Читать книгу Romancing the Runway - Linda Hudson-Smith - Страница 9

Xavier De Marco couldn’t seem to pull his gaze away from the exotic Kennedy Bassett, the supermodel he’d worked with on a couple of modeling assignments. No matter how many times he’d watched her take the high-fashion runway by storm, Xavier was still overly excited by her performances.

Kennedy looked sensuous and hot as ever. Decked out in leather from head to toe, she wore the heck out of red leather pants, a matching bolero-style jacket and a pair of ankle-length red leather boots. The silk shirt she wore, startlingly white and crisp, showed off a discreet amount of mahogany cleavage. As Kennedy began to slowly and seductively remove the leather jacket, Xavier’s breath caught.

This woman had more sex appeal than Xavier thought the law should ever allow. Interestingly enough, despite Kennedy’s natural beauty, it was her pureness of heart and selfless spirit he had found attractive. He hadn’t gotten to know her all that well, but her kind spirit had shone through during the few times they’d worked together. Kennedy wasn’t the least bit demanding on the set, but she would speak up if things weren’t going well. She was always polite and considerate of her coworkers, readily accepting directions from those in charge. The cameraman had also mentioned to him that she was a delight to work with. Never once had he known her to be late for a shoot during their campaigns. That in itself was very commendable. The genuine way in which she had interacted with the other models had told him a lot—and it had been enough to let him know she was someone he was eager to learn everything about.

The pride Kennedy felt in her profession was written all over her nearly flawless face and in every magical twist and turn she made. Her tantalizing, high-stepping strut was sure-footed. Modeling the stunning Prada creations with grace and style, she was in total command of every part of her willowy five-foot-eight figure. Kennedy held up her head high, as she flung her long, sable hair back over one shoulder. Suddenly, she cast her smoky hazel eyes upon Xavier.

Possessing an amazing athletic build, all the gorgeous hunk of a man could do was smile brilliantly, showing off a beautiful set of even, pearly white teeth. The butterflies surfing in his stomach belied his confident expression. He was more nervous than he’d ever been over any woman. Since he’d finally gotten up the nerve to re-ask Kennedy out, tonight was the night. After the show closed, they planned to have dinner.

Very much familiar with the runway himself, Xavier De Marco, nationally and internationally renowned, was tall, at 6’ 3”, golden-brown-complexioned and utterly ravishing. His deeply set, bluish-gray eyes, sultry lips and wavy, sandy-brown hair were considered his best assets by many. However, Xavier begged to differ. He thought his unimpeachable character and free-flying spirit were his greatest attributes.

Although Xavier was eager to slip backstage to wait for Kennedy to gather her belongings, he considered it rude to leave before the show was over. He also saw leaving any event early as disrespectful to the other performers. He was a performer, so he knew.

Xavier sat quietly, contemplating the part of the evening he’d later spend with Kennedy. He halfheartedly paid attention to the flurry of activity on the runway, until a thunderous round of applause suddenly broke out. He then sat up straight, giving his full attention to the striking, attention-grabbing model who’d just strolled onto the runway.

As the white-hot Tiaja Rae Montgomery confidently strutted her fine body down the runway, Xavier got a strong urge to find an exit. He’d had more than a few sizzling run-ins with the zesty, 5’ 9” Tiaja Rae—and he wasn’t looking forward to another.

Not so fondly referred to by many as T.R., aka Troublesome Rae, she was gorgeous—with a flirtatious lust jones for Xavier. Mocha complexioned, beautiful and sexy, she had a heart-stopping figure, a dream come true for most men. But Tiaja Rae wasn’t remotely the kind of woman Xavier was interested in, not in an intimate way.

Kennedy Bassett was Xavier’s ideal woman for romancing the runway.

Although Xavier’s eyes gave Tiaja Rae their undivided attention, his mind stayed on Kennedy. This fabulous-looking woman occupied his thoughts quite often, ever since their first meeting. Getting her out of his head seemed impossible.

The very moment the fashion show was over Xavier quietly slipped backstage, where he patiently waited for Kennedy to emerge from the dressing room. As his cell phone vibrated against his waist, he quickly responded, greeting his agent, Kirsten Banks, with an enthusiastic hello. Despite the fact she couldn’t see him his broad smile was warm and knock-dead charming.

