Chapter 68

Our first stop is Enews. As they greet Knox, I step away from him, not wanting to give them any reason to focus on us. Tonight is all about him.

“We have the man of the night with us here right now, Knox Carter. Voted the sexiest man alive by People Magazine for the third year in a row. What does it feel like retaining that title, Knox? You must get a lot of attention with that!” The host, Cat, holds the microphone up to his mouth.

His hand rests lightly on the small of my back, fingers tracing circles. Is he nervous?

“Well, it’s flattering to be voted for that for the third time in a row. It’s very kind that People Magazine is giving me this award tonight,” he deftly sidesteps the question about attention. I’m impressed.

“What’s your secret to looking so good?” I stifle a laugh as the camera swings to me. I clutch my purse in front of me with both hands, trying not to laugh on live TV.

“Well, I work out almost every day, I eat the right stuff that gives me the right nutrients for my body. But it’s mainly working out, I like to stay fit and in shape,” he replies.

“It’s clearly working for you and making all the ladies fall for you!”

“Oh, I don’t know about that! I do it for me, not for people,” he says, once again avoiding the obvious reference to his many admirers.

And he does have many admirers. He’s known as the world’s playboy, the sex god of women’s dreams. The cause of panties dropping and hearts racing with just one look.

He has the body of a god, a million-dollar smile, and the king of sexy smirks. His eyes make you want to climb on top of him. His lips make you want to kiss him and never stop.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Knox Carter, the face you want to sit on for all of eternity. And let’s not forget that golden tongue and magical fingers.

Okay, focus, Alex!

“I see you’ve brought yourself a date tonight? Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’ve never brought a date with you to any of your events?”

“Yes, well, Alex was in the city for the Science Conference yesterday for a talk on girls in STEM, so I asked her to join me tonight. Isn’t that right, bab—Alex?” He corrects himself just in time, almost calling me by a nickname on live TV. My eyes widen as I realize I have to answer.

“Yes, well, he came to support me yesterday during my talk so I thought I’d come to support him tonight if he wanted me to attend. So, here I am,” I say, laughing nervously. His hand applies a little more pressure on my back, moving dangerously low.

“I have to say you’re both the best dressed of the night tonight—” Yeah, right, Cat. We’re probably the hundredth couple you’ve told that to. “Who are you both wearing?”

“I’m wearing Armani,” Knox answers smoothly.

“I’m wearing Givenchy,” I add, and she beams at me.

“That dress looks great on you, Alex! And your shoes? Are they Givenchy too?”

I shake my head and laugh. “No, these are from Zara, and so is this clutch,” I say, holding up my purse.

“Wow! They look so expensive,” she winks at me, and we say our goodbyes before moving on to the next set of cameras. The questions are all the same.

As we make our way up the steps, I see Lauren standing there with a glare on her face.

“Ugh, great...” Knox comments sarcastically, his hand still resting on my back. This should be fun.

We keep walking, the bodyguards stepping in front of us to block anyone from getting to Knox. Mainly Lauren. She stands there, arms crossed, glaring at us as we walk by.

We continue towards the entrance to the hotel hosting tonight’s event, walking into the main foyer for him to greet people.

I admire how easy he makes it look, how effortlessly he talks to people, while I stand there like an idiot. I see lots of supermodels and actresses cozying up to him. I’d wager he’s slept with half the women in this room.

Suddenly, an arm tugs me out of my thoughts and pulls me towards a body. I crash into a wall of muscle. “This is Alex,” I hear Knox say. I compose myself and stand up straight, looking around to see who he’s introducing me to.

I see the icy glares I predicted would come my way tonight. Tall blondes, brunettes, and a single redhead look down on me with their skyscraper bodies in heels.

The girls flaunt their natural beauty, their endless legs, and their radiant, baby-soft skin. I offer them a timid wave and a tight smile before my gaze drops back to the ground.

~God, I’m so terrible with people.~

“She’s my date for tonight—”

“Date? You’ve never brought a date before....” I glance up to see one of the blondes glaring at me, her upper lip stiff. She sips her drink, swirling her straw around.

