Take a Bow (The Perfect Plans Series Book 2) (42 page)

“Well, a certain
someone
taunted me with red lingerie. Sadly, I see she’s not wearing it,” he offers a mock frown.

“Sorry, big guy, I wasn’t expecting you yet, and I had gifts to wrap,” I display my hand Vana White-style along the many shiny red packages.

“I see that. Hmmm, you’ve been busy,” he kneels down beside me.

“Yes, sir. Very busy,” I grin. “How did you manage to sneak away early today?”

“We wrapped up the final scene. Returning tomorrow for a few reshoots, so they called it a day.”

“Well, aren’t I lucky.”

“Hmmm, looks like I’m the lucky one,” he looks towards the gifts with teasing curiosity. Reaching for one, I slap his hand away.

“No touching until Christmas, Alex. I mean it.”

I laugh as he flashes me his puppy dog eyes and pouty lips. “You realize that will be two whole weeks of torture, having these on full display, taunting me every day to take a peek.”

“Yup,” I smile conspiratorially.

His playful grin fades after a moment, his beautiful blue eyes lost in thought, and I cock my head in concern. “I feel terrible, I haven’t had much time for Christmas shopping,” he explains.

“Don’t,” I shake my head, reassuring him with a smile. “You’ve been busy trying to wrap up the film. And you can thank me later,” I pause, a gleam in my eyes, my smile widening, “…I’ve already shipped the gifts for your Mom and Dad, Anna and Gerard.”

“I love you,” he cups my jaw in his hand. The adoration radiating from his gaze takes my breath away.
It always will
.

“I love you too,” I whisper, my good deed humbled in the contrasting brilliance of his. I would do anything for him, big or small, simply out of my love for him. But his bashful gratitude is always an unexpected reward that moves me beyond words.

My smitten heart skips a beat as he leans forward to place a gentle kiss on my lips. I sigh in contentment as he pulls away, a charming boyish smile donning his face.

“Thank you,” his gaze flickers between my eyes. “For believing in me…for believing in
us
,” he says on a wistful breath, his gaze thoughtful.

“Where did that come from?” I’m intrigued by his change from playful to serious about a subject we’ve seemingly moved past over the last month.

His slow, shy smile pulls my gaze as he rubs his thumb along my jaw. “Must be the sentiment of the season…the holidays,” he shrugs, radiating his boyish charm. “If you weren’t in my life, I would be alone this Christmas…as I have been many times before.”

My heart breaks for the lonely actor in him. He’s spoken many times about how isolating his career can be. Most often away from family and life-long friends as he moves from one role to the next, making acquaintances, forming new relationships that drift apart naturally through passing time, new films, new locations.

“I’m just so thankful that you’re here, with me,” he reaches up to brush a loose strand of hair from my ponytail off my forehead, the pulse in his jaw alluding to his deep thought, before he looks into my eyes. “I’ve been thinking about all we’ve been through. The times we almost lost each other. I know you were scared, and I know I’ve done and said a lot of stupid things…”

“We both have.”

He nods, somewhat reluctantly, wanting to take the blame for both of us. A gentleman to the bitter end. “We’ve had to endure and muddle through a lot of things. But you’re
it
for me, Aby. I hope you know that.”

I draw in a breath at his words, emotion welling in my eyes as the accuracy of them hit home. He’s right. We could have lost each other. When I left. When he left. Our pull, our connection never letting us go, despite the struggles we were facing. And for that I’m so grateful.

Forcing the tears to remain at bay, I run my fingers along the curve of his jaw, along his lips, “I do know that, Alex. And we
have
been through a lot, you’re right. But I do believe it’s made us stronger. We can get through anything. You’re my tall bill come true, remember?”

He flashes a smile that I’m delighted to see, its corners quickly twisting into his sexy smirk as he reaches to pull me into his arms. “I
do
so very much enjoy those prerequisites of yours, Miss Ryan. Prepare to be
worshipped
, sweetheart. Right. Now,” he whispers in my ear, taking me in a ferocious kiss that metaphorically brings me to my knees.

“DOES THIS LOOK okay?” I turn from the mirror to face Alex, adjusting the grey sash around the waist of my light grey peplum-style dress.

“
Okay
? You’re stunning. And those heels,” he simpers, walking towards me. Reaching me, his hands admire the curves the dress exaggerates. “I’m not sure I want to share you this evening,” his husky whisper is sinful. “For some reason I have the hardest time wrapping my head around leaving the house,” he leans down to kiss my neck.

“Mmmm…yes,” I manage through his teasing onslaught, “I seem to remember the last event we attended started in a similar fashion.”

“Will it
end
in a similar fashion?” I can feel his smirk against my flesh.

“Alex,” I bite my lip, the visual of riding him in his ostentatious car squeezing through my core. “Don’t we actually have to
start
the evening before we discuss how it may or may not end?
Behave
,” I swat him away.

He flashes a playful, though ridiculously sexy pout.

“Alex, be serious.”

“Oh, I’m very serious,” he wiggles his brow.

Shaking my head, I try to stifle a laugh. “
Seriously
, I wasn’t sure what attire was appropriate for a wrap-up party. Am I overdressed?”

Laughing, he gives my bottom a light slap, “You’re perfect, sweetheart. You look exquisite. I’ll have to keep my eye on you all damn night, I’ll be beating the men away.”

“Funny guy,” I push against his chest. “I’m just not used to these types of events yet. They still make me nervous,” I admit shyly, turning back to the mirror for one final look.

Gently running his hands up and down along my bare arms, his gaze finds mine in our reflection. “I know, baby, but you’ll do great. You always do,” he reassures me, bringing a smile to my lips. “You’re so tall in these heels.
Damn
,” he drawls, swiping my hair to the side to kiss along my shoulder.

