All The Pretty Lights (The "A" List #1) (11 page)

I have her right where I want her.

CHAPTER TEN

DAPHNE

Moscow

“Daphne!”

No matter how many times I hear my name being called, I’ll never get used to it.

“Daphne! Who are you wearing?”

Colt gives my hand a squeeze.

“Go ahead,” he scoots me over to the waiting reporter calling my name. “I’ll be over here when you’re done.”

I look at him like he can’t possibly be serious!
He’s
the one who gives the interviews, not me. I wouldn’t even know what to say. The reporter sees Colt nudging me her way, and she lights up, getting her microphone ready.

I can’t disappoint her now that she thinks she’s getting a reply.

“Um—hi?” I greet her as I reached the edge of the red carpet. She’s standing on the other side of the velvet rope, but leans in. So do the other handful or so of other reporters that flank her.

Flash. Flash. Flash.

“Daphne, everybody wants to know. Whose designs do you wear?”

Trying my best to focus through the intense glare of the lights from the flash, I smile at what I think is her. I’m not really sure. It’s definitely a person, and it’s the place where I know she was standing a moment ago, but, to be honest, I can’t see her face anymore.

How do I answer this? “Umm. Daphne Baker. I’m wearing Daphne Baker. Thank you.”

Smiling one last time, I move to turn and get back to Colt. Surprisingly, by his side is the only place I feel truly safe in all this chaos.

“Wait!” She calls me back. “Are you telling me that you’re wearing your own designs?”

I nod, turn to move, but am addressed yet again. “Do you have a shop? A website, a place where people can buy your designs?
Everyone’s
raving about them.”

Caught completely off guard I reply, “They—they
are
?”

“Daphne!” Snap, snap, snap.

“Daphne, are you and Colt engaged?”

I begin to hyperventilate. I can feel it, feel my lungs tighten and squeeze every breath out, with nothing to replace it.

“Um. I—I--”

“No comment,” Colt’s familiar voice hums calmly over my ear to the reporters in front of me. I feel his hand settle on my lower back and lead me further down the red carpet, toward our waiting car.

The premiere was a success, just like the others, and everyone loved the film. I’m not surprised. Even though I wasn’t a huge Colton Webb movie fan before, TIME COP’s quickly become one of my favorites. I’ve seen it enough times now, where I know just the right scenes to get up and leave. I’ll excuse myself to the ladies’ room, or to get some fresh air so that I don’t have to see the love scenes between Colt and Audrey on the screen.

Watching Audrey’s character, Sierra, is the closest that I’ve gotten to see her since the New York premiere, thank God. Colt has stayed true to his word, and made sure that she isn’t an issue, and for that I’m grateful. I’m not exactly scared of the woman, but I can tell that she’s a little unstable. I’m not looking to get caught in her crosshairs.

Marcus closes the door, sealing out the noise from the reporters. It’s quiet, finally. Just he and I, and I’m thankful for it. We haven’t had more than an hour together here or there since the Berlin premiere.

I don’t even have a chance to say anything before he takes my waist and pulls me across the leather bench seat of the limo, closer to him. His lips immediately search for mine, find them and then take them. I’m not one for tacky public displays of affection, and as Colt’s almost always in the public eye, that doesn’t give us much alone time except for behind closed doors.

“So,” his words mumble into the thick of my neck where his lips have wandered. “How do you like Moscow?”

I have to laugh at that one. “You mean the airport? The hotel? The theater? That’s about as much of Moscow as I’ve seen.”

My hands are wrapped around his shoulders and I can feel them quake slightly as he stifles a laugh. “That’s about to change.”

What’s he talking about? I’ve already seen the itinerary. I know what the plans are for the rest of Moscow; we’ve got the after party that we’re en route to right now, then about nine hours before we leave for Shanghai.

“Colt, what are you talking about?” I’m nervous to find out.

Pulling away, I see the devilish little twinkle in the corner of his eyes that I’m beginning to realize is a great little type of alarm when he’s up to something.

“Colt?” I prod. I can feel the energy building. I’m not one for surprises, I just hate the uncertainty of not knowing something. Call me a control freak, call me OCD, and I’ll take it. Just don’t keep a secret from me or try to surprise me, and we’re good.

Our driver for the night, along with Marcus in the front seat, seems to know where we’re going, navigating the car through the streets with ease, making me feel even worse. I’m the only one in the dark here.

Looking out the window at the passing buildings and pedestrians walking the city streets, I’m clueless where we are or where we’re headed. This isn’t my city, this isn’t my turf. For all I know we could be driving around in circles.

My unease must be noticeable, as Colt squeezes my fingers. “Relax, babe. It’s gonna be fun. You’ll love it.” He nods his head as if it will somehow make me agree. “So, did you ask your mom? What did she say?”

That’s one way to distract me. “She’s excited! I’m not sure we can make it work though--”

“We’ll make it work,” he interrupts me. “Just get me the dates that they’ll be in Hawaii and we’ll extend our stay a few days if we have to. It’s the last stop on the tour, so it’s insanely easy to do.”

I never should have mentioned that my parents were going on a thirtieth wedding anniversary trip to Hawaii just days after Colt and I would be there for the last premiere stop of the tour.

At first I thought it was just a really neat little coincidence. When she found out, mom started pestering me about turning their trip into a family vacation, then I made the mistake of mentioning it to Colt one night after a call with mom and he started rambling on about the same thing, thinking it was such a good idea.

They’ve never met, Colt and mom, never even spoken, although mom keeps begging me to give her each and every detail of all the premieres and parties. Aside from Lori, mom had been the biggest supporter for me taking this crazy job.

“I’m not really sure about this, Colt.” I voice my reservations. “It’s their anniversary. It’s supposed to be romantic,
not
shared with their daughter. I think we should just let it go.”

