Alpha Billionaire Series
Hot Mess Chapter 19

KAYLA

Nick sat in his old convertible grinning at me. I made my indies flutter, and my toes curl up. He was a The doorman opened the car door and I slid into the passenger seat.

My cheeks hurt from smiling. I couldn't believe I was in a convertible with a movie star on Christmas E "What kind of event is this? Isaac said it was casual. I hope what I'm wearing is okay."

I wore the only pair of jeans I owned. They were high-waisted, and boot cut in dark indigo. They were do.

Nick's gaze felt like a touch, the way he raked it over my body, and let it hover on my chest made me physically have in a woman.

It was thrilling to be on the receiving end of that look. I probably looked at him as if he were good end I doubted it meant anything from him. I was certain he was ignoring the way I looked at him. It still ma "I didn't pack anything for a Christmas event. Isaac didn't send over a stylist. I'm sorry I wasn't prepar Nick laughed. "You look fabulous. And do you see what I'm wearing" He gestured at himself as if I had "This isn't an event. It's a casual party."

"A what?" I gulped. The last party I went to had ended rather abruptly. I had been overwhelmed and o Except for the blackmailing. I could do without that. I wanted to push that out of my mind for the nigh "Isaac didn't prepare me, or anything. He just told me to be ready." "Yeah, about that..."

I glared at him from the corner of my eye.

ete package in what had to be an old comfortable leather jacket, a tight band tee, and that car.

elt unreal. It felt too good, like a dream I didn't even know I had come true.

uch, not cool looking. Neither was the sweater I wore. I did have a draping neckline, and it displayed some cleavage. I figured that had to be what I needed to

No one ever looked at me the way he did. I was either naiver than I was aware of, or he really did look at me with all the interest a grown man could

eat. He had to be used to it. After all, he was a Hollywood hunk, known for his dashing good looks and rippling muscles.

e shiver with the thrill of it. I just needed to keep that feeling tucked away, or I would embarrass myself.

eady sucked in eyefuls of him the second, I stepped out of the hotel.

hy league. But I had met Nick. And so far, that was turning into something I was really glad of.

it found a way to seep into my mind at the least opportune moments.

this weird situation we have found ourselves in." ... point. Right?"

"Isaac didn't text you. I did, from his phone. I didn't want to seem like I was overstepping my boundar "You could have texted me, Nick. It's okay. I mean, I am here to go to events and parties with you. That "It is, but mostly for when we will be seen together. The paps won't be there tonight. The only cameras will be in people's phones." I swallowed down panic. "Phone cameras take pictures too."

"They do, but tonight's dinner is with friends, people I know from work. It's small."

"It's small?" Those words were not as comforting as Nick seemed to think they were. "How small. Are people going to talk to me?" "Yes," he chuckled. "People are going to talk to you."

"I don't know about this, Nick. What am I going to say?"

"What do you say when you have a conversation with a person."

"But what if they ask how we met?" My voice was pitching higher the more I thought about it.

"You tell them how we met, at a Halloween party. You don't have to go into any detail you don't want. I won't embarrass you, that's between us, and never to be spoken of."

If only that were the truth. It was between us, and whoever had taken those photographs.

I blew out a long breath. Resting my head back against the seat I tried to be in the moment for a second. I was in California, the weather was amazing, and Nick was driving. I let go of everything and just breathed in the smell of car exhaust. I sat up with a coughing fit.

"You, okay?"

"I'm fine. I tried to breathe in."

"Traffic air, not exactly the cleanest," Nick laughed at me.

"Definitely not," I laughed too.

When we arrived, I made a note to talk to Nick about his definition of small, and low key.

A valet took his car, which automatically elevated it out of 'low key' in my definition. I probably needed to learn a whole new set of definitions for terms being around Nick.

Even though Nick said I was dressed fine, I was keenly aware that the hostess's jeans and Christmas sweater were designer. My entire outfit, including the shoes, and my bra probably cost less than just her jeans. I was wearing one of my good push-up bras that cost me a small fortune. Fortune was relative, and I was fairly certain that everyone else at this party wouldn't blink twice at the cost of my underwear, while I had calculated exactly how many hours, I needed to work to pay for it. "Judy, I'd like you to meet Kayla," Nick introduced us.

Judy shook my hand and led us deeper into the house. It was stunning in a way; I had no idea houses could be that grand. Nick tapped his finger under my chin, pushing my mouth closed.

I grimaced at him. He winked at me.

He draped his arm over my shoulder and leaned in close. "Relax, these people don't bite. This isn't that kind of party."

I gasped, caught more off guard than affronted at what he was hinting at. I lived a sheltered life. But with a friend like Amber, I knew things I didn't want to, or need to. That kind of party, I didn't want to know that Nick did stuff like that. It freaked me out. "I'm joking. You should see the look on your face," he chuckled in my ear.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm nervous."

"Kayla, these are normal people, chill."

"Nick, normal people... is that a suit of armor? Normal people do not have full suits of armor in their living rooms. Rooms. They have more than one living room without a TV here. Normal people have one, singular, living room, and maybe a TV room. This isn't normal. Give a minute."

I didn't get a minute. The next room we followed Judy into was some kind of casual great room. There was a television. It was big. There was also a full wet bar, and a long buffet table covered in charcuterie, all the finger foods a person could want.

I stuck close to Nick. He shrugged out of his leather coat and handed it to someone. It took me a while to realize this party had a staff maintaining the food table and running the bar. Normal Christmas parties- I needed to stop thinking that way. Normal for these people and normal for me were two different socioeconomic levels. There wasn't a single potluck-looking mismatched corning ware casserole on the table, and no whipped fluff and marshmallow concoction called a salad or ambrosia. "Are you doing okay?" Nick asked me after a few encounters with different people. I was introduced, but I forgot most names as soon as I learned them. Not my best reaction, but I was stressed.

"I'm a little hungry. I've been eyeing the spread, and-"

"Of course, you don't need my permission to eat Kayla."

I glanced around the party, purposefully looking at women's hips. I needed to stop comparing this world with where I had come from. There were no comfortable middle-aged mom butts in the place. The men ranged from svelte and super fit to standard middle- aged paunch. But men weren't judged as much as women.

"I'd feel better if you went with me."

Nick looked over my shoulder, at the food display behind me. "Sure, come on, let's get something to eat."

He handed me a plate, and I followed along behind him. His selection was all veggies and protein. I filled my plate with similar items, but I also took cookies and cheese. I hung back by Nick's elbow and nibbled. I smiled and nodded as he talked to the people he knew.

This is what I was here for, to be seen at his side. I scanned around the room and wondered if anyone in here was from the studio that was putting the pressure on him to have a companion. Was I here at this party because someone had to see me? Approve of me? Or was I here because Nick wanted to see how I handled myself at a party where people talked?

There really hadn't been any interaction at the charity dinner. But here I shook hands and smiled. I repeated my name and told people I was new in town at Nick's invitation. But mostly, I stuck as close to Nick as I could, not saying very much at all. "You're quiet," he noticed.

"I'm sorry, I'm shy, and you keep bringing me into situations where I'm expected to be charming and outgoing. You picked me, remember?"

"I remember. And I picked you because you weren't trying to impress anyone. I'm the one who should apologize to you. I didn't give you adequate time to prepare for this. You want to get out here, where we can be alone?"

I bit my lip and looked up at him through lowered lashes. "I'd like nothing more."