“I need to meet with you right away,” Kirsten said, sounding a tad anxious.

“This evening is booked.” Xavier hadn’t even taken the time to ponder a response. As far as he was concerned, all his time belonged exclusively to Kennedy. “I can meet you in the morning, early, at your office.”

The firm way in which Xavier turned down Kirsten let her know there wasn’t any room to negotiate. With that in mind, she settled on his suggested time for the meeting. After wishing Xavier a pleasant evening, Kirsten rang off.

Warm hands massaging Xavier’s neck and chest from behind both surprised and startled him. However, the soft fingertips felt good on his flesh, but he was more concerned about who the owner was. If the fingers belonged to Kennedy, though he seriously doubted it, the sexy purring near his ear might’ve been a real turn-on. It would’ve also made it difficult for him to keep his manhood from rising to an indecent swelling.

Xavier slowly opened his eyes, cringing inwardly at the sight of the lovely Tiaja Rae, who was right up in his personal space.

Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Tiaja Rae trilled off a robust, throaty laugh. “Spooked you, huh, X?”

Looking strangely at Tiaja Rae, wondering why she always had to be so aggressive, Xavier rapidly moved away from her teasing hands. “Girl, don’t you ever stop?”

“If you’re honest with yourself, X, you’d go ahead and admit it.”

Xavier looked puzzled. “Admit what?”

“My hot little hands feel wonderful to you. You do know how to tell the truth, don’t you?” Tiaja Rae threw her head back and laughed wickedly, loving his reaction.

As if the moment wasn’t awkward and embarrassing enough for Xavier, Kennedy had come out of the dressing room just in time to witness Tiaja Rae’s hands all over him. Instead of advancing on her date, Kennedy stood back to see how Xavier would handle her archrival and public enemy number one.

Everyone in the world of high fashion seemed to know about the troubled history with the two models so Kennedy figured he was also aware. She’s so transparent, Kennedy thought.

Wiggling her fingers in a farewell gesture, Tiaja Rae turned and saw Kennedy watching, then flashed her a dazzling, triumphant smile. She loved to rub Kennedy the wrong way…constantly, at every opportunity. This moment was no exception.

Kennedy sucked in a gust of calming breath. In the next instant she walked over and boldly slipped her arm through Xavier’s. There was no way she’d let Tiaja Rae get to her ever again. The silly girl had already tested most of Kennedy’s nerves, anyway. “How are you?”

“Fine.” Now that you’re here. Xavier looked relieved. He knew of the rivalry between the two supermodels, which had begun long before he’d ever come to know either of them. According to the rumor mill, theirs was a longtime contention.

Xavier quickly decided not to explain to Kennedy what else Tiaja Rae had been up to, not unless she opened up dialogue on it. Kennedy knew her issues with her nemesis far better than he did, but he hoped she’d one day tell him some of the details. Tonight just wasn’t the time to explore anything as negative as a sinister runway rivalry.

As Xavier lightly kissed Kennedy on the cheek, he briefly covered her hand with his. “You were absolutely fantastic on the runway! Then again, what else is new?”

Kennedy’s broad smile dazzled. “I felt pretty darn good out there tonight. We always know when it’s going good or bad for us. Everything went really well.”

“You didn’t miss a beat, lady. You immediately worked the crowd into one hell of a frenzy. That red leather outfit made a bold statement. Ready to get out of here?”

Kennedy nodded. “You bet. I’m hungry.” Earlier in the day she had been extremely nervous about their first date. She was kind of surprised that she felt this relaxed with him so early on in the evening. “What about you, are you hungry?”

Xavier grinned. “Ravenous. I figured you’d probably be starving, too. I made reservations at a quaint little supper club/piano bar. In no time at all, they’ll have you digging in to something real tasty. One of L.A.’s finest.”

Kennedy was thrilled she wouldn’t have to wait forever at a restaurant to possibly be served only a halfway decent meal. Even the finest eateries could be disappointing at times, especially when overcrowded. Xavier seemed to have excellent taste overall so she was sure he’d already checked out the place. Kennedy was sure that having a dish like Xavier seated across from her would be a mouthwatering distraction. If he was anywhere near as interesting as he was good-looking, he’d more than likely command her undivided attention.