We’ve had enough long, boring plane rides in the last two weeks to have plenty of time to talk to each other about our families, our friends. Colt knows that my parents are blue collar, that they’ve worked their whole lives and scrimped and saved in order to send me to college. Aside from a two-day honeymoon to a hotel on a lake, they’ve never taken a vacation.

This anniversary trip to Hawaii has been their dream. I can’t ruin it by making them a freak attraction like I’ve become. If word were to get out that Colt was vacationing in Hawaii, the media would be all over it. If my parents are anywhere near that frenzy, it would become a disaster.

I’m really not liking the idea, although I’m being barraged on either end, first by Colt and then by mom. It looks like I’m being outvoted.

“If it happens, it happens. Let’s let it play out and see where it leads us. So back to Moscow, I hope you like Vodka.” I’m given a clue, the first, the only one.

~*~

“Another!” I shout loud enough to be heard above the loud electronic dance music pumping loudly.

We’re in the heart of the city, some underground club. No reporters, no press. Just two people having fun. Colton Webb the movie star isn’t here. Colt is though- the guy who can make me laugh, make me scream sometimes, but always make me smile.

Colt holds up his hand, raising two fingers, signaling another round to the waitress that’s buzzing around between the highball tables. She may not speak English, and we may not speak Russian, but numbers are a universal language.

“How did you find this place?” I ask him.

Instantly his eyes cast down to my chest, where I feel my breasts nearly spill out of the tight dress as I lean across the table. His eyes are large, pupils dilated from several shots of vodka. Other than that, you’d never be able to tell he’s had a drink at all.

Where I’m fairly certain my own speech is beginning to slur and my movements become less controlled, Colt is the epitome of disciplined. But then again, isn’t he always?

“You like it?” His eyes still fix upon my chest as he asks for my opinion of the place. “I found it a few years back while here for a press junket. The owner, Ivan, he’s an investor of sorts, works with a very exclusive clientele. That’s why there’s no press outside. People of a certain stature feel comfortable coming here. It’s very discreet.”

I’m able to understand every other word of what Colt says. The rest is a jumble. Instead, I watch his mannerisms, his expressions, and nod, playing along.

Colt laughs. “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”

“Madam.” The petite waitress returns with a small silver tray bearing two shot glasses. The first is handed to me, the second to Colt.

My serving of vodka is gratefully accepted and lifted to my lips. The initial sting is quick to subside, leaving only the warmth behind as I quickly gulp. “Another!”

Colt’s eyes roll, “I think you’ve had enough for tonight. That was your fourth.”

Playfully, I pout my lower lip. He slowly savors his own vodka.

“Are we going to be in trouble for this?” I wonder aloud.

He shrugs his shoulders. “Probably. Andrea will cover my ass, she always does. I’m sure it will be worded something like
Colton Webb was feeling ill and needed to rest before attending the next media event. We thank you for your prayers and well wishes, and are truly sorry to have disappointed those that attended the after party this evening.”

I may be borderline tipsy, okay, I’m nearly drunk, but I’m not
completely
stupid. “Sooo it didn’t have
anything
to do with Audrey being at the after party then?”

He swallows hard, I see the bulge in his throat make its way down. “Maybe.” Reaching forward, he traces his finger down the angle of my chin. “That’s nothing for you to worry about though. I thought we could use a night away from all the craziness. Besides, I’ve seen how good you are in bed when you’re sober. I can’t wait to see when you’re drunk.”

I feel myself begin to blush-
everywhere.

“By the looks of it,” he adds, “You’re almost there. Come on.”

My hand is taken by his, leading me away, abandoning our table that’s quickly taken by another couple in the growing crowd of partygoers. The flashing strobe lights dance on the walls, electrifying the room, somehow synched with the music. Bodies writhe and twirl around us as we weave our way through the dancing crowd, deeper and deeper into the dark building.

“Where are you taking me?” I hold close to him, afraid I’ll lose him in the chaos.

The vodka now has full control over my body, leaving the tips of my fingers and toes numb. My lips tingle. I feel like I’m walking on soft padding, almost how I imagine a cloud would feel.

“Someplace a little more private.” Colt makes the quick turns with me in tow, up a staircase that ends on a platform, high above the crowd.

There’s a dark-suited man, probably some type of club security, on the top landing. He nods to Colt, before stepping aside to grant us access to the closed door he guards.

Once behind it, amazingly, the music stops. There’s a glass wall through which I can see the people below dancing, but there’s no sound. Could this be another symptom of the vodka? Have I lost my hearing and gone deaf?

I press my ear against the glass, listening closely for the sounds that elude me. Nothing. Nothing but vibrations pulsing and resonating under my ear, under my fingertips that touch the surface.

Closing my eyes, I imagine the silent notes, picturing them as if I were a part of the music I cannot hear, but can only feel.

It’s
amazing.

Colt’s voice penetrates the silence of the empty room. “You are
so
drunk. Maybe we should rethink this. Part of me thinks it would be taking advantage of you like this. The other part of me doesn’t care.”

He moves close.

“When I look at you, I lose all sense of reason. Nothing else matters.” He caresses my cheek, leaning against me as I flatten my back against the glass, feeling the deep pulses of the musical beat course through me.

I lick my lips. “It doesn’t matter if I’m drunk or if I’m sober, Colt. I want you. I’ll always want you.”

He closes his eyes, smiling at the words I speak to him. “You have no idea how much those words mean to me. You won’t remember any of this tomorrow, so it’s safe to tell you that I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you. I’ve done some pretty shitty, underhanded things to get you, too. But, I don’t regret it, Daph. I can’t. It’s what brought you to me. I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you.”