“Yeah, well, she was coming here anyway. She gave a talk at a Science Conference yesterday on girls in STEM. It was really good!” I see a wave of relief wash over their faces as they relax slightly.

“Oh, so you only brought her because it was convenient and you felt sorry for her. Makes sense.” They all nod their heads in agreement. I’ve been here less than ten minutes and I’ve already been labeled an inconvenience.

“Actually, no, so don’t insult her. I brought her because I wanted to. Even if she hadn’t given that talk, I still would’ve asked her, Rachel.”

His voice carries a hint of irritation and I stand there, shocked that he would defend me.

He stood up for me.

Drew never stood up for me.

I bite my cheek to suppress a smile.

“God, I miss you saying my name, Knox. That deep, husky voice of yours. It gets even deeper when we’re alone. You look sexy tonight, very, very sexy.”

She steps towards him, her fingers tracing a slow path down his chest. Her voice drops a few octaves, aiming for seduction. She does it well, I’ll give her that.

“You know what else I miss... your big... hard...dick inside m—” she whispers in his ear, but I hear it. Loud and clear. He grabs her hand and removes it from him.

“That’s enough,” he states plainly, his tone low and alert. The other girls stare at him, wide-eyed in shock that he stopped her. To be honest, I am too.

I turn to grab a drink from one of the circulating trays. It looks like some sort of cocktail. It’ll do. I need something to help me get through this event if it’s going to be like this all night.

Feeling a hand rest on my arm and a whisper behind me, I know it’s Knox’s agent. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need the two of you to come with us for a photo op for People Magazine.”

I twist my head to look at her. “Both of us? I’m not sure I want to be in a magazine spread....”

She nods her head, scanning the room for the models. She catches Knox’s eye and tilts her head to the side.

“You’ll be fine. It’s just a spread for the event. Nothing about a relationship will be published. I’ll make sure of it. Don’t worry,” she assures me as we walk towards a private room.

Before we enter, Knox pulls me into a side room and tells his agent to give us ten minutes. He instructs her to knock four times when they’re ready.

Inside the room, I look up to see intricate design patterns sprawled across the ceiling. A single chandelier, adorned with silver and white crystals, hangs from the center of the room.

This room is stunning.

Paintings with gold frames hang at eye-level around the room, each one telling a different story.

But the one that catches my eye is a portrait of a young woman sitting in a barn, gazing longingly out of a window. She’s holding what appears to be a small black cat in one arm, while her other hand rests on the wooden window frame. She’s strikingly beautiful.

“That’s my favorite one too. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? So simple but striking at the same time. She reminds me of you when you hold Boomer in your arms.”

“It’s stunning. She’s stunning,” I say, my mind lost in the painting. Shifting my attention back to the room, I add, “This room is so stunning too.”

He nods, his hands tucked in his pockets. A small smile plays on his lips as he watches me take in our surroundings.

“I’m sorry about those girls out there, baby doll—”

“It’s fine. It’s not your fault. But thanks,” I shrug, wandering around the room, my hands brushing over the material of the chairs and the marble table under the chandelier.

“For what?” He sounds confused, and I snap my attention back to him, smiling.

“For sticking up for me.” I watch him follow me around the table, his hands leaving his pockets to rest on my shoulders.

As he steps closer, he whispers, “I will always stick up for you, baby doll.” His hands trail up my shoulders towards my neck as he steps even closer.

Our eyes lock. His hands frame my face, our breaths echoing around the empty room. He starts to lean in, and I feel a flutter of excitement in my stomach.

~God, he looks so good right now.~

~Knock knock knock knock~

He closes his eyes, frustrated by the interruption. I let out a small laugh at the look on his face.

I place my hands on top of his, and he snaps his eyes open. “Time to go, Mr. Popular,” I joke, making him smile.

He opens the door for me and murmurs to his agent, “You always had perfect timing.” The sarcasm in his voice makes her roll her eyes at him, a grin on her face as she checks her phone.

