“Tell me about Glossed & Glammed,” he prods gently, giving me a sidelong glance. “I did a little Google searching on it, so I know the gist, but what does it mean to you?”
“Glossed & Glammed isn’t merely a brand. It’s a lifestyle,” I immediately recite. “We stand for positively enhancing our communities, our viewers’ confidence, and beauty in all peoples’ hearts and homes.”
I beam up at him proudly, waiting for him to praise my eloquence.
Instead of bowing down to me, however, Boone frowns and clears his throat. “That’s…um…a mighty fine answer, Sutton,” he concedes eventually.
I lift a brow, incredulous. “Why does that not sound like a compliment?”
“Well…” He hesitates, gaze shifting to me, then the sand. “You know what, I’m just going to be honest here. In fact, let’s make that one of the commandments. We have to be frank with each other if we’re going to make this whole thing work.”
“O-kay,” I say.
“Darlin’, I could’ve read that line on your website. In fact, I think Ididread that line on your website.”
I purse my lips hard, a little hurt. But Boone isn’t wrong. That answer is the textbook one I always end up relaying when people ask about G&G. Sometimes, I change the reply up a little for some extra sizzle, but the message is always the same at its core.
His blue eyes soften as he gazes at me. “I just want to know what Glossed & Glammed means to you, you know? For real.”
Silence drifts between us. I’m caught off guard by his request, so I have to think about it for a moment. People have begun noticing Boone and me now, and cameras are starting to flash. That’s exactly what we were hoping for. It won’t be long before someone posts online about spotting us together.
Still pondering his question, I stop walking. He halts as well. His arm remains loosely draped around my waist. We might not be getting stalked by a drunken sleazeball, but I still feel that same sense of shelter and security in his embrace that I did on that first night at the party.
Boone waits patiently for my answer. When my long hair blows in my face, he gently brushes it away and I tip my head up to meet his inquisitive gaze. He’s not merely asking about me because he wants us to look like we’re getting to know one another. He’s asking because he actuallydoeswant to get to know me. It’s like I’m being seen and heard for the first time.
“Okay, if you want honest, I’ll be honest,” I begin haltingly. “I’m not even sure how to put into words how much G&G means to me, or how much I care about Kali and Liv. My whole life, I wanted to belong. I wanted to be loved—no, I wanted to be adored. That might sound self-centered, but I had to fight really hard for attention and affection growing up, and I didn’t ever really get it. I don’t know if you’ll believe this, but I thrive off being the center of attention,” I add with feeble light-heartedness.
He chuckles and tugs me a little closer. “Oh, I can believe it, darlin.’”
“G&G is the close-knit family I never had,” I explain. “I might have four biological sisters, but Kali and Liv are more than that to me. Lately, I’ve been feeling like the Glammers are drifting away from me, like I have to do something to prove to them that I deserve their attention. That’s what this relationship is going to help me do. It’s going to make me feel close to my fans again.”
A wave of emotion crosses Boone’s face. His mouth twists one way and then the other as he contemplates my words. I wait for him to respond, heart beating hard against my ribs. This was the first time I honestly put those feelings into words. It felt good. But scary, too.
Boone brushes my hair from my face again, but this time his fingertips linger on the side of my cheek. A wave of goosebumps races along my back.
“If you want to do something, then how about we do it big?” he whispers, eyes pouring into mine.
He’s so close to me that the tip of his nose almost brushes mine. When he speaks, his breath is warm against my lips. My knees start quivering and my nostrils flare. I suck in a shallow breath, but I can’t speak. My heart throbs so wildly now that it must sound like a jackhammer.
Finally, I manage to nod.
I know exactly what he’s thinking—and I know that I want it more than anything.
He swoops down toward me, wrapping his arms tightly around my body. One hand glides through my long hair, knotting gently at the nape of my neck, while the other hand supports my back. His fingers are firm on my hip as he leans me backward.
Then, his mouth descends on mine.
The rest of the beach melts into nothingness.
Right now, at this very moment, we are the only people in the world who exist.
Fireworks explode inside of me when his lips meet mine. The backs of my eyelids burn crimson and every hair on my body feels electrified. I’m lucky he’s holding me so tightly, because otherwise, I would’ve swooned.
Who knew swooning was even a real thing?
Slowly, only when my lungs are screaming from lack of air, does he pull back. He grins at me as he helps me straighten up. It’s the kind of smile meant only for me, and the joy consuming me slowly melts into dread.
I am in way over my head.
