Spin Control (20 page)

Michael crossed his arms. "Apparently he knew
about Miranda's trip to Bermuda and was overconfident that she would say yes. So he leaked the story to
the Post."

"You just missed him, Kate" Miranda smiled ironically. "He was about to get down on one knee, but I
stopped him. I told him I wasn't interested in him romantically."

I threw my hand over my mouth. "How did he react
to that?"

"Kind of shocked, actually." Miranda shook her head.

"And don't forget the stomping off in a huff," Michael
helpfully added. "I got to witness the whole thing."

"And what was his reaction to you, Michael?"

"Very confused. Couldn't figure out why I was here.
Then he looked like he wanted to punch me, but instead, he stomped off."

"Thank God I have people like you and Michael in
my life." Miranda spoke kindly. "I just feel like I contributed to this problem somehow."

I put my hand on her arm. "Don't worry about it. You
have nothing to do with this." I turned to Michael.
"What do we do about Devin now? I mean, Gwen
thinks we're the ones responsible for this, and if she
finds out that we let this hoax slip past us..

Michael grabbed my hand. "After the stunt he pulled
today, I don't think we'll be hearing from Devin in a really long time."

The man with the clipboard walked up to Miranda.
"Ms. Hamilton, we're ready to start the photo shoot"

She put her arms around both our shoulders. "Well, kids, they need me. And it's a good thing, too, because
you two have some catching up to do" She pointed at
Michael. "And remember what I told you" She swayed
toward the set.

I tilted my head. "What did she tell you?"

He looked down at me with a smile forming at his
lips. "Not to be a dumb boy and screw it up this time."

Lovely, lovely Miranda. I'd definitely have to thank
her for her words of wisdom later.

"You have a captive audience," I grinned, but suddenly became very serious. "So let's start with why we
can't work together anymore."

"Remember when I told you about my ex-fiancee, that
after her I vowed never to get involved with a coworker
again?" I nodded encouragingly. "I knew that I was, er,
starting to feel something for you, and I didn't want to
ruin a good thing between us, so in my head, I thought it
was best if I left Burton Relations in the hopes that something could work out between us. But of course, when I
tried to tell you that, I sounded like a complete goon"

"I didn't help the cause much, running out on you at
both the benefit and the coffee shop. Did you get my
voice mail?" I asked hopefully.

"Not if you left it on my cell phone. I sort of, well,
dropped it."

I pursed my lips, and Michael continued. "When you
left the coffee shop, I was so mad at myself. I fumbled
around for my cell phone to call you, but I was so jittery
it slipped out of my hand and fell right into my coffee.
Needless to say, I haven't had time to look for a new
one" He gave an embarrassed grin.

"Why didn't you tell me about Miranda being your
sister?"

"I tried that night we had Chinese at your place, but
then we were interrupted, and I just didn't want to talk
to you about it."

I must've looked hurt, because Michael gave me a
comforting rub on my shoulder. "See, there I go again,
my mouth running faster than I can keep up with. I
just didn't want it to be a burden to you, so I didn't
bring it up, but I kept thinking about it." He shook his
head in spite of himself. "Miranda says I live in my
head too much"

I belted out a hearty laugh. "That's what Anna says
about me! We're quite the pair."

And suddenly, Michael grabbed my hands, which
were shaking. "I think we are quite the pair. I just need
to know you feel the same way. And that you'll forgive
me for saying anything that made you feel less special
than you are."

I wanted to collapse into his arms and be held. But
for now, just being here with Michael in paradise was
enough for me.

And, with all the courage I could muster, I told him
what was brewing within me. "Of course I have feelings
for you, Michael. How else can you explain my running
out on you twice in twenty-four hours? I just need to ask
one thing. Please don't leave Burton Relations."

He drew me into a tight embrace, his strong arms engulfing me. "Not without you," he tenderly whispered
into my hair. Michael backed away from me and stared into my eyes before closing his hazel eyes and placing
his warm, soft lips on mine. And I can honestly say that
it was the most unexpected, most wonderful kiss a man
has ever given me.

