29. CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 29
“ A re you ready to leave?” Taylor questioned.
Clara nodded. She had probably spoken to every single person who had come to the premiere. Her feet hurt, and she was exhausted.
“Yes. But I’m happy to stay if you want to,” Clara added.
“I absolutely don’t want to stay here any longer.” His eyes caught hers, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the heat in his gaze.
“Great,” Clara croaked as nerves and excitement flooded her body.
“I’ll message my limo driver to come get us.” Taylor glanced away from her and down at his phone, giving Clara time to collect herself.
When her heart rate was under control again, she said teasingly, “You’re so fancy. You have a limo driver.”
Taylor rolled his eyes. “Only for things like this.” Tugging on her hands, he pulled her into an alcove a little away from everyone else. “You know if we leave together, your picture will be all over the internet within hours. Is that okay with you?”
Clara thought about it before she smiled up at him. “You’re worth it.” Reaching up, she cupped his cheek; turning his head slightly, Taylor kissed her palm.
“Good. Let’s go.” Entwining their fingers together, Taylor weaved through the crowd as he towed her towards the door. Shaking more hands and saying goodbye to everyone he crossed paths with.
They were nearly at the door when Devon stepped in front of them, and she wasn’t alone; she was arm-in-arm with an equally stunning woman.
“Hi, Taylor,” Devon said quietly.
“Devon.” Taylor acknowledged. “Helena.” He smiled at the other woman.
“For what it’s worth. I’m sorry.” Devon looked ashamed.
“I know. I’ve already told you I forgive you. And do yourself a favour, even if it costs you money, get out of your contract with Brian,” Taylor’s voice was low, so no one passing could hear them talking.
“I will. Helena and I talked about it. We’ll do whatever it takes,” Devon whispered, and the woman on her arm gave her a reassuring smile. She inclined her head at Clara, speaking just loud enough for only their small group to hear. “And Clara, I’m sorry. I had no idea us pretending to date was stopping you two from being together.”
“Oh, umm.” Clara struggled to find anything to say, so kept it simple. “Thanks.”
She looked up questioningly at Taylor. Devon knew about them?
“She told me about Helena. I told her about you,” he said simply. “Ladies, if you don’t mind, we’re tired, and we’re going to head home.” He put his arm around Clara’s shoulders and pulled her against him, making it clear that he meant they were heading home together.
“I’ll see you around, Clara.” Devon waved as Taylor led her away.
He stopped just inside the exit, murmuring, “Last chance. Once we go through these doors, you’ll be public property.”
Clara didn’t flinch as she stepped towards the exit, gently tugging him with her, saying, “Let’s go.”
Her brave words didn’t prevent her from startling when the wall of sound hit them. Photographers shouted for her to smile, to give them her name, and to ask if she was Taylor’s girlfriend. Flashes blinded her, and a few photographers lunged forward, getting right in front of her.
Taylor pulled her closer, keeping them away from her. He smiled and waved to the paparazzi but didn’t say a word.
It felt like hours until they got to the limousine, the driver waiting for them with the door open. Taylor held onto her hand as she slipped inside and closed the door firmly behind her.
The silence in the limo was deafening after the cacophony of noise, and Clara blinked to clear the images the flashes had left behind her eyes. She started to panic. She couldn’t do this. It was too much. This wasn’t her world.
Taylor climbed into the other side of the car, shutting the door. He turned to face her, his knees touching hers. The panic and shouting in her head stilled, and calmness washed over her. This was Taylor, the man she had spent a thousand hours with on the phone—a man she already knew so well and couldn’t wait to get to know better. He was worth it.
“It’s a lot.” Taylor reached out and brushed some hair behind her ear that had come loose from the braid.
“It is,” Clara’s voice was breathy. She wasn’t sure if it was from the paparazzi or his nearness.
Who was she kidding? It was him.
“And you’re still in?” Taylor asked tightly.
Clara stared into his vivid blue eyes, putting a hand up to his face. “Absolutely.”
“Good.” His head dipped towards her, and his lips caught hers in a searing kiss.
The limousine drew up in front of Clara’s hotel, but neither of them noticed as they had spent the whole ride kissing, talking, and laughing together.
Clara realised first that they hadn’t moved for quite a while and glanced away from Taylor to look out the window, seeing where they were. She pushed gently on his chest as he tried to pull her back into his arms.
“Taylor,” she muttered.
“Hmmm,” he grumbled, kissing her again.
“We’re at my hotel.” She pulled away from his lips.
“No, we’re not,” he growled, tugging her closer.
Laughing, Clara pushed him away again. “Taylor, I think we’ve been here for a few minutes.”
This time, he listened and leaned away from her, peering out of the window as well. “Oh. Right.”
Clara took a deep breath, willing herself to be bold. Her words rushed when she said, “You’re coming in, aren’t you?”
Taylor didn’t hesitate before he answered, “Absolutely.”
They stepped out of the car hand in hand. Taylor steered her to the front of the car, tapping on the driver’s window, which immediately rolled down.
“Thanks, Luke.” He reached into his jacket, pulled some money out, and handed it through the window to the driver.
“No problems. Am I waiting for you?” Luke queried.
“No. We’re both getting out here,” Taylor declared and grinned down at Clara.
“Do you want me to collect you tomorrow morning?” Luke asked.
Taylor nodded. “Yeah. If you don’t mind, I’ll pop home and grab some clothes, then come back here.” He leaned down and whispered in Clara’s ear. “If we go to my house, my mom will declare it a party, and we’ll never get any privacy.”
“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Luke nodded, rolled up his window and pulled away.
“You’re staying for a few days?” Clara raised an eyebrow.
“Yep,” he replied, squeezing her waist. “As long as that’s okay with you?”
“Absolutely. I’ve got dinner with Louisa and Damien booked for tomorrow. I’ll only be gone a few hours if you just want to hang out here.”
Taylor laughed. “Hmm, the funny thing is Mr Atrosky invited me to dinner tomorrow as well, but not the rest of the cast.”
Clara chuckled. “That man is incredibly observant. He knew we would be together.”
“He really is. And we really are together, finally.” Taylor slung his arm around her shoulder and drew her close to his side as they walked into the hotel.