Counterfeit Courtship, page 19
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kiera arrived fashionably late at Sofia Gomez and Tanner Logan’s anniversary party. Much like their wedding a year before, they’d held it at the same venue and asked the network to hire people to fill in the gaps as they celebrated their anniversary. Though Kiera didn’t need the money from working as a professional seat filler, when the network contacted her and asked her to come with a plus-one, she’d accepted for old times’ sake. She was not attending because she hoped Tyrone might also be there. She enjoyed a good party and good food. This would be both.
“How much am I getting paid for this?”
Kiera had shown up to the party not only looking good in a black-and-red-lace, off-the-shoulder dress that hugged her curves and stopped just above the knees, but she’d also come on the arm of one of the most handsome men she knew, her cousin Terrence. Tall, with toasted caramel skin, chocolate-brown eyes and a low fade that was sharper than a scalpel, her first cousin would have received a certification in pretty boy if there was one available. He looked amazing in a dark suit and matching shirt.
If she might run into her ex-boyfriend, real or not, then she couldn’t show up without a lifeline.
Terrence agreed to come not out of the goodness of his heart, but because of the promise of payment. She’d agreed to give him half of the payment for being a seat filler. That, and he’d served as her buffer between her good sense and her heart where an ex was concerned before. She’d done the same for him in the past, too.
“You’re getting paid enough,” she told him. “Now just be charming and don’t make me look bad.”
“How in the world could I possibly make you look bad?” Terrence said, rubbing his chin and giving his I-know-I-look-good smile.
Kiera rolled her eyes and shook her head. “By opening your mouth and saying something embarrassing about me. Remember here, I am a glamorous and popular makeup artist. Not the ugly teenager I used to be.”
Terrence nudged her shoulder. “Stop that. You went through an awkward phase. We all did. Quit calling yourself ugly.”
She smiled appreciating his pep talk. “I’m far from ugly now.”
He grinned. “That’s what I’m talking about. Now, where is the bar?”
“Let’s greet the happy couple first. We only have to stay long enough for them to get some pictures of the crowd and make a speech. Once that’s done, the promo stuff is over and we can leave. And remember—”
“If I see you talking to that Tyrone guy come and save you from yourself,” he answered, deadpan.
“Why you gotta say it like that?”
“Because, you obviously like the guy. Why are you trying to avoid him? There wasn’t a really good reason to break up with him.”
She hadn’t told her family about the fake relationship. She’d decided that since she and Tyrone were separated because of work, then there was no reason to get her family involved. Plus, they’d worry about her and the lengths she’d go through to try to climb out of debt. Her parents struggled hard enough to make ends meet. She didn’t want them making themselves strapped by trying to send her money.
“We just drifted apart. Besides, he’s probably dating someone else by now. I’m not about to make a fool of myself by chasing after a guy.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Just come on.”
She led Terrence toward Sofia and Tanner. She hadn’t seen Tyrone on the arm of another woman in their time apart, but he had promised her that he wouldn’t play in to the rumors or embarrass her even when they were separated. He was probably glad that their fake relationship was officially over. He hadn’t released his statement, but they’d agreed to post them. Maybe he was too busy getting back out in the dating scene to worry about getting a breakup post on his account.
Or, maybe he misses you, too.
The hopeful thought had teased her in the days since she posted the statement with no response from him. His social-media accounts were all silent. No updates, no pictures, nothing. Online gossips speculated that he was tending to a broken heart. Kiera didn’t want to admit to how much she hoped he was as miserable without her as she felt without him, then immediately felt silly for wishing misery on a man who hadn’t disagreed with any of her public breakup plans over the past few months. Tyrone had moved on. The faster she accepted that, the better.
They greeted the hosts and then mingled with the rest of the guests. Cameras captured everyone laughing, dancing and toasting to the happy couple. Kiera didn’t see Tyrone anywhere in the crowd. She’d worried for nothing. He was one of the network’s stars now. He didn’t need to attend parties for Sofia and Tanner to get recognition or fame. He and his brothers had their own following now.
She left Terrence at the bar and went to the food table to grab a piece of cake. Maybe the sugary treat would lift her mood. She was even more silly for being disappointed that he wasn’t there. The dancing had started, and the music pumped through the ballroom. She’d typically be out on the dance floor. She remembered the wedding. Dancing with Tyrone and the kiss that had ignited everything. She’d laughed and felt so much promise and excitement that night. Tonight was nothing like that.
She accepted the slice of cake from the server cutting and handing out slices. She put a large spoonful of the delicious dessert into her mouth and turned to go back to the bar when her eyes collided with Tyrone’s.
He’d been behind her. Not close enough to block her, but close enough that she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t seen him. He looked as handsome and tempting as ever in a dark burgundy suit with a black button-up shirt open at the collar. Her gave her the crooked smile that made her heart clutch before closing the distance between them.
“Is the cake any good?”
She swallowed the lump of cake and sucked in a breath. His cologne and the recognizable scent that was unique to him invaded her senses. Kiera licked her lips quickly. “Yeah...it’s really sweet.”
