One Hot Secret by Sarah J. Brooks
Chapter 26
Grace
My concentration has been horrible this morning, and I’m glad to leave the sunroom and take a shower. The stylist, Stella, is due in about two hours, and the thought of it makes me break out in a sweat. I’ve watched them on TV working with clients, but I never imagined that one day I would be a client.
As I shower, my mind drifts to Kyle and how his day is going. Just thinking about him is enough to calm my mind. Memories of the previous day wash over me, and my body heats up. After he returned home early from shooting, we had showered together and spent almost an hour in the bathroom.
Sharp arousal unexpectedly comes over me, and a deep ache forms between my legs. My plan was to shower quickly, have lunch and wait for Stella, the stylist. Instead, my hand snakes between my legs, and I rub my clit in circles as I imagine that it’s Kyle’s massive hand down there. I push a finger in, followed by another, and keep up a steady rhythm, pumping in and out. My imagination does the rest for me, and my fingers are Kyle’s.
I cry out his name as my climax draws closer and closer. When I come, it’s like a roll of waves, one over another, until everything goes still. I breathe heavily as I lather my body, not sure whether to be proud of myself and the speed at which I can bring myself to orgasm or embarrassment for the same.
After my shower, I agonize over what to wear. I settle for a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, after all, I’m going to be trying on clothes. Downstairs, I find Maria and Chris in the kitchen chatting while he’s eating lunch. I’m surprised to see him as he and Kyle are always together.
He must have noticed my surprise because after we exchange greetings he explains that he’s headed to the set and was only grabbing something from his office. “Maria tempted me with lunch. I’m too weak to resist,” he says, and Maria blushes.
“Have a seat, Grace. I’ll dish you up some pasta,” Maria says.
“Thanks.” I slide onto a stool at the island and marvel at the quantity of food Chris has on his plate, considering his lanky frame.
“Stella is coming around today to get you ready for the awards show, right?” Chris asks.
“Yes. I’m nervous as hell about that.” I surprise myself with my honesty. I don’t know Chris very well, except, of course, that he’s Kyle’s PA. Whenever we run into each other, I’m with Kyle.
A sympathetic look comes over his features. “I promise you there’s nothing to worry about. You don’t even have to say a thing if you don’t want to. Stella is used to dressing mannequins, and she doesn’t expect conversation.”
That makes me giggle, and the tension I feel dissipates.
“If you want to talk, though, Stella’s great. She’s been around forever and is one of the most grounded people I know.”
Maria sets my lunch on the island, and we exchange a warm smile. I can understand why Kyle sees them as his family. They are good people.
“Thanks for the tips. I was feeling as if I’d be expected to catwalk down a runway with every new outfit I try on,” I tell Chris.
He chuckles. “This industry is intimidating at first, but it gets a whole lot easier. You’ll be just fine.”
I shoot him a grateful smile. We chat easily throughout lunch, and he confides in me that his wife is pregnant, even though he’s not supposed to tell anyone yet.
“Congratulations!” I tell him, and Maria echoes my words.
“I’m going to knit a sweater for the baby,” Maria says excitedly.
When Chris leaves twenty minutes later, I feel as if I’ve made a new friend, and I’m a whole less nervous about my meeting with Stella.
She shows up at exactly two o’clock. Maria gets the door and shows her to the living room where I’m waiting, leafing through a magazine. She walks in, wheeling a rail packed with clothes. She’s got short blonde hair and a ready smile. We meet in the middle of the room, shake hands, and introduce ourselves.
“I brought a lot of styles,” she says with a laugh and gestures at the rack of clothes. “Do you want to begin?”
“Yes, please. The sooner we start, the faster we’ll finish,” I quip. I have a habit of blurting out my thoughts when I’m nervous.
She laughs. “I take it that trying on clothes is not something you enjoy?” When I nod, she continues, “In that case, I’ll make it as painless as possible.”
The first thing she has me do is choose the gowns that catch my attention. I pick almost ten of them, and as I try on each, she tells me which styles I should go for and which are unflattering for my body shape. She not only styles me, but she also educates me on putting together outfits.
“That was fun,” I tell her hours later after we decide on the outfit for the awards show.
She beams at me. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m headed to the set where Kyle is working to finish off his look for him. I’ll be here tomorrow with the makeup and hair person to help you guys get ready.”
I blink rapidly as nervousness gets the better of me. Stella notices it and comes to where I’m standing. She places a hand on my arm.
“It’ll be fun. You’ll feel like a princess going off to attend a ball.”
“I believe you.”
