Chapter Twenty-One

“No, Chase, it’s fine. Pick me up from Charity’s studio.” Holding the cell phone to her ear, Natalie bent her head to the side as the makeup artist worked on her eyes. “I’ll see you when you get here.”

She snapped the cell phone shut and watched the transformation in the mirror. Braids of her brown hair had been gathered into a diamond clip at the back of her head. The makeup artist performed a miracle involving tweezers and dark eyeliner. It wasn’t overdone, but it was more than Natalie had every worn. A mask to hide behind on the red carpet.

Charity paced in the background. Her hand curved as if holding an imaginary cigarette. She puffed out each breath. The woman looked as nervous as Natalie felt.

“You remember how to walk?”

“Yes.” Natalie had practiced for the past two days walking and posing in the high-heeled shoes Charity had picked. Her feet and ankles were wrapped in diamonds. Diamonds dripped from her earlobes and a larger diamond fell gently to lie between her breasts over the silk dress. Armed guards seemed like a good idea. Her body’s net worth at the moment far surpassed her retirement goals.

“And the pose? You remember that? Never put both your hands on your hips at the same time. Don’t face directly into the camera. Don’t forget to cock your hip.” Charity’s words shot out of her mouth, not allowing Natalie time to speak.

“Finished,” the makeup artist said, and stepped back as Charity shoved her way in front of the chair. Her critical eyes swept over Natalie’s face.

“None of that,” Charity snapped.

Natalie attempted to control the blush that had tried to surface. Her hands trembled as she reached up to adjust the necklace after the paper was removed from her neck.

“Beautiful.” Charity’s face crumpled into that kind of smile. “Stand up so we can make sure there aren’t wrinkles on the back.”

Natalie straightened, and for a moment was disoriented as she gained a few inches from her heels. Her heart fluttered in time with the butterflies in her stomach.

Charity circled around the back of her and picked at the fabric. She hurried over to a pile of purses and scarves and came back with a small beaded handbag. The lipstick she dropped in it filled the bag.

“This is all you need.”

Natalie nodded and stared at the transformation in the mirror. Someone else stared back at her. The dress made her appear taller and was the richest fabric she’d ever touched. Tall and elegant just wasn’t her, but if it made Chase happy…

She sighed. Who was she kidding? These past weeks had been the most trying of her life and the most wonderful. Seeing her picture in the magazines Rachel read was disconcerting. Next to Chase, she looked like a small, insignificant girl. But she was with him.

Being in his spotlight was the only way to be in his life. She wasn’t sure how much more of the spotlight she could handle. The woman staring back at her in the mirror looked like she could take on this world, but inside Natalie couldn’t help wondering if this was who she was. If maybe life would be better without the constant scrutiny.

When one magazine had done a spread of Chase’s past lovers, she couldn’t help noticing that she was shorter, less blond, less leggy and less everything compared to them. Chase loved her and showed her every night. Her body tightened. But would she be enough? When would he tire of his dalliance with an accountant from the Midwest?

“Chase should be here to pick me up in a few minutes.” Natalie felt the need to reassure Charity and maybe even herself that this was real.

“You’ll do fine if you remember everything I told you. Just remember the way you present yourself reflects on Chase and on me.” Her eyes softened slightly before hardening again. It passed so quickly Natalie wasn’t sure it had actually happened. “I need a smoke.”

Charity breezed out of the room. Natalie almost sat down but then thought of her dress. How was she supposed to not sit all evening? Would she have to stand in the limo Chase was bringing?

Every move had been rehearsed. Chase had gone over how the red carpet would be. How he would do interviews down the line while she stood back with a handler or was shown to her seat. One misstep would be played for a decade on E! in some red-carpet oops show. She wasn’t afraid of a wardrobe malfunction in this dress, but she could easily fall off these heels.

A movement in the mirror caught her eye. Her breath stuck in her throat as Chase stepped into the room. He was positively stunning in his tux. From the devilish glint in his eye to his slightly tousled blond hair, Chase looked every inch a movie star.

His appreciative gaze drifted slowly over her, taking in everything from her hair to her painted toes peeking out from under her hem. Her body flushed where his eyes touched.

He stood utterly still as his gaze returned to hers. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.”

She fought the urge to duck her head and stare at the floor. Chase strode across the room and took her hand. “I’d kiss you but I don’t want to smudge your lipstick.” He brought her hand to his lips, and little shivers rippled through her.

“You don’t look half-bad yourself.” Her heart spilled out, making her face pull into a wide grin.

“Shall we?” He led her out the door and past Charity inhaling a cigarette. The limo driver held open the door, and Chase helped her into the back.

After they settled and were on their way to the Kodak Theatre, Natalie’s nerves started to fizzle. She was about to walk down the red carpet with Chase in front of thousands of people with cameras everywhere. Live TV. Her chest tightened, and she struggled to draw in a deep breath. Her hands felt soggy as Chase wove his fingers through hers.

“Are you nervous?” His voice startled her in the darkness of the limo.

“Aren’t you?” She managed to control the shaking that was starting in her hands.

“I used to be, but I never really had stage fright. One of my teachers told me that old adage, think of the audience naked.”

“Oh, God, now I’m going to see everyone naked. I think I’m going to be sick.” Natalie struggled with the controls on the door, frantic to get some air.

Chase leaned across and gently moved her hand to the right button and helped her depress it. She gulped in the cool air that floated in. His hand rubbed her back.

“It will be okay, Natalie. I won’t let you out of my sight. We’ll get through this together.” His tone was reassuring and helped to calm her down a little. “Besides, it’s not like you’ll be the first one to vomit on the red carpet.”

Natalie turned to glare at him.

He held his hands up. “It was a joke, love. Only a joke. You’ll do fine.”

The limo drew to a halt, and Natalie saw the lights through the tinted window. It was now or never. How the heck had she gotten here? Cameras were prepared to take pictures of Chase and, because she was with him, Natalie.

“I love you.” His whispered words and the gentle caress of his lips on her ear sent shivers down her spine.

She turned on the seat to face him and rested her forehead against his. “I love you.” She couldn’t imagine a day without him in her life. This was just another test, another trial by fire that proved she loved him.

This was his life and if she wanted to be part of his life, she had to be part of this, too. She tried to absorb his confidence. He wouldn’t have brought her if he didn’t think she could handle it, right?

Her heart slammed against the cage of her ribs as the door opened, and lights flashed in her eyes. A thousand voices rushed into the limo. Her ears ached from the volume, and her hands tried to move toward her ears, but Chase’s hold on her hand reminded her where she was.