Kennedy immediately saw that Café Blue was appropriately named. The entire decor was done in various shades of blue. She later learned Blue was the last name of the owner, who was a retired Oakland Raiders football player. Xavier’s father, La Monte De Marco, and the owner, Reynard Blue, had been good friends from back in the day. They’d never lost touch, though La Monte resided on the East Coast.

Once Xavier had introduced Reynard and Kennedy, Reynard ushered the couple to the table he had handpicked. The seating arrangement looked out over the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. The couple was then given cleverly designed menus: thin navy-blue leather-bound books with light blue parchment paper printed with a darker blue ink.

Soft, romantic music drifted from the overhead speakers, though an accomplished pianist was scheduled to perform within the hour. Kennedy thought it’d be nice to listen to piano music while dining. She’d already fallen for the first-class establishment. The atmosphere was romantic yet not overwhelmingly so for a first date.

Xavier stood. “Excuse me for a couple of moments for a trip to the men’s room.”

“I’ll be right here when you get back.” She gave him a sweet smile.

Xavier fought the strong urge to lean down and kiss her, but it was too soon for that. Besides, he’d never been a fast mover when it came to the opposite sex. Taking things at a slower pace was more to his liking. Usually he was into first building a solid friendship, yet he was already sure he wanted more. The kind of torrid thoughts he had about Kennedy on a regular basis couldn’t be filed away under “friendship.”

As Xavier walked away from her, Kennedy watched after him, loving what she saw. His perfectly rounded derriere had her near panting, which led to her recalling some of the details of their first encounter. Now that was a night to remember.

They had met during an intimate photo shoot on a windswept beach in Malibu. The two supermodels had partnered to do a provocative swimwear layout for a high-fashion magazine. Their scantily clad bodies had come into contact quite a bit that day, causing Kennedy’s body temperature to rise several degrees above normal. With a body as hard and fine as Xavier’s, Kennedy had a hard time keeping her eyes from going too far south and her imagination running wild. The power and sturdiness of his thighs and legs couldn’t be ignored. Keeping up her professional demeanor wasn’t an easy task, but she’d managed. At the end of the day her nerves had been frayed from the tension of wanting this man in a way she’d never wanted anyone. The time she’d spent working with Xavier was ingrained in her memory. Neither one had denied or validated the chemistry between them, but it was definitely present. In spades.

Shortly before the photo shoot had come too quickly to an end for her, Kennedy had been invited to have dinner with Xavier later in the evening. Regrettably, she’d had to decline because of prior plans. Otherwise, she would’ve accepted his invitation without the slightest hesitation. Xavier had been a delight to work with. Not only was he enchanting, he had exhibited a beautiful spirit, a rare combination in her opinion.

Kennedy had immediately been wildly attracted to Xavier’s high energy. To her, he looked like an African-American version of John F. Kennedy Jr., with a similar style of thick, though sandy, wavy hair. His devastating good looks, long lashes and sexy Boston accent hadn’t hurt matters any, but the kind of spirit he possessed was more important to her than anything. It’d seemed to her that their spirits were kindred. Xavier had been a gentleman to everyone he had come into contact with regardless of gender. He was caring and thoughtful toward the entire crew. His willingness to lend a helping hand to others was impressive. Kennedy actually saw quite a few of her own qualities in him, which made her believe he had a good spirit.

According to the fashion gossipmongers, Xavier was well bred and well-rounded and a Boston University graduate with a degree in communications. Both parents were successful physicians. His mother, Adelle, was a general surgeon. His father, La Monte, was an orthopedic surgeon. From what else Kennedy had learned, the older De Marcos resided in an elite neighborhood in Boston, in the same house in which they raised Xavier.

Xavier returned to the table. Soon as he reclaimed his seat, he immediately turned his attention back to his date. “What do you think of the place?”

“I like it. The color scheme is fascinating. All these different hues of blues are actually complementary to each other. I hope the food is as wonderful as the atmosphere. I assume you’ve eaten here before?”

