A Wilde Night (Old Town Country Romance Book 3) (4 page)

After I close the door and turn back to Katie, she’s grinning
from ear to ear. And it’s a real smile. Not one of those smile-for-the-camera smiles. This grin is a little crooked, but makes her eyes gleam.

Even Elsie is g
rinning, which I consider an accomplishment.

But Katie’s smile fades just as quickly and I can’t help but feel a little disappointed to see it go. “My publicist will have a fit if I don’t make an appearance at the wedding tomorrow.”

“But you don’t want to go?” I’m not sure why I’m even asking. It’s obvious from the sadness that has completely overtaken her that she doesn’t want to go at all.

“I’d rather have my fingernails torn out one by one than to be at the wedding pretending to still be Devon Black’s loving girlfriend. Everyone in Hollywood must think I’m a complete idiot for staying with him this long.”

Elsie grabs her arm. “No one thinks you’re an idiot. He’s the one with the bad reputation, not you. Everyone loves you.”

She rolls her eyes. “Everyone loves Katie Lawrence, whoever she is. I’m not even sure I know anymore.”

“I think you need to get some rest. It’s been a long night. And things will look better in the morning. I promise.”

Katie nods, but I get the feeling that she doesn’t completely believe Elsie.

“You need to get some rest too,” Katie replies. “It’s way past your bedtime.”

As if on cue Elsie yawns. “You’re right. I’m exhausted.”

Elsie moves towards the door but then turns back again. “Are you going to be all right?” She makes a point of glancing in my direction.

She obviously doesn’t know me. I’d never do anything to hurt a woman, especially when it’s my job to protect her.

“I’ll be fine,” Katie assures her. “Get some sleep.”

Elsie gives me one more suspicious look.

“I’ll make sure she’s protected,” I say to Elsie.

She
still looks hesitant but then she gives a quick nod before she hurries out of the room.

Four

Katie

When Hunter looks at his watch I get the feeling that he wants to leave. But for some reason I’m not ready for him to go. Even though I don’t know him that well I feel comfortable around him. I rarely feel like that with most people. Okay, I don’t feel that way around anyone but my family members and Elsie.

Hunter isn’t like the guys in Hollywood. An actor would have sold me out in a minute for a paycheck or the chance to be on Devon’s new show. But Hunter wasn’t impressed with the money or the potential fame. All he seemed to care about was making sure I was protected. 

“I need to go to work soon.” When Hunter looks at me, he seems to have a bit of regret in his eyes. Like he wishes he could stay a while longer.

I wish he could stay too. I don’t want to be alone, but I want to be with Hunter even more.

I know it sounds New Age-y, but I like Hunter’s energy. And I like how I feel when I’m with him. I feel like I’m Kat from P-burg again, just a regular girl hanging out with a cute guy on a Friday night.

“I thought you were already at work,” I tease.

He grins. “I’ve got a shift tonight.
At midnight.”

“That’s still a few hours from now.”

We both look at each other and a few sparks fly between us. When Hunter puts his hands into his pockets I get the sense that he’s starting to get hard. I wasn’t sure if he found me the slightest bit attractive, but now I’m sensing that maybe he finds me attractive after all.

I move closer to him and when he doesn’t back away, I close the distance between us.

“What are you doing?” His voice is a little shaky, but it’s extremely cute coming from a guy who’s so big and muscular.  

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

When I place my hands on his rock hard chest he takes in a sharp breath. We both look at each other for a long moment and the sparks between us really begin to ignite.

I make a move to his collar and begin to
remove his shirt, but he takes a step back.

“What’s wrong?” Now I’m the one with a shaky voice.

He narrows his eyes at me. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” I can’t help the hurt in my voice.

“Is that what you really want to do?”

“Don’t you want to be able to tell all your friends that you slept with Katie Lawrence?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t have that many friends. It happens when you have three older brothers. And, no offense, but they probably would have no idea who you are. They're really not into movies. The only person I know who probably would have heard of you is Harley.”

“Your motorcycle?”

He laughs. “Harley is my oldest brother Jake's…umm…I'm not sure what to call her.
Jake's kind of like Devon. Monogamy isn't his thing. But if he was ever going to settle down—and that's a big if—it would probably be with Harley.”