Surrounded by the magazine's top brass, I realize I've already forgotten their names. The photographer is directing our poses, the flash of his camera intermittently illuminating the room as he captures the perfect shot.

Next, he wants me solo, standing next to a blown-up version of Knox’s cover photo. He’s shirtless, jeans slung low on his hips, and I can’t help but chuckle. He looks undeniably hot.

The photo is dark and seductive, a departure from the magazine’s usual style, but his abs look tantalizingly delicious.

“I’m so sorry, I’m terrible at this!” I burst out laughing, my infectious mirth spreading throughout the room. The photographer, amused by my self-deprecating humor, joins in the laughter.

I try to compose myself, standing next to the larger-than-life version of Knox. But the moment our eyes meet, he’s struggling to suppress his own laughter, and I lose it again.

Our shared laughter is contagious, filling the room with joy. The photographer, still chuckling, suggests Knox join me, but neither of us can stop laughing long enough to pose.

“These pictures are perfect,” he grins, continuing to snap photos. We’re caught in a moment of shared hilarity, and I duck behind the oversized cover of Knox, giggling to myself.

The room is filled with laughter, and I can’t seem to stop. I circle back around, trying to suppress my giggles but failing miserably.

“Stop it, Knox! This is all your fault,” I accuse, pointing at him through my laughter.

“I’ll stop when you stop, baby doll! It’s not my fault this picture of me makes you nervous!”

“Nervous?” I laugh, throwing my head back. “I see this in Savannah every day, Carter,” I point to his picture, “It’s nothing special,” I tease. The camera continues to flash in front of us.

“Ouch! Well, then why are you laughing?” He asks, a broad smile on his face.

“I have no idea!” I laugh even harder, setting off another round of laughter in the room. I bury my face in my hands, laughing uncontrollably.

I apologize once more to the photographer, who is thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. He shakes his head, laughing, “No, no, this is great! I’m getting fantastic shots of you two!”

Eventually, my laughter subsides, and I manage to pose for a proper smile. The photographer assures us he has everything he needs and gives us a thumbs up.

“I’m sorry about all the laughing. I was just nervous, I’ve never done anything like this before. I hope you got some good shots, even though I probably ruined most of them!” I giggle nervously.

“No, honestly, I got a lot of amazing shots of the two of you. You’re a very humble girl, it shows in the photos. Thank you for making this fun for me!” He takes my hand, kissing the back of it.

We’re then escorted into another room filled with people and tables, a brightly lit stage at the front. As we’re led to a table surrounded by actors and actresses, I’m star-struck by the number of famous faces.

We take our seats, and Knox scoots his chair close to mine, whispering, “You were so adorable in there, baby doll.”

I roll my eyes and smile at him, “I honestly don’t know what came over me, I couldn’t stop.”

“I tend to have that effect on people,” he winks, leaning back as the event begins.

The night is going well, the food is delicious, and the dessert—chocolate cake smothered in hot chocolate sauce—is divine.

“This cake is giving me a foodgasm,” I moan, rolling my eyes back in pleasure.

Someone clears their throat, and I see Knox smirking at me. He leans over, whispering seductively, “That’s not what your face looks like when you orgasm, baby doll,” sending a shiver down my spine.

I swat his arm, but he only pulls away slightly, the warmth of his skin radiating onto mine.

“Stop! Don’t say things like that in public, Knox,” I scold him, continuing to savor my dessert.

“Why, are you turned on?”

“Are you?” I challenge him.

“Baby doll, I’ve been turned on since you walked out in that dress from your room earlier today. So yes, I am turned on, even more so right now,” he flirts. I need to get used to this side of him. My eyes widen as I chew on the cake in my mouth.

“I-I need to get used to this side of you. Honestly, I’m waiting for an insult and then a fight to erupt between us....” I blurt out. I’m not used to him flirting with me, it’s still strange.

I’ve been used to a different Knox, one I’ve avoided most of the time, and now a completely different person sits beside me.

The same person who took me out on a date last night. The same person who compliments me instead of insults me. The same one who I kiss every so often and I like it.