“The food is spectacular. I’ve come here with my parents a couple of times. I thought you might like it. It’s quiet, a lot like your serene spirit.”

Kennedy’s breath caught. What a nice thing for him to say. Her spirit was a quiet one. She was intrigued with how well he’d already summed up an important part of her character. She loved peace and harmony, detesting conflict in any form or fashion.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he said just above a whisper, his pulse going berserk. Looking at her was an exhilarating experience. Being in her company was even more awesome.

Kennedy looked perplexed, lowering her lashes. “Sorry, but I’m afraid I didn’t catch your last remark.”

“It was nothing.” While Xavier silently thanked God that she hadn’t heard him, his smile was soft and tender. His remark had been totally out of line. Coming on too strong wasn’t a good thing, especially at this juncture. Getting to know her better had Xavier all hyped up, but he didn’t want to lose her, not when he was this big on winning.

Since it appeared Xavier wasn’t going to repeat his remark, Kennedy thought she should let it go, no matter how curious she was. He also looked rather embarrassed.

What had he said to make him blush? She’d surely like to know.

The waiter suddenly arrived, giving them a chance to regroup.

Kennedy instantly settled on the entrée-size Caesar salad, topped with grilled chicken. “Please, put the dressing on the side.” Then she asked for water with a wedge of lemon.

As Xavier gave the waiter his order, the deep timbre of his voice caused Kennedy’s body to slightly shiver. Grilled Orange Roughy was actually one of her favorite whitefish. Maybe he’d let her sample a bite, she thought, smiling inwardly.

“I like my asparagus crunchy,” Xavier explained. “A small garden salad with balsamic vinegar will work nicely for me.” He took a last-minute glance at the menu. “Peach iced tea, please. Can you also bring us a small plate of lemon wedges?”

“Absolutely, sir. If that’ll be all for you, I’ll turn in your order right away.”

Xavier nodded. “Our order is complete. Thank you.”

Kennedy had a fleeting moment of awkwardness, but she shook it off. She was dining with a perfect gentleman, a very nice, fine one, she quietly assured herself.

The couple carried on a nice conversation as they waited for their meals.

As Xavier was very eager to learn even more about Kennedy, he asked all the pertinent questions, and she happily and truthfully responded to each. He thought that a person’s personal background was a great way of learning how they grew up and the value system they’d grown up under. Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, wasn’t too far down the road from Boston.

His eyes gleamed with curiosity. “How was life in Philadelphia?”

“Pretty darn good.” Her lovely smile showed off her fondness for the region. “I still love to go home for visits, especially on holidays. My mother, Megan, and my dad, Kennedy, retired educators, wouldn’t think of living anywhere else. However, they do love to fly to L.A. a few times a year. If Mom thought she could convince Dad to move west, I think she’d go for it. The cold weather is still pretty daunting for her.”

The mention of her parents caused Xavier to think of his. He recalled telling Kennedy a bit about them before, but he went on to do a brief recap. “No one in my family is leaving Boston. Dad is actually an L.A. Lakers fan. Figure out that one.”

“There are only Seventy-Sixers fans in my parents’ house. Like your father, I’m sort of a turncoat, too. I also love the Lakers. Dad and my brothers, Gregory and Scott, would kill me if they knew how hard I cheer for the hottest team on the West Coast.”

Xavier raised an eyebrow. “How bad would it be?”

She shielded her eyes with her hands. “Let’s just say I’d probably be disowned.”

“I doubt that.” Xavier couldn’t imagine anyone disowning Kennedy.

Kennedy looked up at the waiter when he reappeared at the table to set down their food orders. Before taking off, he made sure the couple had everything they needed.

Kennedy eyed Xavier’s meal with keen interest. “Nice portions. You certainly won’t have to go home hungry.”

Xavier laughed. “They definitely aren’t skimpy with the food, but Mr. Blue may’ve requested a little something extra special for us. He’s a great guy.”

Kennedy cleared her throat. “Well, it looks like you can tell him that in person. He’s on his way over here,” she said, half covering her mouth, speaking lowly.

Before Xavier could even react to her remarks, Reynard had arrived. “Is everything to your liking?” His dark amber gaze encompassed both parties.

