Virtuous(94)

“So do you.” Her hands lay flat upon the lapels of my tuxedo coat.

“I’m afraid to touch you. You’re a goddess come to life before my very eyes.”

“Would you do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Take a picture for Leah? I promised her I would.”

“I’d be happy to, but first you need the finishing touches.”

“What finishing touches?” She turns to consult the mirror. “Tenley said I was all set to go.”

I remove a blue velvet box from my suit coat pocket and reach around her with it in my hand. “She didn’t know about these finishing touches.”

“Flynn! What is that?”

“Open it and find out.”

“I can’t. My hands are shaking.”

“Then allow me.”

She turns to me, watching as I open the box to reveal the elaborate diamond necklace and matching chandelier earrings, compliments of my brother-in-law Hugh, an exclusive Beverly Hills jeweler. “You… Those… Those aren’t real, are they?”

“Sweetheart…” I laugh at her sweet innocence. “Of course they’re real.”

Natalie takes a step back. “I can’t wear them. What if I lose them?”

“You won’t lose them. Now stand still and let me put the necklace on you.”

“Flynn, seriously… I don’t need this.”

Could she be more adorable and sweet? “I know you don’t, but I need to give it to you.”

I secure the necklace and place a kiss on the back of her shoulder, which is bare. “You do the earrings.” I hand them to her and watch her fingers tremble as she puts them on. “Now let me see.”

Her hands drop, and I admire my handiwork. “Absolutely perfect. I’ll be the envy of every guy there tonight.”

“This has already been the most exciting day of my life. Thank you.”

“Thank you. I’m thrilled to have you here with me.”

“How’re you holding up?”

“Okay. I guess. I hate that I really want to win this time. That makes me feel so shallow when there are far bigger problems in the world than whether Flynn Godfrey will finally win a major acting award. I have them for producing, but not acting.”

“How about we put aside all those other problems in the world and give Flynn Godfrey one night to be a self-absorbed movie star who deserves to win big?”

“Well, when you put it that way… Are you all packed up?” I told her earlier that we wouldn’t be returning to the house tonight.

“Yep. My bag is in your room.”

“I’ll grab it.”

“Flynn?”

“Yeah?”

“The necklace and earrings are lovely. Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure, sweetheart. Be right back.”





Chapter 20





All the way into town in the back of a limousine that Flynn assures me he doesn’t own, I’m constantly checking to make sure the priceless necklace is still there. I can’t believe he did that.

“It’s fine. It’s not going anywhere, and if it does, it’s insured, so don’t worry.”

“If it’s so valuable it needs to be insured, I will worry.”

He takes hold of both my hands to stop me from continuing my regular checks of the necklace. “When we get there, the reporters are going to stop me for interviews and general B.S. When they ask me who you are, I’m going to just say you’re my friend Natalie, okay?”

“Sure, that’s fine.”

“You are so much more than that to me, but they don’t need to know that. Not yet, anyway. They’ll ask who you’re wearing, and it’s okay to reply, but you can ignore the rest of the questions that’ll fly our way.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll be right there with you the whole time, so don’t let it freak you out.”

“I won’t.” I tug my hands free of his hold and wrap them around his arm, resting my head carefully on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about me. I’m planning to enjoy every second of it.”

“Did you send the picture to Leah?”

“Uh-huh. She wants to see one with you in it, too.”

“Take a selfie.”