“I know, baby doll, look, I’m sorry if I’m coming on strong tonight... I just—you look amazing. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable around me, I’ll tone down the sexual stuff if you want?”

I laugh a little and look down at my plate, nodding as I consider his words.

The night carries on, and I lean back in my chair, feeling Knox’s arm on the back of it. His fingers brush against my bare skin every so often during the presentation of the awards.

“Finally, the one award that everyone here is waiting for tonight...

He is currently the quarterback for the Giants football team right here in New York, MVP this year leading his team to another Super Bowl win in Texas.

And he is adored worldwide by the female population for his talent, charm, and extremely good looks.

“Ladies and gentlemen, for the third year running, he’s been voted the sexiest man alive. People Magazine couldn’t be more thrilled to present this award to him. Please welcome the sexiest man alive, Knox Carter!”

The room erupts in applause, and people rise to their feet. I follow suit, placing my napkin on the table. As he stands, he leans in to kiss my cheek, causing a blush to spread across my face.

He strides towards the stage, shaking hands along the way. Once he reaches the podium, he accepts the award from the presenter with a charming kiss on her cheek. He then turns to the microphone to express his gratitude.

“Thank you, People Magazine, for agreeing with me that I am, indeed, the sexiest man alive. I’m kidding, of course, but I am truly flattered. I’d like to thank my parents for—”

His speech, which I know he’s improvising, elicits laughter from the crowd.

“I’d also like to thank my fans who have supported me throughout my career. But most importantly, I’d like to thank Alex for being here tonight. Without her, I’d be a stuttering mess up here. So, thank you, everyone. Enjoy the rest of your evening!”

He raises the award above his head, flashing his swoon-worthy smile, before exiting the stage for a photo op.

For the next fifteen minutes, he’s swarmed by adoring fans wanting to talk and take pictures with him. He seems completely in his element.

His agent, Ellie, sits next to me, keeping me company as I sit alone at our table. “Did you enjoy your evening?” she asks, settling into the seat Knox just vacated.

“Actually, I did! I was nervous at first, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. I hope you had a good time too and weren’t working too hard.”

“That’s great to hear! Knox asked me to check on you throughout the night. And yes, the food was amazing!” She rolls her eyes in delight.

“Don’t even get me started on the food! It was delicious. And Knox is too protective for his own good. He and my brothers have always been like that.”

Ellie leans in closer, as if about to share a secret. “How did the date go? You should’ve seen him planning it. He was sweating bullets trying to make everything perfect!”

“Oh, I didn’t know you knew about it?”

“Don’t worry, my lips are sealed! I won’t tell a soul. And for the record, I like you better than Lauren. She was a real pain in my ass. But tell me, did he do well? He wouldn’t let me or Derek help him.”

Derek is his manager for sports-related matters, while Ellie handles his social and public affairs.

“He did really well, actually. Better than I expected. It’s strange to see this side of him. I’m so used to the rude, mean, and insulting Knox. But it was nice to see him put in such an effort. It surprised me, but in a good way. I didn’t know he could be such a romantic. I’m only seeing this side of him fourteen years later. I never knew he liked me or saw me in that way. It’s something I’ll have to get used to...”

“I’m glad you liked it. He put a lot of thought and effort into it. He told me to keep any stories about you out of the tabloids and said he’d pay off the magazines to stop them from publishing anything. So far, none have come up, so don’t worry. He’s always been a softy when it comes to you. He’s always spoken highly of you over the years—”

“Hey, you guys alright? I was thinking of heading back to my condo. You want to leave or stay awhile?” Knox interrupts our girl talk.

“I could head back. My feet are killing me!” I whine, rubbing the balls of my feet. He takes my hand and helps me to my feet, and I wince a little from the pain.

I thank Ellie and tell her how helpful she’s been over the past few days. We hug goodbye before stepping into the car we arrived in, leaving the middle row free. The driver keeps his eyes focused on the road as I slip off my shoes and wiggle my toes.

Knox leans over the middle seats and pulls down a divider between us and the driver. “I could use some privacy right now,” he informs me, looking out the window at the passing city lights.