Chapter 5
5
T he kitchen’s warmth dissipated as Vanessa led Kate through the narrow back corridor of Nico’s restaurant. Their heels clicked against the weathered tile floor, echoing off the exposed brick walls. The scent of garlic and herbs lingered in the air.
“Nico always keeps this exit clear.” Vanessa pushed open the heavy metal door, holding it for Kate.
Kate stepped into the doorway but paused, turning back to face Vanessa. The dim security light cast shadows across her features, but her blue eyes caught the glow. A strand of blonde hair had escaped from behind her ear, and Vanessa’s fingers twitched with an urge to tuck it back into place.
“I had a wonderful time tonight.” Kate’s voice carried a note of sincerity that transcended their arranged circumstances.
Vanessa remained in the threshold beside her, conscious of the minimal space between them. “So did I.” The words came out softer than Vanessa intended. She cleared her throat.
She’d chosen this place for its discretion. Nico kept the paparazzi at bay, and the back entrance allowed for private exits. But something caught her eye. A slight movement in the decorative shrubs across the street. The glint of a camera lens peeked through the leaves.
Her hand shot out, a spontaneous reaction to the threat across the street. Her fingers closed around Kate’s wrist, slender and delicate beneath her palm as she turned to step out into the alley. The warmth of Kate’s skin surprised her. Vanessa drew her back into the shelter of the doorway, their bodies momentarily pressed together.
Vanessa lowered her head to Kate’s ear. “There’s a photographer across the street.” Her lips nearly brushed Kate’s skin. “What do you want to do?”
Kate pulled back, her eyes meeting Vanessa’s gaze. A breath escaped her lips. “Are we really doing this?” The proximity amplified every detail of Kate’s face. Her ocean blue eyes, the slight part of her lips, the way her throat moved as she swallowed.
Vanessa’s fingers remained wrapped around Kate’s wrist, her thumb resting against Kate’s pulse point. The rapid beat beneath her touch matched the quickening of her own heart. Vanessa’s gaze locked with Kate’s questioning eyes in the dimly lit doorway. The unspoken weight of their situation hung between them.
The evening replayed in Vanessa’s mind. Their easy conversation over wine, Kate’s smile, the way she’d listened with genuine interest as Vanessa shared stories from her theater days. There had been no awkwardness, no forced smiles.
“Yes.” Vanessa released Kate’s wrist, missing the warmth as soon as she let go. “If you’re ready for this.”
Kate stepped closer, her voice dropping to match the intimacy of their position. “I am.” A smile played at the corners of her mouth. “But hand-holding and quiet dinners won’t make headlines, Vanessa. We need something... more. Something that convinces everyone this is real.”
The suggestion in Kate’s words sent a shiver through her. “What are you saying? That Elliot’s plan isn’t going to work?”
“I’m saying that tonight was supposed to be a friendly dinner where we get to know one another better.” Her eyes darted to the shrubs. “That photographer is probably here for somebody else. What if we took advantage of him being here?”
The logical part of her brain screamed to retreat to her car, because this wasn’t part of Elliot’s carefully crafted plan. His strategy involved calculated appearances, planned photo opportunities. Not this spontaneous, unscripted moment in a back alley.
Kate’s fingers brushed against her arm. “Let me take the lead. Just trust me.” Kate’s voice held a confidence that caught Vanessa off guard. Before she could process the words, Kate’s hand slipped into hers, pulling her from the doorway’s shadows into the alley.
Vanessa’s heels clicked against the pavement as Kate guided her forward with surprising authority. The sounds echoed off the walls, matching the thundering of her heart.
This wasn’t how Vanessa had pictured their arrangement unfolding. In her mind, she’d been the one to guide them through this. She was the veteran actress, the one with years of experience navigating Hollywood’s spotlight.
But Vanessa found herself yielding to Kate’s direction, allowing herself to be led into whatever scene Kate had in mind.
