One Wild Night (Hollywood Chronicles #1)(15)

My laugh was part incredulous, part scoff. “Pretty sure life’s making me its bitch right about now.”

“Pssh.” Elle waved the thought off and curled her legs up underneath her where she sat down next to me on the couch. She took a sip of her wine, narrowing her brown eyes as she searched my expression. “Don’t tell me last night wasn’t amazing. I mean, we’re talking Paxton Myles here. One of the most sought-after bachelors in all of Hollywood. And you snagged him.”

I lifted a brow. “Shagged, not snagged. He doesn’t belong to me.”

Elle almost spit out a mouthful of wine. She slammed her hand over her mouth to hold it in, laughing so hard I couldn’t help but laugh a little bit, too. She finally got the wine down, her words rambling out on jutted spurts of laughter. “Oh my God…did you actually just say shagged?”

I shrugged. “What?”

“It’s not 1950.”

I pointed at the TV that was, surprise, surprise, once again talking about Paxton and my illicit affair. “They sure seem to think so.” I scowled with a pout. “You’d think I stole Paxton’s virginity.”

Elle howled. “Yeah right. That boy has been around the block more times than I can count.”

Ouch. I chose to ignore the insinuation.

Elle gestured to the TV. “But you know how these assholes are going to play it… no name girl tries to sink her greedy claws into Hollywood heartthrob.” She touched her hand over her heart, the words dripping sarcasm.

“Oh, the scandal. The vultures are going to eat that one up.”

I cringed.

Vultures.

Just like Paxton had warned.

I guessed he’d been right all along.

Elle winced when she realized what she’d said. “Sorry. You know that’s not what I think.”

“I know that. But you know that’s what everyone else is going to think.”

She gave me a shrug and a lascivious grin. “Who cares what everyone else thinks? You got to shag Paxton Myles.” With a grin playing all over her mouth, she poked me in the side. “Tell me how it was…are the rumors true? Heard the boy is packed and he’s a king in the sack.”

I could feel the redness crawl to my cheeks. I shook my head, diverting. “Eww…Elle…so crass. And why don’t you tell me where you were last night?”

She scoffed. “Oh, no. You’re not getting out of this one. My pretty much prude of a best friend spent all last night doing all kinds of dirty, delicious deeds with the Paxton Myles. You can’t go and hook up with one of the hottest guys on the planet and not dish the details. That’s like…best friend foul number one. Don’t go and break my heart.”

More redness.

She prodded me again. “Tell me.”

“Okay, okay…he was…”

“Yes…?” she drew out.

I slanted my attention her direction, and my voice went soft. “He owned me, Elle.”

Elle’s expression did the same, and she tilted her head as she touched my hand. “Hey…are you okay? I know this has to be a lot for you. You’re not exactly the love ’em and leave ’em type. I’m honestly kind of shocked.”

Yeah.

So was I.

I dropped my gaze to watch the deep red liquid swirl in my wine glass. “I’ll be fine. It was just…it was supposed to be one night. Between him and me. Private. It was a big deal to me, and now the entire world is talking about it like it’s entertainment. It’s…embarrassing.”

Wrong.

Humiliating.

Mortifying.

I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.

And people needed to learn to mind their own damned business.

She patted my knee. “It’ll blow over, Kay Kay. You’ll see. Give it a couple days and no one will even remember it. Paxton will be back to being a player, and you’ll be back to being the old schoolmarm who never sees any action.”

She winked at me, and I slugged at her arm. “That’s not nice.”

She rubbed her arm. “And that hurt.”

“Good.”

My phone lit up with another call from my mother, and I cringed as I held it in my hand, letting it ring until it went to voicemail.

Elle inclined her head toward it. “Seriously, Kaylee…give it a couple of days. It’ll all be good. I promise.”

I could only hope she was right.





Chapter 8





Paxton





The morning sun assaults me, and I barely manage to crack an eye open before the pounding in my head starts. A pleasureful ache had settled into my muscles, surely from the hours of wild sex Kaylee and I indulged in just hours ago.

I can still smell her on my skin and selfishly I need more.

Want more.

With a pillow over my face, I extend an arm to pull her closer, wanting to brush my fingers across her soft, fair skin…wanting to pull her underneath me for another go at it this morning.

Morning sex.

The sure-fire way to cure a hangover.

I reach farther across the bed, looking for her, and come up empty handed. Flinging the pillow from my face, I sit up quickly, noticing my abs are deliciously tender from having my way with Kaylee last night.