent the tie tonight, making it easier for her to hold me close to her. Her fingers curled tighter into me as I looped my arm around her waist, kissing her deeper.
The cameras went absolutely feral.