“The meals just arrived,” Xavier responded, “but I know how you pride yourself on putting it out right. Never been disappointed in anything I’ve eaten here. Kennedy just mentioned the large portions.”

Reynard winked. “We aim to please. You two beautiful young people enjoy your meal. Tell my old bud hello for me whenever you speak with him again.”

“I’ll do that. Thanks for everything, Mr. Blue.”

After Kennedy cut up her salad greens into smaller pieces, she took her first bite. As she savored the tangy taste of the dressing, her eyes closed involuntarily. “Mmm, good.”

The dab of dressing left on her lower lip had Xavier desiring to lick it away. Her mouth was full, ripe and juicy, and he couldn’t help thinking of what it might be like to kiss her, imagining the tingling sensations he’d probably feel. The image of their lips locked together in a passionate coupling was vivid. Tearing his eyes away from her delectable mouth wasn’t easy.

Tinkling music, soft and melodic, suddenly drifted slowly about the room, causing Kennedy to look over to the elevated dais where the shiny black baby grand piano was stationed. The gentleman seated on the stool appeared fairly young, possibly in his early twenties, and was wearing a traditional black tuxedo.

While Kennedy and Xavier continued eating their meals, the soft music played on. She’d been able to recognize a few of the songs even though no lyrics were sung. “Play Misty for Me” had been easy for her to identify. “A House Is Not a Home,” a Dionne Warwick song her parents loved. For someone so young, Kennedy thought the pianist sure knew how to play the back-in-the-day classics.

As Kennedy’s eyes followed several couples walking to the rear of the piano area, she was surprised yet again. She hadn’t noticed the dance floor until now. It looked as if the owner had thought of everything. He had successfully pulled together both a lovely dining spot and a magnificent entertainment venue.

“This place rocks,” she told Xavier. “I didn’t see the dance floor until now. It seems Mr. Blue is quite talented and a resourceful gentleman. I love it here.”

“This supper club is a lifelong dream of his. My father often shares the history of how this place finally came into existence. I’d like to share it with you.”

Xavier began to tell Kennedy that Mr. Blue was a favorite grand-nephew to his father’s beloved aunt, Lucille Carlton. Blue thought the world of his aunt and had made sure she had at least two box seats for all his home football games. When she’d call and say she had a couple more guests to bring along, he’d make it happen.

When Ms. Lucille died a couple years before Blue’s retirement from the NFL, she had left over two million dollars to him. There had been one must-do stipulation in her will: Blue had to use a portion of the money to open the supper club he’d always talked of owning…and he’d had to do it within one year of her death or lose the inheritance.

Kennedy was astonished. “That’s such a touching story! I bet he was thrilled no end by his aunt’s love and generosity. As a football player, I bet he made lots of money. But had he intended to open the restaurant so soon after retirement?”

“According to my dad, Mr. Blue made excellent money, but not the kind of megamillions athletes make today. He’d planned to build a supper club, but he would’ve had to take out a small-business loan. The inheritance spared him the grief. He was excited.”

“I’m sure. His is one great success story. This fabulous place is buzzing with patrons and excitement. What are your plans for after modeling? Or have you made any?”

“My degree in communications will help me land a decent job. I’d actually like to work as a sports commentator or a communication specialist on a show like Entertainment Tonight. What are you thinking postmodeling?”

“Acting, but I actually want to get seriously involved in it before my modeling career is over. I’ve already done a few guest spots on television shows. My degree is in theater arts.”

“Looks like we both made sure to prepare for life after modeling. I’ve been doing this a long time now and I love most everything about it. The international traveling is getting a bit tedious, but I’m not tired enough yet to give it up.”

“I know what you mean. I’ve been places some folks can only dream about. I feel blessed for all the world travel I’ve done over the years.”

“That makes two of us.” Noticing that she had laid her fork aside, he wondered if she was through with her meal. “Ready for dessert?”

Kennedy rubbed her stomach. “No room at the inn. What about you? Are you ordering dessert?”

“I never leave here without my sweet potato pie. If you’re ready to go, I can order it for takeout.”

Kennedy waved off his concern. “I’m in no hurry. If you wait to eat it at home, I won’t get a chance to steal a pinch.” She laughed at her flirty hint.

