Chapter 67

Being pampered is a luxury I could easily grow accustomed to. The soothing massage of my hands and feet has eased some of the tension I’ve been carrying about tonight.

He’ll be the center of attention, the star everyone’s camera will be pointed at. I still can’t fathom why he’s gone to such lengths for me.

Having a professional do your makeup is surprisingly calming, and the head massage I received before my hair appointment was pure bliss. There’s nothing quite like a good head massage.

I’m lounging in a robe, on the verge of dozing off in my chair. I’m fighting the urge to sleep, knowing that Georgie and Maria, my makeup artist and hairdresser, would have my head.

They’re keeping me entertained, distracting me with laughter while Steph, the stylist, is buzzing around like a bee on a mission.

“Any particular color preference, Alex?” Steph’s voice floats over to me, but I can’t open my eyes—Georgie is in the middle of applying my eyeshadow.

“Not really, but since it’s summer, maybe something bright?” I suggest, and Steph squeals with delight.

With a clap of her hands, she exclaims, “I have a few fabulous options that would look stunning on you!” I can hear the grin in her voice, and it makes us all chuckle.

About fifteen minutes later, after Georgie has applied lashes and mascara, she tells me to open my eyes. I see the options Steph has laid out on my bed: a cream jumpsuit, a long white dress, a yellow top with electric blue shorts, a red mini dress, and a yellow mini dress.

All the options are gorgeous, but I trust Steph’s style implicitly. She could throw me in anything, and I’d be content. I even like what she’s wearing.

“Honestly, I think you should wear yellow or red. They’re both your colors!” She scans her outfits, lifts the yellow top and blue shorts, and tells me to try them on.

I do, and they’re lovely, but she’s not quite satisfied. She hands me the red dress next, and I slip it on with a little help from the girls. They tell me it’s pretty, but not quite stunning.

So, she hands me the yellow mini dress, and by mini, I mean mini. It’s short but covers everything important. I see three pairs of eyes widen and heads nodding in approval.

“This is it! This is the one!” Steph beams, pulling me over to the mirror.

“Is there any way you could make it a tiny bit longer?” I ask, looking at myself in the mirror. I have to agree with them—it’s stunning and perfectly complements my tan and eyes.

My hair and makeup are simple and natural, but it’s clear I’m wearing makeup. Maria has given me big, bouncy beach waves that look like they belong in a Victoria’s Secret ad.

Steph comes over and pulls the dress down a bit, smoothing out a bunch that was caught underneath. That’s why it was so short. It’s a short dress, but I’m petite, so it looks normal enough on me.

A knock on the door interrupts us, and Steph peeks her head out to tell the manager we need five more minutes. I feel like I’m in a fashion show. I don’t know how models do it.

I slip on strappy nude heels that tie slightly up my calves. I can already tell they won’t be comfortable tonight.

“Are you wearing underwear?”

Steph’s question snaps me out of my daze. I nod, “I didn’t bring any thongs with me. Can you see it through the dress?” Panic sets in as I turn to see if my underwear line is visible.

I look at her for guidance, and she gives me an apologetic look. “I’m going to have to go commando, aren’t I?” I close my eyes and let out a sigh.

“I’m afraid so, Alex. I don’t have any thongs with me. I’m sorry,” she sympathizes. I lift my dress and pull off my underwear, tossing them onto my bed. I turn around to see no visible line and smile, but I feel exposed.

Well, it’s not the first time you’ve gone to an event without underwear, Alex.

“Time to go or you’ll be extremely fashionably late!” She winks at me. One last look in the mirror and I’m ready to head out the door to the living room/kitchen area.

I grab my clutch, pull my dress down until it’s just above my knees, and adjust my bra one last time. I walk out of the room and see everyone engrossed in their phones.

The click of my heels on the tiles draws Drake’s attention first.

“Woah—fuck, she looks hot,” he whispers loudly, causing everyone to look up and see what he’s talking about.

I blush at Drake’s words and awkwardly avert my gaze to Knox, who is staring at me, wide-eyed, his jaw practically on the floor. “Woah...” His eyebrows shoot up in disbelief, and I smile at him.

His eyes roam my body, taking in every inch of me on display as if I’m a work of art. “You’ll catch flies with your mouths open like that, boys,” Knox’s agent says, laughing at their reactions.

I can’t help but laugh too. She’s hilarious, and that’s why I like her so much. “But we have to leave now.”

I nod, turning around to thank Georgie, Maria, and Steph for their help with individual hugs and kisses. I leave them in the condo while the team heads towards the elevator, Knox and I trailing behind.

I feel a hand snake around my waist and pull me to his side, followed by a light kiss on my temple.

“You look so beautiful, baby doll,” he tells me sincerely, making me blush again. I awkwardly fix my hair and whisper a thank you.

As soon as we reach the elevator, Knox pulls me to the back and grabs my ass. He gives it a light squeeze, making me gasp and hit him with my clutch.

He grins cheekily and holds his hands up in surrender. “What? They have a mind of their own.”

I roll my eyes, “You two must think a lot alike then.”

I nudge him with my shoulder, eliciting laughter from the others in the elevator. We make our way to the large, tinted-window Range Rovers waiting for us in the underground car park.

