Finding Kat (7 page)

I really got into it this time. I pretended I was a rap star and even did a few crotch grabs and gangster faces. I could tell it was going well when Jimmy and Cade were holding onto each other because they were laughing so hard. When my song finished I dropped the mic and struck a gangsta pose. Take that, bitches!

Cade grabbed the mic from me and bumped my fist.

“Wow. OK. That’s going to be a tough one to beat. But I know a song sure to get all the ladies in the room up on their feet. ‘Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy, Big and Rich.”

Cade must have watched a bunch of country music videos in preparation for this show because he was channeling his inner cowboy. He even pulled off his shirt. It was a total low blow. He knew that was cheating.

“Low blow, Rock Star! You have an unfair advantage!” I griped at him when he came up to me. He just grinned and shrugged completely unrepentant.

I hardly paid attention to the final song of the game sang by Jimmy because who could focus on anything but Cade when he was that close and not wearing a shirt? I could smell his cologne, soap, or something. It was subtle, musky, and all male. It was torture. How could I be expected to stand next to him shirtless on live TV and not climb him like a tree? Sigh. It was so hard to be me.

“All right. We have to pick a winner. They were both pretty great, but I’m going to have to give this one to Katie. That performance of ‘Wiggle’ was masterful. Genius.” Jimmy raised my arm in victory and I’m not at all ashamed to say I did a victory dance right in front of Cade Walker.

Jimmy and Cade chatted until the end of the show and I was content to be in the background. I had never been really into all the attention and I was high on Cade’s presence and the feel of his magnetism. He had a pull and everyone that came across him seemed to be able to feel it.

Jimmy thanked us for being on the show and we shook hands and signed a few things for audience members and crew. I had brought some gift bags for a few people that I picked out to give away. Cade smiled at me from a distance but didn’t comment when he gestured me over with a crook of his finger.

Who could ignore him? I mean really.

“Give me your number so I can call you about coming to hang out with us. Or you know to send you sexy pictures of me when the urge strikes.” He winked.

“Really? Cause I’d love that. The shirtless pictures I mean. I couldn’t care less about hearing your probably amazing, unreleased, no one else had heard it music.” I flirted.

“I see why you wanted to come to my show. You only want me for my body.” Cade pouted.

“It’s true. I’ve been looking for some good eye candy. We’re coming up on awards season and I really need someone who looks great in a suit to stand by me and look pretty.” I said as if any of it was true.

“I really hope you’ll consider me for the job. I know I’m not the smartest or most talented guy but I have so many other skills.” He almost purred at me then.

I couldn’t help but fan myself with my hand and roam my eyes over him.

“Oh honey. I’m sure you do. I think you may just be the man for the job.” I handed him a card with my private cell phone number on it and winked. “Give me a call to set up your next audition. I’d be happy to test your other skills any time.”

Walk away. Smooth. Unruffled. You do this shit all the time. Banter with a sexy millionaire rock god. You eat that shit for breakfast. Saunter just a little. Don’t look like you’re trying too hard. Don’t look back, just open the door and go to your car. The rest is up to him.

CADE

It seemed like I kept finding myself in this position. Watching her leave and going over our encounter in my head. But I couldn’t help it. Every time I saw her, or had a conversation with her, my attraction to her only got stronger. She was like a magnet pulling me to her. It was lucky for me that I had no intention of fighting this attraction or the pull to see her again. She was a mystery I was determined to solve. But I had a feeling it wouldn’t be an easy task.

I spent the night leading up to the Late Show appearance with the guys trying to pick songs to lip sync to. They had a blast fucking with me and picking stupid shit. Unfortunately, I forgot about a bet I lost with my brother, Chris, and found myself forced to lip sync a Destiny’s Child song on live TV. But if I was going to commit to doing it, I was going to do it right.

The show was great. It was a blast talking with Kat and Jimmy about her movies and my band. It was even better watching her get into the lip sync battle. I could really get into a girl that wasn’t afraid to let go and have fun. She was hilarious when she did the ‘Wiggle’ song. It put thoughts in my head that I shouldn’t have while in front of a live TV audience.

She might have left me again, but at least this time she left after giving me her phone number. She was something else. She had an attitude that made me laugh and a body that made me groan. She was the best of all of my fantasies of the perfect woman, and I couldn’t wait to run into her again.

Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long. Ally texted me the next day with some information about where they were going that night. They had plans to go to a club called Envy. I wasn’t as into that kind of scene as I was when I was younger and stupid, but if Kat was going to be there, so was I. I wasn’t going to risk her meeting some other guy and forgetting all about me. I wanted to stay in her thoughts.

After playing around with the guys in the recording studio, I ran home and changed clothes. I may have taken a little more time than I usually did just because I knew I was going to run into Kat. I was really looking forward to getting to dance with her. I was going to be able to touch her and feel her body moving to the club music.

Chapter Three

Kat

After work the next morning, I climbed into my car, pushed the button on my steering wheel and said “Call Mom.” I had a little bone to pick with my management about the “Damaged” movie role I hadn’t been approached about.

“Darling, how was Letterman? I heard a rumor Cade Walker was on the show with you.” My mom greeted me.

“Yeah. Uh huh. I was on Jimmy Fallon, and Fallon had an interesting question for me mom. He said the author of “Damaged” had been asking about me. She wanted to talk to me about being in her movie. Why haven’t I heard anything about this? I would love to do that movie.” I said angrily.

“Really Katie, that movie isn’t the sort of project you should become involved in. It doesn’t go with the image we have created for you. America knows you as a sweet, wholesome girl. That kind of movie would send the wrong message.” Mom said placating.

“I want to do it, Mom. As my manager, you have to recognize the size of the project. The amount of money I could make. It is too good to pass up. Not to mention that it would be a challenge for me. I want you to make the call. Now, please. I have to go Mom. Thank you for thinking of me and my image but I want to do this.” I hung up on her with that.

Next thing on my agenda was to call Ally. The author of Damaged had been on her show not too long ago. I didn’t have much confidence in my parents going after this job for me so I felt like I really needed to do the legwork myself. A few minutes later I had the number I was looking for. Ally flirted it out of the personal assistant, who had a thing for her.

I grabbed lunch and drove back to my house on the beach. Then I dialed the number and fidgeted with nerves. OK. Deep breath Kat. Time to put on your big girl panties and go after what you want.

“Hello?” A soft feminine voice answered.

“Hi. This is Katie Foster.”

“Katie! I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. So glad you called me back.” Her voice sounded bouncy. I knew I was going to get along with her.

“Sure. Sorry about the delay. My parents weren’t really fond of the idea of me doing something like this, but I’ve decided it’s time to try something new.” I decided to go with honesty. I couldn’t give anyone less than the absolute truth, which didn’t always work in my favor.

“I’m sure. I would really love to bring you in on this one. I always imagined you as my Lily. There are a lot of details to work out but if you’re willing, I’d love to do dinner with you and the producers and everyone else. I’m new to this whole movie thing but I know there’s a process to go through. A lot of hoops to jump.”

“Oh yeah. For sure. But really, whatever we have to do to get this done and in production. I would love to have a little more input. I’ve read the series and really love Lilly and Jack. They have such an interesting story. So relevant I think.” I tried not to ramble but I really wanted this.