Xavier grinned. “I hear you. I’ll get the waiter over here right away. Sure you don’t want anything else?”

Ashamed that she’d left a fair amount of salad on her plate, she looked down at it. “If I could eat anything else, I’d finish off what I already ordered. In a lot of places salads are super-sized these days. I’m not wasteful…and I promise I’ll finish what I take out.”

“Don’t give it another thought.” He looked down at his plate and cracked up. “Mama would be proud of me if she saw my dish. It was too good not to eat it all.”

The waiter arrived simultaneously with the end of Xavier’s comment. He ordered two slices of sweet potato pie, one to eat now and another slice for takeout.

Their intense gazes suddenly caught and locked for several seconds. Kennedy turned her head away. She liked his bluish-gray eyes, loved his dazzling smile and his solid packaging. She felt breathless for a moment. If looking at his tantalizing lips, full, sexy and inviting, took her breath away, what would happen if he tried to kiss her? She’d welcome it and probably grow greedy for more.

Kennedy couldn’t get her mind to switch gears. Wondering what might occur when Xavier walked her to her door had her trembling inside.

Xavier reached across the table and closed his hand over Kennedy’s. “Think you can find your way back to earth?”

Feeling her color rise, Kennedy tried to laugh off her embarrassment. “Sorry about that. I don’t know where my mind skidded off to.”

“You don’t? I know exactly where my mind was in your absence.”

She knew he was setting her up, but she still decided to take the bait. “Where?”

His eye color deepened. “Out there on the dance floor, holding you in my arms. Think we can make it happen? I’d love to dance with you.” The deepness of his voice was strong and husky, yet intimately passionate.

Dancing was her absolute favorite thing to do. She looked across at the dance floor, where patrons were grooving to the smooth piano tunes. “The feeling is mutual.” She scooted her chair back from the table and waited for him to extend his hand.

As Xavier took Kennedy’s hand into his, guiding her out onto the dance floor, his smile defied description. The heat emanating from his hands warmed her through and through. The heat grew feverish as he gently pulled her in close to his body, leading her in a seductive slow dance. A light breeze just might help cool things down, she thought.

The intense desire Kennedy had to lay her head against Xavier’s chest was no match for the common sense busy kicking her in the shins. Her strong attraction to him couldn’t be denied. Nor would she try to deny it, but she had to proceed with caution.

Her thoughts flew her back to the beach modeling gig in Malibu, where his fiery hands had explored her anatomy with relaxed ease, touching her like this, caressing her like that. His lips had come within micro inches of hers—and it had been doubly hard not to make the sweetest of introductions. She shivered at the thought of a passionate lip connection.

Kennedy had been checking him out the entire day. And she had made it her business to find out if Xavier was in a relationship. She had had her fill of men who thought it was okay to date more than one woman at a time, especially without making them aware of the intent. All of the sources she’d spoken to had been very reliable, which was the main reason she’d accepted his invitation to dinner. According to Xavier De Marco’s peers, the man had a stellar reputation.

The many things Kennedy and Xavier soon learned they had in common amazed them. They liked the same music, loved sports—and each possessed a strong desire to see the entire world to experience life in other cultures. Both were champions to the underdog. They were also in just the right profession to have it all.

Xavier realized Kennedy was lost to him again, her mind off to somewhere else, but he was okay with it this time. She was safely in his arms and the night was still very young. “The Look of Love” was playing softly and “Never Can Say Goodbye” had just ended. He hadn’t planned to go inside when he took her home, that was, if she even invited him in, but he knew he wanted a host of encore dates.

Kennedy was something special. Xavier’s instincts had told him that much. Even though he didn’t believe in dogging women, period, he wouldn’t ever think of half-stepping with this woman. She deserved his all, his everything, and he was sure she’d come to demand the same from him. He didn’t plan on falling short of her expectations.

The quiet ride to her home in the close confines of his convertible Mercedes Benz 350 CLK had her breath catching every few minutes. He smelled so good, so manly. After all their hours together, his light citrus-scented cologne still stirred her senses. As she studied his hands on the steering wheel, she saw that he had tight control, without being uptight. It was like he caressed the wheel, holding it steady and sure. She felt safe.