The feeling of Kate’s fingers interlaced with her own sent sparks through Vanessa’s up her arm, straight to her racing heart. The simple contact awakened nerve endings she’d forgotten existed. Each point where their palms met, where their fingers intertwined, ignited a subtle yet undeniable recognition that coursed through Vanessa’s veins.
How long had it been since anyone had touched her like this? In the last year, maybe even two, she couldn’t remember Lauren reaching for her hand. Those kind of romantic moments had been missing from their relationship for years.
But this - this casual intimacy with Kate - set her skin ablaze. The pad of Kate’s thumb brushed across her knuckles, and Vanessa’s stomach dropped as if she’d missed a step walking downstairs.
She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed being touched. How starved she’d become for genuine connection. Kate’s thumb swept another arc across her skin, and Vanessa’s pulse jumped in response.
And then Kate’s pace slowed. The change registered in Vanessa’s body before her mind caught up. Their joined hands pulled taut as Kate turned, and Vanessa found herself being guided backward. The wall pressed against her shoulder blades, solid and cool through her silk blouse.
Kate’s free hand rose to Vanessa’s cheek. The touch burned against her skin, gentle yet electric. Those stunning blue eyes searched her face with an intensity that for a moment made Vanessa forget that they were acting.
This wasn’t part of the plan. None of this followed Elliot’s careful script. But the thought dissolved as Kate’s thumb brushed across her cheekbone.
Kate’s gaze dropped to her lips, and Vanessa’s pulse thundered in her ears. The space between them diminished. Kate’s eyes fluttered closed, and Vanessa’s breath caught in her throat. She saw the intent in the subtle tilt of Kate’s chin, the slight parting of those full lips.
Vanessa’s body responded before her mind could process the action. She couldn’t say who initiated the kiss, only that her eyes drifted closed at the same instant their lips met.
The contact sent a shockwave through her. Kate’s lips were softer than she’d imagined, a sensation that stole her breath. The kiss ignited every nerve ending, a surge of electricity that left Vanessa reeling.
Her fingers tightened around Kate’s, instinctively seeking an anchor in the whirlwind of sensations. The kiss deepened, and the sweet taste of Kate’s mouth invaded her senses. She assumed this was part of the act, another calculated maneuver. But when Kate’s tongue swept against hers, the tremble that coursed through Vanessa’s body confirmed the authenticity of her response.
Their joined hands pressed against the wall, Kate’s body arching into hers, and Vanessa could feel the length of her, the press of her thighs, the curve of her waist. A moan escaped Kate’s throat, vibrating against Vanessa’s lips.
The sound sent a wave of desire through Vanessa.
How long had it been since she’d kissed someone with such passion? Since she’d allowed herself to surrender so fully to a simple touch, to the raw power of a kiss?
Kate’s fingers slid into her hair, cupping the back of her head. The gentle tug urged Vanessa to deepen the kiss further, their mouths fusing in a reckless, fiery embrace.
She wanted more. Her body craved it, demanded it. But a flicker of awareness intruded, a reminder that this was a performance. That the photographer across the street was capturing each intimate moment for tomorrow’s headlines.
Kate’s thumb stroked her cheek, breaking the spell. Their mouths parted, and Vanessa’s eyes flickered open, dazed. She caught the hint of a smile on Kate’s lips, felt the warmth of her breath mingling with her own.
For a moment, their foreheads rested together. But then reality crashed in. They’d just staged a passionate encounter in a back alley, a risky move that would forever link their names. But in this moment, Vanessa wasn’t thinking about Elliot’s reaction or the media frenzy to come. She could only focus on the feel of Kate’s breath against her lips, the lingering taste of her mouth, and the whisper of Kate’s thumb as it brushed her cheek one final time.
Kate stepped back, and Vanessa instantly missed the heat of Kate’s body against hers.
Vanessa tried to get her heart rate under control. She placed a hand on Kate’s cheek. “We should go,” she whispered. “My car isn’t far.”
