Chapter Four
Star
It felt so good to be hugged. Held. I’d forgotten how warm Caelum was. His chest rumbled with approval as I snuggled in deeper.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking down at me with deep-brown eyes, surrounded by full, inky lashes. Daddies always seemed to have lashes and hair us littles would die for. “Star?” He pressed with his deep voice.
How had I ever walked away from this man?
“I am now. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Are you sure you’re not hurt anywhere?
” He pulled back, bracing his hands on my shoulders, and let his eyes roam my form.
I could’ve ducked into any office or restaurant or café around here but instead, I’d sprinted into his office, his place.
The whole place smelled of his musk, surrounding me in safety and security.
And he’d noticed that I wore the same cologne he’d bought me.
“I’m sure. I’m sorry about all of this. I didn’t know what to do.”
“That’s okay. You’re safe now.”
Now. The word throbbed in my head. As much as I enjoyed being in Caelum’s arms, reality was just outside his door, waiting for me. The clicks of photogs getting their fill, making stories of any movement or small detail no matter how miniscule.
“I thought I could come back here, and they would forget about me.”
Caelum chuckled and damn it, how I missed his smile.
I’d steeled myself from thinking of him too much since I’d been gone. Missing him made me cold and sooner than later, I forgot how good it felt to be warm.
“How could anyone forget about you, Star?” He brushed his knuckles down my cheek, and I surrendered to a shudder.
I looked over his shoulder at the windows, knowing my fate was on the other side.
That was, unless I took a chance.
“I know that I just crashed into your life and you’re busy and have your business to run, but would it be okay if I went to your house tonight instead of the hotel?
They know I’m staying there, and no amount of discretion will get me there without being noticed.
Maybe there’s a back door to this place? ”
“I don’t mind at all. I have an idea.” He pulled out his phone and made a quick call. He spoke for a moment, listened, then hung up. “Oscar owns the café down the road. He’s going to create a distraction so we can get you out the back.”
I sighed. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to be so much trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Come on, let’s get you home.”
Home. Not to his home. But home. It had been years since we were in each other’s lives, but this was the first time in a long time that I was safe calling a place home.
I was sure he was just being kind to me.
Caelum had always been a generous and good person, but my quickened heartbeat and heated cheeks gave me the signs this might be more.
If only he were a daddy.
Goddess, Caelum would be the bestest daddy.
He put his coat over my shoulders and covered us with an umbrella despite the clouds being white as snow in a Christmas village.
He whisked me into his car. Up ahead, I saw the paparazzi being given samples of coffee and goodies.
Oscar was getting business and creating an opportunity for us, one that I was grateful for.
“Do you need anything before I bring you home? Are you hungry?”
My stomach growled at the perfect moment. “I am hungry.” I thought about it for a moment. “I haven’t eaten since this morning and it was the regular carb-free omelet and black coffee.”
While we drove away undetected, Caelum’s eyes scanned me again, this time not for injuries but with a heated gaze that made me gather his coat over my groin so he didn’t see the full impact of what I was feeling.
“You don’t look like you need to lose any weight.
You’re perfect just as you are. Unless it’s for health reasons? ”
“I have no health issues other than the constant pressure to look a certain way for my job.”
He nodded. “I’ll order something to eat once we get home. All the carbs.”
We arrived at his home only minutes later.
Caelum had done well for himself. His house was a cute cottage with the porch and door decorated for the season.
His decorations veered on the natural side of things.
Real pine limbs were carefully hung from the door.
I could smell them before climbing the steps.
Gentle white icicle lights dangled along the porch railings.
A wreath on the door boasted cranberries, pine cones, and a cute owl couple wearing tiny beanies and snow boots.
“Come on in. Please, make yourself at home, Star.”
I’d hated my name for the first few months in Hollywood.
Being asked over and over if the name was chosen because my parents had some kind of kismet knowledge of my fate as a celebrity.
It wasn’t like I could tell them the truth, that my father was living vicariously through me. Hi, Star, you’re a big star now.
But when Caelum spoke my name, it sounded like a prayer, a hope.
Similar decorations adorned the inside of the cottage. A chunky tree hung with soft white lights occupied a corner. Dried oranges and strings of cranberries and wood beads tangled into the branches, creating a charming woodland feel.
“Did you make these?” I had to ask.
He chuckled and came to stand next to me. “I did. I love crafting with natural materials. Plus, the cinnamon makes the house smell nice.”
“You did all this yourself?” I prompted, strolling over to the fireplace decked out with stockings and more ornaments and lights.
“I did. I love it.”
“I hope Santa brings you the best presents.”
His brown eyes lit up. “He already has.”
Caelum insisted I rest while he started up a fire and showed me some menus to nearby places for dinner. My little brain eyed the kids’ menu, but I didn’t know how he would react. I kept who I was private, secret.
“Can I order whatever I want? I can pay.”
He kneeled in front of me, stroking my knees. “You are not paying for dinner in my house, Star. And, of course, order whatever you like. What are you thinking?”
He sat next to me, and I pointed to the menu, the kids’ menu. An order of tiny pizza burgers with tater tots and a Santa brownie for dessert.
“That doesn’t seem like enough for dinner. How about the chicken tenders as well?”
My chest unraveled from the tension I’d been feeling. “You don’t care about me ordering from the kids’ menu?”
“Why would I? Everyone is entitled to their preferences.”
Interesting. I wanted to blurt out right then and there that I was a little and even though I’d just crashed back into his life after ignoring him for years, I wanted nothing more than for him to be my daddy.
“I’d like both of those. Thank you. And lots of ketchup, please.”
“Of course.”
He placed the order on his phone and then offered to get me something more comfortable to wear.
I changed into his sweatpants and a sweatshirt and sat in front of the fire. He even gave me comfy socks to put on my feet. With him around and being this cozy, I could easily forget the world.
“How about we watch something?” he suggested. “Something you like?”
I nodded and decided to take a chance. He said we all were entitled to our preferences, and mine was the vintage Christmas cartoons. “I like the old Rudolph and Frosty cartoons.”
“That sounds perfect. Great choice.”
His praise made me warmer than the fire ever could.
We put one of the shows on, and he turned off all the lights but one and, halfway through, Caelum put his hand over mine. “Star, can I ask you a question?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
“Star, are you, by chance, a little?”