One Wild Night (Hollywood Chronicles #1)(23)

People were probably taking pictures. Posting them to Instagram. Shaming me on Twitter.

#PaxtonMylesSlut

I didn’t even care.

“I really hope you don’t bolt on me, Kaylee Rose. Want to know why?”

“Mmmhmmmmm.” It was all an incoherent mumble beneath my breath.

What was that again?

“Because since the second I woke up and found my bed empty yesterday morning, all I’ve been thinking about is getting you back into it. Of ripping your clothes from this gorgeous body. Kissing you again. Tasting you again.”

A whimper.

“Don’t bolt, Kaylee…because when I get you to London, I’m going to fuck you. Hard then slow. Then I’m going to do it all over again. Don’t make me chase you down this terminal and throw you over my shoulder, because I will. Or maybe I should take you into the executive club and give you a reminder of just what you’d be missing? How’s that sound?”

Oh, yes and please.

“Final boarding call for flight 6816 with direct service to London Heathrow Airport…”

The overhead speaker broke into our little PDA sesh. The wall barely kept me from falling to my weakened knees when Paxton stepped back and gave me one of those earth-shattering smiles. The one that owned the screens and the hearts of the millions of fans who adored him.

I was certain right then it was going to be the one that crushed mine.

“Come on, before we miss our flight.”

We scanned our boarding passes on our phones, and Paxton led me down the jetway. My heart beat erratically, with confusion and need and the internal whiplash this devastating man gave me.

A flight attendant greeted us at the door, and Paxton led me about four steps down the aisle to my seat.

First class.

Which was all kinds of ridiculous and luxurious and looked more like some kind of futuristic space pod than an airplane seat.

I settled down in the cozy space and stretched out my legs, accepted the flute of mimosa I was offered.

I allowed myself to sigh out a happy sigh.

After the insane day I’d had today, I was most definitely not going to complain.

“Is it to your liking, Ms. Burton?” he asked. Letting that southern charm come out to play, he exaggerated the words.

“Why yes, it is, kind, sir.” A giggle escaped, and I was leaning forward to retrieve his kiss. We both froze when a low, enraged voice hit us like daggers.

“What the fuck is she doing here?”

Shocked, I looked up to find a woman glaring at me with the fire of a thousand suns. She was out of breath, as if she’d had to run to make the flight. A long, dark bob bounced around her shoulders when she turned the heat of her anger on Paxton.

He simply laughed and leaned back in his seat. “Nice to see you, too, Kendall.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” she hissed, leaning his direction so only he could hear. Oh, but I could. And maybe that’s what she intended. “I’ve been calling you for the last two hours and Not. A. Word. I drove back to your house in case you’d fallen asleep. I almost missed this flight because you were off picking this up? I’d think picking her up once was enough, don’t you?”

In horror, I looked over at Paxton for help. Who is this woman?

“Kaylee Rose, I’d like you to meet my favorite pain in the ass, the woman who thinks she’s keeper of my life, my publicist, Kendall Stone. He glanced at her. “Kendall, meet Kaylee.”

Kendall sneered at me without saying a word.

Great.

Yet another member of the #KayleeIsASlut fan club.

Apparently, I couldn’t win.



Paxton was fast asleep. He’d had his seat turned into a bed, and for a few moments I allowed myself to just look at him. That beautiful face was almost as peaceful as it’d been when I’d snuck from his room two mornings ago.

Pushing out a breath, I got up and headed toward the small lavatory since I’d given up on getting any rest.

The lights had been dimmed for the redeye, and the narrow aisles were lit up in a path of lights to guide the way, like their own miniature runway. Only a few overhead lamps dotted the first-class cabin, most of the passengers making use of the time to sleep.

Locking the door behind me, I wet my face and gave myself a moment to clear my head.

To make sense of the opposing feelings that tumbled within me.

Excitement.

Heartbreak.

So contrary. But they were there.

Huffing out a cleansing breath, I unlatched the door and stepped out into the dimness of the aisle.

I gasped at the figure standing there waiting for me.

Dark, pin-straight hair. Hardened jaw. Flashing eyes. Arms crossed over her chest.

I guess this #KayleeIsASlut fangirl was stalking me now.

Awesome.

I touched my chest and forced a smile. “You scared me, Kendall.”

Yeah, I called her by name even though I hadn’t shared a word with her before. The only introduction I’d gotten from her was a livid sneer before she’d made her way to her seat three rows behind us.

Red lips stretched in a smile that was pure scorn. “Don’t you dare stand there and give me the innocent act.”

I gulped around the knot that formed in my throat. “I don’t know what I did to you, but I can assure you—”

“What you did to me?” she interrupted. “Do you know what my job is, Kaylee Rose?” Her tone turned placating, as if I was dense and didn’t have the capacity to understand.