With a deep breath, she released the last little niggle of doubt. I’m in, she thought. I’m all in.
“Is your wrist paining you?” Jared said. “I can ask for stronger meds.”
“No, I’m just remembering how much you love me.”
“I do,” he said, dark eyes serious, and she heard it like the vow it was. For all the days of my life.
When he picked up her suitcase, she said, “Let’s go to your party.”
“Babe, are you sure you’re only on Advil?”
“I’m serious. I’m going to the ball, Prince Charming, and you’re taking me. I have my clothes in that suitcase and I’ll get dressed in your car. Let’s hustle.”
Chapter Fifteen
Kayla dressed in the back seat of Jared’s Toyota SUV—because no one with kids got a sports car—while he drove like a bat out of hell through the L.A. night. He’d taken some convincing, but she’d been adamant.
Loosening the shoulder sling, she wriggled into the red dress he’d given her, feeding her injured wrist carefully through the capped sleeve. They didn’t have time to buy the tights she still needed, but her bare legs were toned, if not tanned. Ripping the tie out of her ponytail, she bent forward to brush it, hoping to add volume.
The first pang of doubt hit. The second came when she struggled to hold her compact mirror between her strapped fingers so she could apply fresh makeup under the weak interior light. “Maybe you should go alone.”
Jared glanced in the rear-view mirror, saw her problem, and pulled over. “We both go, or neither of us go.”
Climbing into the back seat, he fixed her makeup.
“I love being married to a nerdy metrosexual.”
“Yeah, we’re the best.”
As he moved to return to the driver’s seat, she said, “Wait.”
He looked at what she was dragging out of the suitcase and groaned.
“I swear I’ll take them off later, but Dimity said there’ll be TV cameras, and television adds ten pounds.” She unfolded the shapewear. “Be the supportive husband and help me get these on.”
Muttering under his breath, he did. As his reward, she showed him the corset at the bottom of the suitcase. “Happy anniversary.”
“Screw it,” he said, “Let’s go straight to the hotel.”
Kayla pushed him out of the car. “No way. Now drive.”
Jared had phoned ahead to let Dimity know what was happening, and when he flashed their invitation to the security guards at the gate to VIP drop-offs, they took over. Sending Jared to sit in the back with Kayla, one jumped in the driver’s seat and steered their family SUV into the line of limos waiting to drop off guests.
“How to make an entrance,” Jared commented. Stylishly soulful and sinfully handsome, his profile was unreadable as he stared out at the music fans crowded behind the barriers set up around the venue entrance. Shouts of excitement indicated the arrival of another famous music star.
She smoothed down her dress with damp palms. “I hope this isn’t the same red as the carpet,” she joked. I’m not going to get scared. I’m not going to get scar—
“I’m terrified,” Jared murmured, too low for their driver to hear. “All my music heroes are in there. And I get to stand beside some of them as a fellow nominee…that’s insane.”
Forgetting her own nerves, she reached for his hand. “You’re over-thinking this. Remember our wedding day?”
“No.” Rueful eyes met hers. “I was terrified then, too.”
“Exactly, and we missed one of the best days of our life. So, to adopt a rock phrase, fuck it. We’re young and we’re happy and, however surreal this gets, we’re going to enjoy every minute. We worked hard to get here.”
Jared caught her face in his hands and kissed her fervently. “I love you.”
“I know.”
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a jewelry box. She opened it and saw an eternity ring inset with diamonds. Raised stunned eyes to Jared’s face.
“I thought of replacing our wedding rings, but they mean too much to me. It will fit. I sized it from your ring.” When she still didn’t speak, he picked up her hand and slid it onto her finger. “Happy anniversary.”
“Thank you,” she breathed. “It’s…I don’t know—”
As she tried to find the words, the security guard called, “Show time, folks.” The car stopped, the back doors opened simultaneously, and an official offered his assistance.
“Ma’am?”
Swallowing hard, she found her biggest smile and stepped out of the car, instantly assailed by spotlights, shrieks and a sea of faces. “Jared…over here! Jared, please!”
Her husband joined her and took her hand. Fingers intertwined, they walked the red carpet.
Dimity waited at the end, exquisite in a green gown. “Sure you’re okay?” she asked Kayla, who nodded. “We were all so worried about you.”