“Alex, you need to stop. You made us late for the last publicity event. It’s
not
happening again, buster.”

Growling, he turns to make his way to his closet, returning in a white dress shirt, still hanging open.
Damn him
. Whether he’s purposely playing me with this delicious teasing visual or not, I can’t resist taking in the show. I relish in the simple task of the fastening of each button, kicking my inner actress to life in hopes of hiding the pout threatening to emerge as his glorious chest, defined abs, and mouthwatering happy trail disappear. He smiles at me playfully, tucking his shirt into his dark blue jeans.

He looks simply divine. Sex on a stick, in fact…
With the face of an angel.

“See something you like, sweetheart?” his lips curl into that sexy smirk. “Perhaps it’s
you
who’d like to delay our departure this time. I can undress again if you’d like,” he motions to unbutton his shirt.

I rush towards him, halting the workings of his fingers. “Don’t you dare, Alex,” I laugh at his teasing, wrapping my arms around his waist. “You’re an insatiable devil, Mr. Tate.”

“And
you
are my angel.”

THE EVENING HAS been…interesting, to say the least. I’ve had a good time, no question, but I haven’t really seen Alex in ages. As a matter of fact, the last time I spotted him, a couple of leggy blondes were giving new meaning to the party’s theme as they
wrapped
him up in their attention, their eyes devouring him amid flirty giggles. I stayed calm and shot imaginary daggers their way, feeling almost sympathetic towards Alex -
almost
. He handles the unwanted attention so well that I’d be absolutely lying if I said the ugly shame of self-doubt didn’t rear her big, fat head. I’m human. Those two blondes, however…I’m thinking they hail from
Paradise Island
, perhaps. They’re not human
.
They’re Wonder Whores.

It’s not like Alex to leave me to fend for myself for such a lengthy period of time. But I get it. This isn’t like the publicity event, where he dangled me on his arm making the polite rounds. This is a party. A party full of co-stars and film crew celebrating months of hard work. He’s enjoying himself, and he doesn’t need me at his side for every minute of it.

He could be in any one of the many rooms full of guests, all mingling on the first floor of the directors stunning, supersized home. And that’s okay, I’m doing fine on my own. Yes, I
was
slightly star-struck when we first arrived, the mass of celebrities present enough to give anyone heart palpitations, but it faded quickly. They’re all just ‘regular’ people enjoying a night of ‘normal’ fun.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Aby?” Tracy Lynn, Alex’s love interest in the film, jars me from my avid searching through the crowd.

“Ummm, I am, thank you,” I smile. “Have you seen Alex?”

“I think he’s…” she quickly scans the room, trying to place where she saw him last. “Oh, no, he’s not there anymore. He’s a popular man,” she nudges me. “The
star
and all,” she winks playfully, her striking espresso brown eyes glistening. She truly is a beautiful woman, and I secretly simper at the thought of Alex having to kiss her, even if it was only make-believe. But she’s simply too nice to fake-hate for swapping spit with my incredibly amazing boyfriend. She’s down-to-earth, sweet, and fun.

“Did you know that Alex has a small shrine for you in his trailer? Or should I say,
had
,” she screws her face up in jest, “The movie’s wrapped, no more trailer,” she shrugs on a silly laugh.

Yes, she’s adorably sweet, but my mind kind of exploded at ‘small shrine’.
What?

She laughs, and I quickly pick my lip up off the floor, though no words are formulating to give her a response. I’m gob smacked, trying to imagine what pictures he would have had on display.

“The crew nicknamed him ‘Mr. Smitten’,” she winks, her playful smirk progressing into a sweet smile. “You two are obviously very much in love. Lucky you,” she holds my arm, the warm gesture making me like her even more. “My hubby is very well aware that I think Alex is one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen, so you’ll have to forgive me the numerous interviews I’ve given in which I blabber on about that endlessly. He’s so pretty, it’s sinful.”

Oh, you have no idea
- my inner dreamer swoons.

“Anyway, he had a picture of you in his trailer - a stunning picture, by the way - and when we saw that he added a few more, the crew clipped out media shots of the two of you - anything they could find - and taped them up with the others in his trailer. Oh, my,” she swoons, “…the way he would blush with affection,” she squeezes my arm. “Mr. Smitten.”

Holy crow
. “I…” I don’t even know what to say, my mouth opening and closing like a guppy.

Tracy laughs again, her gaze suddenly leaving mine, flashing over my shoulder.

“Ladies,” Alex’s sexy British brogue wafts deliciously from behind me, his hand absently sliding along my waist. My mind goes blank for a moment, the sound of his voice opening a cage of lusty butterflies in my stomach.

“Hey, Mr. Smitten,” Tracy winks at me, giggling.

“Oh, no,” Alex’s laughter is divine.

I can’t help turning my head to take in the heart melting moment, his head tilting back, his beautiful wide grin pulling mine in equal measure. A jovial Alex could pull a smile from the devil.

“Yup, I’ve spilled the beans, Tate,” Tracy smiles like a giddy cheerleader.

“What other gibberish have you been spilling to my beautiful girl here,” he smiles down at me.

It doesn’t escape me that I’ve yet to manage a word in the past several minutes, but those baby-blues staring down at me just stole my voice once more.

“
Mrs
. Smitten,” Tracy laughs, nudging me, my gaze darting towards her at the sentiment. My heart skips a beat at the entire notion of the title. “Oh and there’s
my
guy,” Tracy adds, noting her husband across the room. “I’ll catch you two later,” she pauses to squeeze my hand with a friendly smile, heading off as we say goodbye.