“I was looking around the party for you.” His gaze, intent and laser-focused, remained on her. His eyes drifted over her face as if he was committing her to memory.
“Oh, really?” Her voice was shaky.
“Yeah, I wasn’t sure if you’d be here tonight. I’d hoped you would be.”
Her heart fluttered against her chest. She cleared her throat and tried to calm down. To not show just how desperate she felt to have his arms around her again. “How’ve you been?”
He gave a casual shrug. “Pretty good. Our show got renewed for a third season.”
“I heard. That’s great.”
The news should have made his face light up. That’s all he’d wanted—for the show to be successful. Instead, he stared back at her as if searching for something infinitely more important.
“How about you?” he asked. “Are you going back to LA?”
She shook her head. “No, I actually got a standing position as lead makeup artist at Park Studios. I get a steady paycheck and I can stay in Atlanta.”
His eyes lit up. His shoulders relaxed. “That’s great. Congratulations.”
“I know. I finally paid off my medical bills and can comfortably afford my almost too expensive apartment.”
He chuckled. “It’s a nice place.”
“It is a nice place.”
They stood there awkwardly for a moment. Kiera searched for something to say other than “I’m sorry. I changed my mind. I want to be with you.” But the words stuck in her throat. She’d turned him down and been insistent about it six months before. He’d probably moved on. Probably had a date with him.
“Did you come alone?” she asked, worried he’d hear the hope in her voice.
“I did. I’m not seeing anyone.”
Her speeding heart raced even more. “Oh. Are you...just getting back out there after our announcement? I bet you’re glad that’s over. Now you can finally start living it up again, huh.” She tried to laugh but it sounded weird and forced so she took another bite of cake.
“You know I’m not glad it’s over,” he said seriously. “I miss you, Kiera. The stuff I said six months ago. It still stands.”
She froze. The bite of cake turned to cement in her mouth, sealing her lips as his words bounced around her head. Was he serious? Did he still feel the way he’d felt before? Was she ready to move forward?
Hell yes, you are! Didn’t you dream about this man every day since you parted?
A hand brushed her shoulder. “Kiera, the toasts and stuff are over. Let’s get out of here.”
Kiera turned toward Terrence. She widened her eyes at her cousin. Now! He was really coming now!
Kiera forced the bite of cake in her mouth down her throat and tipped her head toward the door. She prayed he understood her body language. He needed to get lost.
Terrence shook his head. “Come on. Let’s go.” He glanced at Tyrone and lifted his chin, then took Kiera’s wrist, her hand still holding the cake plate, and pulled her toward the door.
Kiera glanced over her shoulder at Tyrone’s confused face. She was finally able to form words as he pulled her away from Tyrone. “What are you doing?”
Terrence gave her a pitiful look. “Saving you from yourself.”
“I don’t want to be saved.” She wanted to run back and fling herself in Tyrone’s arms.
Terrence continued to pull her until they were outside of the party. “Yes, you do. Make him work for it at least, cuzzo. I could tell from the moment you saw him that you were lost.”
The words stopped her in her tracks. She cringed. “Was I that bad?”
“Hell yeah. If he really wants you, he’ll come after you.”
“No, he won’t. He has his choice of women.”
“If he doesn’t and it’s really like that then you deserve better, anyway,” Terrence said easily. The statement was both blunt and true. “Now, let’s go. This party is boring and I’m ready to catch the end of the fight. Rodrick and Contessa texted that they’re heading to your place to watch now.”
Sighing, Kiera took another bite of the cake. Terrence was right. She had been about to jump into Tyrone’s arms and say she made a mistake. Now that she was out of his presence, she wondered if doing that would have been a grand romantic gesture, or just her being silly and desperate.
Call him tomorrow. Take twenty-four hours.
Nodding, she followed Terrence to his car. She’d call him tomorrow. Jumping into Tyrone’s arms twenty-four hours after he said he wanted to try again was better than immediately. She tried to reassure herself with those words as she slipped into the passenger side of her cousin’s car.
* * *
Tyrone couldn’t believe she’d walked off. With another guy. He’d said he still felt the same as he did six months ago, and she’d just walked off. With another guy. She’d smiled at him and looked at him with those beautiful eyes while wearing that sexy dress, then given him an apologetic smile before walking off. With another guy!
The memory pounded through his brain over and over. It taunted him as he got sympathetic looks from mutual friends after she left the party. Teased him as he said his goodbyes and went to his car. Terrorized him with the fear that she had indeed moved on.
“Of course, she moved on. She was with another dude!” he exclaimed into the silent interior of his car.
He’d tried to listen to Dion. To let fate bring them back together and see if they were truly meant to be. Except he’d decided to help fate out a little bit. The moment he’d heard about the anniversary party, he’d thought of Kiera, how they’d met, and RSVP’d with the hope that maybe she’d be there, too. It was the fifth Exploration Network event he’d attended to try and help fate. He’d finally found her. And she’d left. With another man.
He shook his head and his hands tightened on the steering wheel. He’d left the party and decided to go back to his hotel room. He should just give up. That’s exactly what the jealous, angry voice in his head told him. That voice said he should let this go. Get back out there. End six months of celibacy with someone who wasn’t leaving parties with another guy.