Kate’s eyes remained hooded, lustrous. She nodded slowly, as if awakening from a trance.
Vanessa found Kate’s hand. They’d arrived in their own cars, but if they wanted this to look real, Vanessa needed Kate to leave with her.
Reaching her car, Vanessa paused, her hand still entwined with Kate’s. “I can take you home.”
Kate glanced at their joined hands, then up at Vanessa, her eyes shimmering in the streetlight. She pressed her lips together. “It wouldn’t look great if we went our separate ways now.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” Vanessa said as she let go of Kate’s hand and reached for the passenger door, then stopped, her fingers hovering over the handle. She met Kate’s gaze, seeing the uncertainty reflected in her eyes.
Without a word, Vanessa pressed Kate against the car door. She brushed a stray lock of hair behind Kate’s ear, her fingers lingering there, then slid her hand to cup the back of Kate’s neck, pulling her closer.
Kate’s breath hitched as Vanessa lowered her head, claiming her lips once more. This kiss was different—hungrier, more demanding.
Vanessa’s body burned with a hunger she hadn’t expected. Kate’s lips parted beneath hers, inviting her deeper into the kiss. The heat of Kate’s mouth, the press of her body against hers, the small sounds escaping her throat - it all combined into an intoxicating mix that made Vanessa’s head spin.
What was she doing?
Why had she initiated this second kiss? They’d already given the photographer enough material. This second kiss served no purpose for their arrangement, yet Vanessa couldn’t pull away. Her body moved on instinct, pressing closer as Kate’s tongue swept against hers, one hand tangled in Kate’s hair while the other gripped her hip, drawing her closer. Kate’s fingers dug into her back, and Vanessa’s pulse thundered in response. The kiss deepened, grew more desperate. Their tongues met, and electricity shot through Vanessa’s core.
She shouldn’t be enjoying this so much. Shouldn’t crave the taste of Kate’s mouth or the way Kate’s body melted against hers. This was meant to be an act - a performance for the cameras. But with each passing second, as Kate’s hands roamed across her back and their bodies pressed closer, the line between pretense and reality blurred.
Kate’s hands slid up her back, pulling her deeper into the kiss. The heat of her touch burned through Vanessa’s silk blouse, igniting something primal and hungry within her. She shouldn’t want this. She shouldn’t crave the soft sounds escaping Kate’s throat or the way Kate’s body arched into hers.
But she did.
The realization hit her like a slap in the face. She wasn’t acting. Not even close. She was kissing Kate because she wanted to. Because the first kiss had awakened something inside her that she couldn’t ignore. Something that had nothing to do with headlines or narratives.
Guilt crept in.
Kate was playing a role, following their agreement. But Vanessa’s response was real, embarrassingly so. Her body thrummed with desire. What would Kate think if she knew?
Vanessa broke the kiss, her chest heaving. The taste of Kate’s lips lingered, a reminder of lines she shouldn’t cross. This was meant to be an act - not whatever her thumping heart suggested it had become.
Movement caught her eye. The photographer had abandoned his hiding spot in the bushes, now standing on the sidewalk several yards away. His camera hung from his neck as he checked through his shots, making sure he’d captured every angle of their encounter.
“Get in the car.” Vanessa’s voice came out rougher than intended. She opened the passenger door, grateful for the excuse to put space between them.
Kate slipped into the leather seat without argument. The sound of the door closing echoed in the quiet street.
Vanessa rounded the hood of her car, aware of the photographer’s presence. Her hands trembled as she gripped the steering wheel. The engine purred to life, and she pulled away from the curb.
In her rearview mirror, she watched the photographer sprint toward his parked car. His camera bounced against his chest as he ran, no doubt eager to be the first to break this story.
The street lights cast alternating shadows across Kate’s face as they drove. Vanessa’s grip tightened on the wheel. She focused on the road ahead, because looking at Kate right now would force her to acknowledge what had happened back there and what it meant.