We broke away from each other's mouths and giggled. We saw Miranda sashaying toward us with a wide,
giddy grin. She handed me her cell phone. "It's Anna.
I'm sorry, but I had to call and tell her about the two of
you! Don't be mad!" She handed the phone to me, then
skipped back to the set.

"Glad to see you both got smart," Anna said smugly.

"And all it took was getting out of the country. Look,
I'm sorry I was so rushed this morning when we talked.
You were going to tell me something, and we got interrupted. What's going on?"

Anna cleared her throat. "Miranda has invited me to
be her personal make-up artist. In Hollywood"

"What? That's fantastic! I am so excited for you,
Anna" I gleamed, but my heart hurt at the same time.
My best friend, the one who's been there with me for
the last ten years, was going away. But how could I be
upset at the opportunity of a lifetime for her?

I heard Anna sniffle. "I mean, you'll be coming out
to visit me, right?"

"Every chance I get. When are you leaving?"

"Well, I've found someone to sublet my place for
now. Miranda has found me a great place in Santa Monica, so sometime within the next month, I'd say"

"I'm going to miss you so much" I started to tear up.

Anna was crying, too. "Now, this is a happy time, re member? And from what I hear, you're in very good
hands" I looked over at Michael, whose eyes had been
on me the whole time.

"Okay, I'll be back in a few days," I said with mixed
emotions. "We'll have a big going-away party and I'll
be at your place every day helping with packing and
just hanging out with you." I sighed. "You're gonna be
great in Hollywood. I just know it."

"Thanks for being so supportive. Anyway, I better
run. Call me when you get back. And be careful with
Michael!" She joked. "I hear he's fragile."

"Take care, hon"

I wiped a renegade tear off my cheekbone. Michael
walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my
waist. "So, she's going to L.A., huh?"

I nodded lightly, then rested my head on his shoulder. He tipped my head up so he could look me directly
in the eye. "I think that we should do dinner and stare
dreamily into each other's eyes." Michael winked.

I playfully slapped his wrist. "And maybe crack each
other up with more Ralphie Wiggum lines?

He hugged me tightly again. "I wouldn't have it any
other way"

We walked toward the photo shoot, where Miranda
was posing in the evening sun.

"You two be good!" She shouted from the set. "I'll
call you tomorrow."

"I, um, I'm staying at Hotel Bella, unfortunately," I
muttered to Michael.

"We're getting you out of that hotel," he grinned coyly.

I gave him my forearm. "Twist, twist!" He took my arm, fervently pulled me in, and kissed me with a passion that I'll never forget. This, I thought as he gently
worked his fingers through my hair, was something I
could finally put a positive spin on.

So I was wrong about a few things. First, I found out
why Gwen was so eager to take on the Devin project. It
was not her desire to be with Fox-rather, her desire to
be with his property. At the start of the arrangement,
Fox said that if Gwen and her team had helped get
Devin in line, she could stay in one of his Portuguese
villas for six months. She took that as her signal for
early retirement, and made good on her word. Within
two months of our trip to Bermuda, Michael and I became partners in Burton Relations.

Second, I was convinced that the Devin makeover
would backfire once Miranda rejected him. Instead, he
entirely disappeared from the social scene. No more
parties, no more coverage in the tabloids. Fortunately,
Fox never knew it was Devin who announced his fake
engagement to the Post. He was, however, thrilled that Devin had so much time to devote to Hotel Bella now
that he was flying under the social radar.

But I was right on a few things. I knew that Anna
would thrive in Hollywood. In fact, within three
months of her being out there, she was already booked
as lead makeup artist on six major movies. And I was
right when I said I would miss her terribly. And she was
right that I had a nice distraction.

About that distraction. Michael and I have been dating for three months now, and every day it gets better.
Our business partnership works well too. We've already gotten four new clients. We do make it a point to
keep the personal separate from the professional. And
things have been very personal.

Everything about Michael and our relationship just
feels right. Not very New York or ironic of me, but I'll
take it.