The radio station Xavier had tuned in to was one of those late-night romance fests, where the DJ had a smooth, silky voice and knew all the right buttons to push to heat things—and bodies—up. Every song was soft and sensuous, sweet, sweltering and sexy.

The more she thought about it, the more she was sure she’d love for Xavier to wrap her up in his arms securely, stroke her limbs tenderly, kiss her hungry mouth passionately and tenderly nibble on her earlobes until her heart thumped wildly.

Laying her head back on the headrest, Kennedy closed her eyes. These were the kinds of provocative moments one savored when becoming lost in the array of intimate possibilities. Xavier was the kind of man Kennedy had often daydreamed about, only to later meet up with him in her bedtime fantasies. Waking up alone was always disappointing.

Taking the keys from Kennedy’s hand, Xavier opened the door and handed the heart-shaped ring back to her. “Want me to make sure there’s no boogeyman inside?”

The lighthearted teasing from Xavier made Kennedy laugh. “I’m not scared of any old boogeyman.” She flexed her arm muscles. “This girl got muscles. If someone jumps out at me, they’d better be ready for action. I got some serious, kick-butt moves.”

“Okay, Miss Tae Kwan Do.” His expression suddenly turned sober. “I really enjoyed myself. You’re refreshing. Any chance we might do this again?”

“Any chance we might not?” Kennedy shot back. Xavier was impressed by how quickly she’d fired right back. “Or was that just your way of asking me out again?”

He eyed her with intense curiosity. “What if is was? How would you respond?”

Laughing, Kennedy shook her head from side to side. “Since you haven’t asked me anything specific, I don’t know how I’d respond.”

He took hold of both her hands. “Will you go out with me again, Kennedy?”

“I’d love to. Nothing would give me more pleasure.” She openly flirted.

“What about tomorrow evening? I’d love to cook dinner for you, at my place.”

Kennedy appeared impressed. “You can cook?”

“One of the best male chefs around. Dad has major cooking skills and I inherited every last one. Mom is a fantastic cook, but she can’t dethrone my father.”

“Can’t wait to have my taste buds check out your credentials,” she teased.

“Just tell me what you want…and I’ll prepare it.”

“You got a deal.” The mischievous, bad-girl side of her took over, as she began thinking up a complicated meal for him to fix. “Beef Wellington is one of my favorites.”

Onto her devious mission, Xavier failed at keeping a straight face. “I see you like to get your jokes on, but I can do beef Wellington, girl. What time should I pick you up?”

She angled an eyebrow. “What if I just drive myself there around seven?”

“Whatever works better for you. I’ll call in the morning with directions.”

“Look forward to hearing from you.” She grew silent, allowing her gaze to sweep over his handsome face. “I had a really good time, too. You are great company.”

Leaning into her, Xavier brushed across her cheek a light, airy kiss. “Tomorrow.”

Suddenly a flurry of bright white lights flashed before their eyes. A group of photographers came at the startled couple from every angle. Kennedy’s front porch had been invaded. The flashbulbs were darn near blinding, causing them to use their hands as eye shields.

Kennedy and Xavier lived to pose in front of the camera by day, and often by night, loved their jobs as top supermodels, but both hated being completely caught off guard by the ever intrusive paparazzi. Where had all these men come from? There had to be at least ten to twelve cameramen. How long had they been following along behind them? It was indeed hard to tell since neither had spotted a single one.

Was this wild scene just the preview of things to come? Kennedy couldn’t help wondering what she should expect. They’d been so careful to keep their plans for tonight under wraps. Were they going to continuously be hunted down in the darkness of night like wild game and trapped with nowhere to run? She recalled getting injured a couple of times while trying to flee from flashing bulbs. Kennedy recalled with crystal clarity how she had tripped and fallen to the ground in her frantic escape from the camera-toting paparazzi.

As Xavier did his best to shield Kennedy from the cameramen, he couldn’t help wondering if this was the beginning of the end for them. It was tough enough to deal with a new relationship, but these types of wild scenes had proved to be game changers for him in the past. It would take an exceptionally strong woman to suck up this madness, even a professional model like he was.