I’ve got millions of
fans, many of them are guys Hunter’s age. Yet he has no interest in Katie Lawrence at all. It kind of freaks me out, but it’s also refreshing.

“And you just broke up with Devon. Don’t you want some time to deal with that?”

I let out a single, cold laugh. “We haven’t really been a couple in the true sense of the word for quite a while. Devon doesn’t believe in real relationships.”

He raises an eyebrow.
“And what about you? Do you believe in real relationships?”

I can feel my eyes getting damp and I try to blink back the tears forming in
them. I can’t believe I’m going to admit this. “Devon was—um.” My throat is completely dry and it’s difficult to get the words out. I swallow then take in a deep breath. “He’s the only guy I’ve ever been with.”

His eyes go wide. Is it that hard to believe I’ve only been with one guy?   

“You look surprised,” I comment.

“A little,” he admits.

“Just because I’m an actress doesn’t mean I’m easy or that I get around. I’m not like that.”

“Then what’s this?” He makes a gesture between the two of us.

I plop down on the couch and rest my head in my hands. “I don’t know. I’m obviously not very good at seduction. Hell, my own boyfriend wants to sleep with everyone in Hollywood but me.”

I will myself not to cry, but it’s pointless. Once the sobs start I can’t control myself. It’s like a dam has broken
as the tears stream down my face.

To my surprise Hunter sits down right next to me and takes my hand in his.

“You’re so cold. Do you need a blanket?”

I snivel. “Yes.” I’m sure I’m extremely attractive with my nose running.

He gets up, grabs a throw that’s hanging on an overstuffed chair, and then carefully places it over my shoulders. “Better?”

“Thanks.” I pull the blanket tightly around my body hoping it will stop the shaking. 

“Maybe I’d better go.” Hunter’s looking at me like he’s not sure what to do next.

“No,” I practically yell. Even I’m surprised by the tone of my voice.

He sits back down next to me.

“I don’t want to be alone,” I whisper so softly I’m not even sure Hunter hears me. 

He’s probably just being nice staying with me. Or he thinks it’s part of the job. Hell, maybe he even has a girlfriend. Who knows? After a few moments of us sitting in silence I ask, “Don’t you find me attractive at all?”

He frowns as if I’ve just said the stupidest thing on the pla
net. “You’re very attractive. But I think you already know that.”

I feel so confused. “I don’t understand. Why don’t you want to be with me?”

“I don’t sleep with girls I don’t know. I actually have to have feelings for a girl before I sleep with her.”

Great.
I just tried to seduce the last gentleman on planet Earth. “This isn’t the 1950s. They had a sexual revolution decades ago.”

He actually gives me a slight grin. “You just told me you’ve only been with one guy.
Like you have room to talk about a sexual revolution.”

“That’s different. I’m a girl.”

“And guys aren’t supposed to have feelings?”

I shrug. “Sometimes I don’t think Devon does.”

“The guy’s a jerk. Don’t think all guys are like him. Some are, but not all. I wouldn’t leave you alone on a Friday night to hook up with someone else.”

When he gives my hand a squeeze I look into his eyes. Hunter has the most amazing brown eyes with just a few flecks of gold in them. He’s got such a sweet face, and when he smiles at me my hand is drawn to his cheek like a magnet.

He takes in another sharp breath when I place my hand on his face. It makes me wonder how many women have touched him.

Our eyes lock for a moment and neither one of us moves. I feel like all of the air has been sucked out of my lungs. I have an overwhelming urge to kiss him.
To feel his lips on mine. To feel us connect in a more intimate way.

“Maybe you’d better get some sleep,” he suggests.

I’m snapped back to reality and I quickly remove my hand from his face.

“Will you stay with me?” I ask. I can’t believe how small and uncertain my voice sounds. “Just for a little while.” 

When he glances at his watch I feel like I’ve made a big mistake. He obviously doesn’t want to stay. He probably just feels like he has to because he’s been assigned to guard me. “It’s okay.” I shake my head. “You don’t have to.”

“I have to go to work soon. I’ve got the midnight shift.”

“You already said that,” I tease.

He nods. “I’ve got to get ready to perform my duty as an Old Town police officer.”

“Was it really stupid of me to hit on a cop?” I don’t know why I suddenly feel like I did something wrong.

He laughs. “It’s not illegal. I’m also a human being. I’m a
llowed to date and have relationships. Although I’m not sure how the hotel would feel about me sleeping with the woman they’re paying me to protect.”

