“Enough,” he says in his gruff Scottish brogue.
“All right, let’s go,” I say, tugging him down the red carpet. The photographers are immediately diverted to the bombshell blond walking behind us. Declan breathes a sigh of relief once we’re out of the spotlight.
“You did so well,” I say before kissing him on the cheek.
“I don’t know why you do that. No one wants to see me,” he says, fixing his tie.
“Yes, they do,” I reply, dragging him toward the theatre. “You’re hot and rich, their two favorite things.”
Not to mention, a scandal. The public loves a scandal. So last year, when my wedding to an A-list celebrity was abruptly called off and I was seen only days later around LA with a rich Scottish man, the media ate it up.
As for Pierce, we’ve mended things as much as we can. He was never cut out for marriage anyway, and I think he’s accepted that. At least for this phase of his life. Our paths still cross in the industry and we keep it friendly, but any love I had for him is gone.
The next hour at the premiere drags on. Declan is a trooper through it all, really, the mingling, the ass-kissing, the networking.
But when it’s time to take our seats, I beg him to leave with me. I hate watching myself on the screen, but he loves it. And this one I’m especially uneasy about, because for one, it has the most sex scenes I’ve ever done in a film, and it’s more low budget and artistic than any of my more popular films.
Halfway through the film, when my character is having a mental breakdown and I look downright horrific, red face, blotchy cheeks, and dark, sunken eyes, I glance over at Declan to gauge his reaction.
And I’m surprised to find tears in his eyes and a look ofadoration on his face. Then he turns toward me, bringing our linked hands to his lips and kissing the back of mine.
“You’re incredible, Shakespeare.”
For the rest of the movie, I try to relax. And when it’s all over, my costars and I receive a standing ovation as we join the director at the front of the theatre.
And who is in the front row hollering and shouting louder than anyone else? Naturally, my husband.
* * *
The champagne goes down far too easily at the after-party, which is something I never used to do. Drinking at these things always felt like mixing work with pleasure, and I could never let my guard down enough to let loose.
But I swear, Declan was made for this. He’s a natural, far more than I am. It reminds me of the Declan I met sixteen years ago. The young, charismatic life of the party.
He links his fingers with mine, a flute of champagne in his other hand as he regales the crowd around us with another one of his embellished stories, and they love him. I mean, how could they not?
“So we nicked a bottle of bubbly right off the blanket, and the couple was too busy staring at the Eiffel Tower to even notice. Then, this guy here took off in a sprint until the cops started chasing us.”
The crowd around us laughs, and I roll my eyes. “There were no cops, and I did not sprint.”
“That’s not how I remember it,” he replies with a laugh, taking a sip of his champagne and giving me a wink over the rim.
The energy tonight is amazing, and I can’t help but indulge a little. The rest of the cast is as drunk as I am, but I’m the only one with a hunk of a Scotsman to lean on and take me home when it’s time.
“You’re pissed, Shakespeare,” he whispers in my ear as I pick food off the hors d’oeuvre table.
“I’m so pissed,” I mumble in return.
“That’s disappointing,” he replies, turning me around to face him. “I was planning on taking advantage of you later, and I don’t feel right about that now.”
I quickly straighten my spine and try to paste a sober face on…and quickly fail. I break out in laughter as I stumble toward him, and he chuckles darkly in my ear.
“What a mess you are.”
“Take me home,” I reply.
“I plan on it,” he says, kissing my forehead. “Say your goodbyes, and I’ll call a car.”
The ride home is short. We purchased our place in Santa Monica this past winter, and it’s quickly become my own slice of heaven on earth. Overlooking the ocean, steps away from the sandy beach. I know without a doubt that Declan and I belong near the water.