The doors are held open for us, and I slide in, buckling my seat belt. His agent and manager join us, along with a driver up front.

I’m sandwiched in the middle, a security guard to my left and Knox to my right. His agent is in the back with another guard, and his manager is up front.

As we make our way to the event, nerves start to get the best of me, causing my knee to shake. Knox places his hand on top of mine, offering a reassuring smile. “Stop, it’ll be fine,” he says.

I return his smile, albeit a bit tightly, and look out the window. I can still feel his eyes on me, so I meet his gaze again. He looks so handsome in his charcoal suit and crisp white dress shirt. His hair is tamed yet messy, and sexy as hell. I want to run my fingers through it. ~Restrain yourself, woman!~ I think to myself.

He leans in to whisper in my ear, making my heart jump into my mouth at how close he is. “You don’t need to worry about anything, baby doll. Just relax and enjoy yourself. People will ask you questions, just don’t answer them and stay with me.

“You look so beautiful tonight. I’m glad you said yes to coming with me. I’ve never taken anyone to an event with me before. But I kind of don’t want you to get out of the car at the same time—”

“What? Why? Do I not look okay?” I ask him, looking down at my outfit. ~Do I look too slutty or something?~

“No, you look perfect, too perfect. I don’t want to share you with anyone else perfect. I don’t want guys to check you out, although I know they will. They’ll be all over you tonight, jealous that you came with me and not them—”

“Don’t worry about that, Knox. They can do whatever, but I came with you and I’m staying with you.

“I’ve mentally prepared myself for the never-ending death glares that are about to come my way from the females at this event. It’s me who should be worried about getting out of this car, not you.”

“You can take them, baby doll, you’re feisty enough.”

“All I’m saying is if they start bitching at me about coming with you or my outfit, they better be wearing a bulletproof vest under their own outfits. I will go Bruce Willis in Die Hard on their asses—”

“Damn, baby doll, you’re very feisty tonight,” he winks at me as we come to a stop. I see the red carpet all laid out for him to walk.

I lean more into him and whisper, “You look very handsome, Carter. You scrub up well for an egotistical football player.” Smirking at him, he smiles back with a pointed look.

I kiss his cheek and the door with the security guard flies open. I hear the shouting from the paparazzi bending around the door.

I slide across the seats and step out with the help of the bodyguard, Knox following behind me. I adjust my dress, pulling it down and fixing the top so nothing is on show.

In the process of fixing myself, I feel a hand smoothing down my dress on my hips. I turn around, knowing exactly who it is, and see his eyes honed in on my butt and hips. I hit him once more with my clutch.

“Control those hands of yours, Carter!” I laugh at him once more. His hand slips onto my butt and I push it up onto my back, only for it to trail back down to my butt.

“I can’t help it, baby doll, your body in this dress is just—wow,” he once again squeezes my butt and I gasp at him. Thank god nobody can see us behind the car.

“Knox, you squeeze it once more I will hurt you so bad that people will question whether you’re actually the sexiest man alive! I mean it, take it off!”

I scold him playfully at first, but I have to be stern towards the end to let him know I mean business.

“Or we could just leave and go back to mine and let me touch it for the rest of our trip... without clothes on, of course,” he winks at me, finally removing his hand from me. I roll my eyes and mouth ‘Thank you.’

I push him out from behind the car and let him walk in front of me. We get to the red carpet and I look up to see him staring down at me.

~I’ve never been on a red carpet before, this is weird. You usually watch this kind of stuff on TV.~

“Come here, take my arm and hold tight, it’s going to be a little crazy out there. There’ll be a lot of cameras in your face and flashes that come with it. People will scream at you to look at them for a photo. Just stay with me and I’ll protect you, alright?”

“Wait, what?—” We start walking onto the bouncy red carpet and I see a white background with the words People Magazine written all over it, along with the sponsors of the night.

He gets to the center and I keep walking, letting go of his arm, but he quickly pulls me back to him.

“Where are you going, baby doll?”

“I was going to wait over to the side when you’re finished with the photos?” I tell him, confused as to why he pulled me back.

“Knox! Alex! Knox over here! We want one together! Over here!” Hearing the loud cries from the older men over the barrier, I look at them and the flashes immediately go off synchronously.

“They want photos of us together, baby doll, come on. Just stand here with me and smile, and I’ll try my hardest not to kiss you.” I snap my head up to him and he’s smiling down at me.

I feel my cheeks get warmer with a blush of embarrassment. ~He can’t say shit like that to me in public.~

“I hate you,” I playfully whisper back, a sarcastic smile on my face.

“Perfect! Perfect! Now kiss each other! Kiss!” The clamor of the photographers pulls me back to the present. There are so many cameras. I feel his arm slide around my waist, drawing me subtly closer to him.

We smile for the cameras as they clamor for our attention, chanting “Kiss” over and over. It feels like I’m at the zoo, surrounded by a pack of wild animals.

Eventually, we move on, spotting a cluster of TV cameras off to the side. Knox’s agent is briefing him on which ones he’ll be speaking to—E-News, Entertainment Tonight, and so on.

As he guides me along, I lean in to whisper, “Maybe I should stay here and wait until you’re finished?”

He grins and shakes his head. “You’re staying with me.”