“Good point,” I reply. “Will y
ou be back tomorrow? As my bodyguard?”

He shakes his head. “No. I’m not working security tomo
rrow.”

“Oh.” I can’t help the utter disappointment in my voice. And I’m sure I’m wearing it on my face as well.

“I can stay with you for a little while longer. Just until you fall asleep. How’s that?”

I nod.  “I’d like that.”

Before he has time to protest I wrap my arm around his muscular arm and place my head on his shoulder. I hold my breath for a few moments because I think he’ll try to move away, but to my surprise he doesn’t. He rests his head on mine instead.

I take in his masculine scent as I enjoy the moment.
Just being with someone who doesn’t have any expectations or demands. Someone who doesn’t care if I’m a movie star. Someone I can just be Kat with.

I can’t remember the last time that’s happened.
Probably not since I left Phillipsburg.

I allow myself to drift off for a few moments…until I feel the softest of kisses on my forehead.

“Katie,” Hunter whispers. “Are you awake?”

I don’t want to admit that I am because I know he has to leave and I don’t want him to. I don’t want this moment to ever end. I feel so at peace with Hunter and so at home. Being with him makes my heart ache for a simple life again. A life I know I’ll have no chance of ever having again.

He moves slightly and I take that as my cue to let go of his arm. When I glance up at him Hunter has a strange expression on his face. It’s almost as if he’s having some kind of internal debate.

Before I realize what’s happening he kisses me. His lips are soft and his kiss is gentle, which seems strange coming from a guy who’s so big.

I can feel my heart race as I open my mouth for him and he slides his tongue inside. A wave of heat rushes through me as Hunter deepens his kiss.

“I have to go,” he whispers in my ear and my body tingles when I feel his breath on my neck.

“I know.” I can’t help the sadness in my voice.

What if I wasn’t an actress in Hollywood? What if I wasn’t a movie star? Would Hunter want to be with me? Would we make plans to see each other again? Maybe go on a date?

It’s no use playing the “what if” game because I am a movie star and I live in Hollywood and Hunter’s a small town cop who lives in New Jersey.

We’ll probably never see each other again.

But it doesn’t feel right. I feel like we’re supposed to have more than just one night together. I feel like there’s the potential for so much more between us, as ridiculous as it sounds.

“Are you going to be alright?” There’s so much concern in Hunter’s voice it makes my heart ache just a bit.

“I’m not sure,” I admit.

When he leans in I can feel his breath on my neck again. His closeness sends another wave of tingles through me. “Things that are meant to be always happen.” 

“How can you be so sure?”

“Just my observations on life.”

I’ve never been a believer in fate, or luck, or good fortune. Everything I have I’ve worked really hard for. I’ve always been the kind of person who makes things happen.

I have no idea how to make something happen with Hunter though. Can you make a relationship happen anyway? As hard as I tried to make things work with Devon he never gave me the one thing I thought I wanted. Devon gave me his body when he didn’t have
anyone else to be with. And he gave me his time when he didn’t have anything better to do. But he never completely gave himself to me. He never gave me his heart.

When Hunter stands he pulls me up with him. Then he takes me into his strong arms and holds
me tight. I completely melt in his embrace.

I can feel a lone teardrop slide down my face. I want to b
elieve him. I want to believe that if it’s meant to be, we’ll see each other again, but a big part of me is skeptical. And what if we were only supposed to see each other one time?

Hunter carefully wipes away the teardrop from my cheek with his thumb. “I’m not worth crying about.”

“Whatever you say.”

“You have so much, Katie. You’re a movie star. You’re America’s
Sweetheart. What do you want with a cop from Old Town?”

I don’t want to admit that he’s right. That we live in different worlds and maybe we’re not really meant to be together.

But if we’re not supposed to be together, why does it feel so right when he kisses me? Why does it feel like I belong in his arms? Surely he feels it too.

When he places another soft kiss on my forehead I know that’s his cue to leave. As much as I don’t want to let go of him I don’t want him to have to push me off of him either. I know I’m pathetic, but I’m not that pathetic.

We both stare at each other for a long moment. I feel like I want to memorize his face and maybe he’s doing the same thing. Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part.

I slowly move my hand to his face and run my fingers down his cheek and along his jawline.