She whirled at the sound of Mick’s voice.
He stood at the entryway to the bedroom. Again, she was struck by how utterly amazing the man looked wearing a tux. His broad shoulders filled the jacket so well, and he was tall enough to carry the elegance of the outfit, his black hair combed perfectly, his blue eyes even more striking against the solid black of the tux. He strolled in and walked around her as she stood in the center of the room, then came to her, lifted her hand, and pressed a kiss to her fingers.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She felt herself warm. “I am not. But I sure feel that way tonight. Thank you for this.”
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, because you appreciate this in ways no woman I’ve ever been with before can appreciate it.”
She felt the sting of tears. “Don’t make me cry, or you’ll have to call that entire horde of people back to fix me.”
He held out his arm. “Ready to go have some fun?”
“Yes.”
SEVEN
TARA DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, HAVING NEVER been to a movie premiere before. The flashbulbs going off in her face and the seemingly thousands of questions asked about who she was and what her relationship was to Mick were overwhelming and kind of surprising. She’d expected the movie stars to be blasted by the media. But her? She was a nobody.
Then again, Mick was famous. The media would want to know who his companion was.
Mick seemed very comfortable, smiling and waving to fans and posing for the cameras. And when asked about Tara, he seemed fine with introducing her—to everyone, including national reporters, magazines, even entertainment television.
Oh. My. God.
Tara wanted to crawl back in the limo, go back to the suite, and watch other people on TV. She did not want to see herself on television, though she was certain the cameras were way more interested in the movie and TV stars and models in attendance, and not her. She was not news. And fortunately, all the media people figured that out soon enough and ran off after the real celebrities so Tara could breathe.
What she did enjoy was ogling the cream of the crop of Hollywood, who stood just feet from her, giving interviews and smiling for the cameras. So when she wasn’t having cameras popping off in her face, she wished she’d thought to bring her own camera and take some pictures for Maggie and Ellen and Karie to see. Though she supposed it might have been inappropriate for her to rush up to the stars of the movie and take a candid shot of them with her mini camera.
When they finally got inside, Mick led them to their seats, and oh, the movie was wonderful. And the time spent with Mick was great. He held her hand or put his arm around her, and they both laughed at the movie, which was funny and so romantic. It was a perfect night, and Tara felt like she really was Cinderella. Mick even leaned over a few times during the movie and kissed her. She couldn’t have asked for a better date, and she’d remember this night forever.
When the movie was over, everyone shuffled out and headed for their limos.
Tara leaned against Mick, her arm entwined with his, as they slid into their car.
“I had a wonderful time, Mick. Thank you.”
He grinned at her. “You’re welcome. But it’s not over.”
“It’s not?”
“No, there are premiere after-parties. Unless you don’t want to go.”
“Oh, no. That sounds fun.”
They went to another incredibly swanky hotel where there was a party in the amazing and huge ballroom filled with balloons and movie posters and champagne fountains and—thankfully—food.
“Oh, thank God. I’m starving,” she said as she and Mick found a table.
“Me, too. I’m so glad you like to eat.”
She laughed. “Why wouldn’t I?”
He gave her a look. “You’d be amazed by the number of women I dated who didn’t eat. You wouldn’t believe the look of horror on their faces when I suggested real food. There’s nothing more depressing than watching a woman nibble on a piece of celery.”
She laughed. “No fear of that from me. Lead me to the nearest cheeseburger.”
There were photographers and media present here, too, but it didn’t seem to be as much of a frenzy as there had been on the red carpet. Still, Tara was mindful that Mick had an image to uphold, so she tried not to shovel food in her mouth, even though at the moment she could have eaten a photographer’s right arm.
The media seemed content to pick on the actors and actresses in attendance and leave them to themselves.
“You’re probably sorry you didn’t bring someone more famous with you,” she said, finally able to speak after her stomach was full.
Mick took a drink of soda, then arched a brow. “Why would you say that?”