His heart, that sensitive organ that hadn’t felt right since she walked away, whispered that he had a chance. Murmured that he should remember the bright light that came to her eyes. The way she’d leaned toward him. The half second before that dude walked up and she’d looked as if she was going to step into Tyrone’s arms. His heart believed what he’d seen wasn’t wishful thinking or an illusion.
Maybe that’s why he ultimately ended up parking in front of her apartment building instead of going to the hotel. With every step he took toward her door, reason screamed at him to turn around. To go back if he wasn’t prepared to handle what he found. Finding her with that guy and having her kick him out of her apartment would hurt him more than just watching her walk away. But the sliver of hope, wrapped up in the love he felt for her, drove his steps. If he hadn’t imagined it. If she felt the same, that’s all he needed to know.
He stood in front of her door, palms sweaty, heart pounding and breathing shallow. He shifted from foot to foot, took a deep breath then knocked. He hoped he wasn’t being a fool.
Pain crushed his hopes a second later when the door opened and that dude stood on the other side. Tyrone took a half step back. The embarrassment and misery blowing through him robbed him of the ability to speak.
The guy had the audacity to smile. That made Tyrone’s shoulders stiffen. If he was going to gloat, then Tyrone wasn’t going to pretend as if he was here for anything other than to see Kiera.
“Hold up a second,” the guy said. He looked over his shoulder. The sound of voices and laughter came from inside the apartment. “Hey!” he yelled and the laughter faded. “Kiera, your boy is here.”
Tyrone frowned. So, this guy knew about him? There was a hush for a second before another male voice said, “Her boy?”
“He came! Terrence said he would,” a strange female voice chimed in.
“Shut up!” Kiera said.
Two heartbeats later, she was shoving the guy aside and at the door. She’d changed out of the dress she had on earlier and was standing in front of him in loungewear and no makeup. She was absolutely beautiful. Then it hit him again. She was here, with that dude, with no makeup. Who the hell was this guy to make her feel that comfortable with him?
“Tyrone? Why are you here?” The sound of footsteps pounded behind her before a man and woman stood with the other guy.
He ignored the audience and focused on the look in Kiera’s eyes. The longing there, the anticipation. Nah, he wasn’t imagining that. “Um... I wanted to talk to you.”
The woman behind her patted the shoulder of the guy Tyrone didn’t recognize. “Oooh, he wants to talk.”
Kiera scowled at them. “Will you sit down?” She turned back to Tyrone. “Um...let’s talk.” She came out into the hallway and closed the door behind her. From the sound of the scurrying on the other side, Tyrone was pretty sure her guests were listening at the door.
He pointed at the door. “Who’s that?”
“My brother and his girlfriend.”
“And...that other guy?”
She met his gaze. “My cousin Terrence. He agreed to be my plus-one for the party tonight.”
Her cousin. Relief nearly buckled his knees. “Oh.” He smiled so hard his cheeks hurt. She wasn’t with someone else.
“Yeah, oh, is that the reason why you came by? To find out who he was.”
“I did. I mean, you walked away with him.”
She rolled her eyes. “Seriously, you only came over here to flex on my date?” She turned toward the door.
Tyrone reached out and placed a hand on her elbow. “No. Stop. Don’t go back in.”
She spun back toward him. “Okay, you came. You found out I’m not dating anyone else and what?”
“That’s not the only reason. I mean, yeah, I got jealous when I saw you with him, but that’s not why I went to that party. That’s not why I went to five other Exploration Network parties. That’s not why I never posted our agreed-upon statement about breaking up. I came here because it’s been six months, I miss you. I love you. I don’t know how to make some grand declaration, but all I know is that when we met, I didn’t think my life would change, but it did. And I don’t want to go back.”
She sucked in a breath. “You—you love me. I...”
“Yeah, I love you, Kiera. I know when we started out, I asked you to be my fake girlfriend.”
“Fake!” The muffled word came from the other side of her door.
Kiera kicked the door then waved a hand toward Tyrone. “Ignore that. Go on.”
He’d never talked about his feelings like this with a woman. Much less in front of other people. A year ago, he wouldn’t have made the effort. Today, as he looked at Kiera and realized there was no other woman he’d rather be with, he didn’t care.
“I asked you to be my fake girlfriend and you were perfect. I fell in love with you. Your drive and determination. Your humor and humility. Having you in my life was a bright spot that hasn’t lit up since you walked away. I didn’t like it, but I understood why you walked away. I know it might take a while for you to completely trust me, but I’m willing to put in the work to prove that to you. I tried to give you space. I tried to give us both the time we needed to figure out if what we felt was real and for me it is. The last time I asked you to be my fake girlfriend. Today, if you think you can, will you please give me the chance to be your real boyfriend?”
She pulled her lower lip between her teeth. Her eyes widened and the emotion radiating back emboldened him. He took a step forward and placed his hand on her hip. Inside he rejoiced when she didn’t pull away.
He stared into her eyes and prayed she saw the love and sincerity overflowing from his heart. “Can I be your boyfriend, Kiera? For however long you’ll have me.”