***
Stella was right. I feel like a princess on the way to a ball as Kyle and I head to the awards show in a limo. I feel beautiful, too, after almost three hours of hair and makeup back at the house. I liked Kyle’s reaction too when he saw me, exclaiming how sexy I looked, but I look sexier with absolutely nothing on.
The gown that Stella and I settled on is a sleeveless shimmery silver one with a shawl to match. It clings to my body like a second skin, but it’s comfortable, which adds to how sexy I’m feeling.
“I’m crossing my fingers for you,” I tell Kyle even though he hasn’t expressed his thoughts on his nomination.
“Thank you,” he says and doesn’t say anything else. Instead, he takes my hand and keeps it in his. We are quiet on the way, but I’m used to Kyle’s moments of self-reflection.
My mind wanders to my parents, and I miss them with an intensity that leaves me breathless. It would have been fun to tell Mom all about this night, but she probably wouldn’t have enjoyed listening. Even though I told her to stop sending me articles of Kyle or me, she still does, and it drives me crazy. She’ll probably see one of Kyle and me tomorrow and send it to me.
Thank God for Isla. She’s awesome and has been my support when this lifestyle gets to me. She made me promise to tell her everything about tonight, and her excitement was contagious.
We join the long queue of limos waiting to enter the venue. My heart pounds hard in my chest as we get nearer. I feel like an impostor.
The limo inches forward until it’s our turn to get out, right in front of the red carpet. A roar goes up when the fans spot Kyle, and I feel stupidly proud of him. I’m glad for Kyle’s hand on mine, as I’m sure I’d lose my footing and fall from sheer nerves. Cameras go off in our faces as we walk down the red carpet.
“This way, Mr. Bryce!” someone calls.
The words echo everywhere as the camera people jostle for better angles. My eyes grow teary from the flash of what seems to be a million light bulbs.
“Miss, can you please step to the side? We’d like a picture of Bryce alone,” a cameraman in glasses says.
My first reaction is bewilderment as I don’t know where to go. Then a space appears like the parting of the sea. I try to move away from Kyle, but his hand on my waist won’t dislodge.
“It’s okay,” I tell him, and he finally lets go.
I move further down the red carpet and stop. All the focus is on Kyle now, and there’s even a microphone in his face as someone interviews him. I should feel rejected, but I don’t. If anything, I’m relieved to be out of the picture, watching from the sidelines.
It takes another five minutes, and then Kyle is walking toward me. He has a frown on his face, and he takes my hand and puts it in the crook of his arm.
Inside, the room where the awards ceremony is being held is gorgeous, with a high, rounded ceiling and chairs arranged in tiers. An usher shows us to our seats, which are at the very front on the second row. Excitement courses through my veins as I spot celebrities I’ve only ever seen on TV and in movies. Our chairs are next to Godwin Grey, one of the most gifted actors of our generation, and even as Kyle introduces me, I can only manage a squeak in response.
Beautiful music starts to play, signaling that the ceremony is about to start. Then two presenters stroll up to the stage and welcome everyone to the ceremony. I’m dazzled by everything around me, and I hope no camera zooms in on me because I’m sure my jaw is on the floor.
The awards go by fast until we get to Kyle’s category. I’m tense as I listen to the list of nominees. All of them are so good, but Kyle is the best as far as I’m concerned.
Then the winner’s name is called out, and it takes a moment for it to penetrate my brain that Kyle is not the winner. I turn to him in disbelief and indignation. He takes my hand and hauls me to my feet, and on seeing the smile on his face, I plaster one on mine. Our faces fill the huge screen at the front of the room. I’m miserable inside, and after we clap for the winner and sit back down, Kyle glances at me and laughs.
“You should have won,” I say.
“You’re biased, sweetheart,” he says. “Everyone had an equal chance.”
After the best actor award is the best actress and various other ones. After that, it’s over.
Skyler joins us where we are standing around chatting with John Mayor and two directors. She’s so gorgeous, and I’m immediately in awe.
“Darling,” she says to Kyle and hugs him, draping her body all over him.
I swallow down my jealousy and remind myself that he chose me. Kyle pulls me close and introduces me, but she merely glances my way and proceeds to ignore me. She talks shop, which cuts me right off, but I don’t mind. I’m just happy to gape at celebrities and other people I’ve only ever seen on the screen.
“We can go to the after-party together,” Skyler says, linking her arm with Kyle’s on the other side. “We have to celebrate your nomination.”
“We’re not going,” Kyle says. “Grace and I are going to celebrate privately at home.”
My chest swells to almost bursting proportions.
Skyler sulks and looks up at Kyle with a puppy face, a look that I’m sure has gotten her anything she wanted.
Kyle extricates himself from her hold and gives her a little bow. “Have a good night, and I’ll see you on set on Monday.”
