The Price of Fame (2 page)

“Stunning.” He stared transfixed at the beauty before him. He knew watching her that he wasn’t going to give up until she gave him a chance.

The woman chuckled. “Yes indeed. When she laughs, she transforms.”

He watched the rest of the session in silence, unsure for the first time in his life of just how to proceed.

*

Kylie loved her best friend. He always made a bad day a hundred times better. Today, though, there had been something odd about him. By the way he looked at her and kept touching more than usual, something was up.

They’d begun preparing to begin the intermediate class when she looked around the room to see they had some new people in the intermediate class too. She scanned the room and froze at the sight of the man she saw in the corner talking to Mrs. Dickstein. Kylie’s stomach churned at the thought of what was being said, as Mrs. Dickstein was the biggest gossip in the world. And she was talking to Kylie’s dream man. Kylie grabbed James’ hand and whispered, “He’s here.”

James came over and stood blocking her view. “Who’s here?”

“The guy I was talking about this morning. The guy I’ve been stalking. Of course, he’s the hottest man in the universe.” She looked into his forest-green eyes. “You know? The guy I ran from this morning. The one I imagined a connection with. He’s over in the corner talking to the biggest gossip in the universe, Mrs. Dickstein. Couldn’t she at least wait one night to tell everyone our life stories?”

James spun so fast she didn’t even think she’d finished the last words.

God! Embarrassment filled her as James and Markus stared each other down.
What the hell is going on?
Markus stood and walked over to her as though he were stalking prey. Kylie whacked James on the back. “That was stupid! Now he’s coming over here.”

James shrugged, and she watched him eye Markus.

Markus smiled, and she couldn’t contain a sigh. He held out a hand, introducing himself to James. The shake seemed to go on for a while before she cleared her throat. “Hello, Markus. It’s a small world.”

He reached for her hand, but she avoided the connection.

“Yes, a lovely surprise. I found your pamphlet when I got home from my run this morning.”

Yep. That was just her luck. Now she had to put up with an hour-long lesson with Mr. Hunk in it and try to stay professional.

“I was worried when you ran off this morning. Is everything okay?”

She pasted a smile on her face and nodded. “Um, yeah. I forgot I had something to do at home. Sorry for being rude.”

He grinned. “How about you make it up to me tomorrow by letting me join your morning walk?”

Kylie glanced at James, hoping for some help, but his face was a mask of granite as he gave stony eyes to Markus. One part of her begged her to take up his offer. The other part, the more sensible part, kept telling her that she barely knew this guy, that he was way out of her league and not to expect anything.

The begging side won.

“Okay. I’ll meet you at your usual start time.” Kylie felt the heat rise in her cheeks as it slowly dawned on her what she had said. She cursed herself, and Markus’ grin turned into a huge smile, dimples and all. Her heart thudded in her chest at the sight of his perfect smile.

* * * *

The longest hour of her life had passed. Kylie sat in James’ car, and he brooded the whole way home. As she pulled into her driveway, she couldn’t take his sulking anymore. “What’s up?”

“What’s so good about Greek boy?”

“I don’t understand. Are you talking about Markus?” She knew he was, but she wanted to hear him say it.

She heard him gritting his teeth as he snarled, “I don’t understand why every female was sighing and fighting to dance with him. What’s he got that’s so hot?”

Closing her eyes, the image of Markus she’d saved in her brain popped up. Amazing blue eyes flashed as Markus smiled, and the dimples that peeked out were enough to catch any woman’s attention. Then when her eyes slid down his toned, muscular body… She fanned herself, and James snarled and opened his door. The car rocked as he slammed his door and stalked around to hers.

She got out of the car and watched as he used his key to her house. When they reached the living room, she grabbed his arm. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have spaced. Look, he doesn’t have that much more than you. It’s just … he has a flawless face. You know, a model-actor type face and that accent… Then he has a body th—” She stopped as his face turned red and his fist clenched at his side.

“That’s the type of guy you’re after? An actor or a model?”

Kylie knew she wasn’t one for attention. She hated being in the spotlight. Even when she sold some paintings or the gallery had a showing, she refused to turn up. She didn’t think she could ever be with someone like that.

“Ha. You know me, James. I hate the spotlight. I can’t think of anything worse.” She pulled him to her and hugged him. “I feel sorry for those people.” She looked into his eyes, hoping he understood. “Don’t worry. He’s new meat. That’s all. You know you’re hot stuff. Women always fall at your feet. Besides, you never date just one woman at a time.” She kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry. He won’t take all the women.” She hoped he would take only one—her.

After James left, Kylie fed Buddha, and then she went to bed, where she could let her dreams of her hunky man, Markus, run wild.

Chapter 2

Markus hadn’t slept much since meeting Kylie. His brain had been infused with too much inspiration. This morning he was stretching on the beach early, waiting for her to arrive. He prayed she didn’t bail on him because he didn’t want to look like a stalker when he hunted her down.

Determined she would give him a chance, he went over his game plan. Markus knew, thanks to the lady last night, that he would need to take things slow. The only problem with slow was that he didn’t have months to woo and convince her that he was the man for her. He could try to stretch the two months to three, but then he’d have to head back to the real world and work.

He’d decided to tell her his last name to see if he got any reaction while he figured out his next move. A chocolate Labrador came bounding up, jumping all over him. Patting the dog, he looked around for the owner and saw Kylie running toward them, yelling for the dog to come back to her.

“I’m so sorry. He never jumps all over people.” She smiled at him as she patted her legs. “Buddha, come here.”

He laughed as the dog stayed by his side panting happily.

“Argh! What a traitor.”

Smiling down at her, he put his hand out, bracing for impact. “I didn’t get to introduce myself properly yesterday. I’m Markus Pegios. I’m renting a house on Emerald Street for a couple of months.” He relaxed when Kylie showed no recognition of his name. “I’m new around here and could use some friends.”

She hesitantly held his hand, and tingles shot up his body, his cock becoming rock hard. Moving so it wouldn’t be so obvious, he kept hold of the offered hand and started walking. “How far do you walk each morning?”

Kylie tugged, trying to get her hand back, but he wasn’t giving it up. Her small, warm hand fit perfectly into his. “I walk for about an hour on the weekends and half an hour on weekdays.”

He nodded, and they fell into an easy flow, throwing the ball, walking, and talking. The hour flew by, and the best part was, by the end, she was the one holding his hand.

They ended back where they started. She sat down on the sand, and he joined her as she watched the waves. “It’s funny that the sound of crashing waves is so peaceful. You would think anything that involved the word crashing would be the opposite.”

He nodded, too busy staring at her as she remained still, listening to the ocean. She was beautiful with her eyes closed, head leaning back, and her lips curled up in a contented smile.

He glanced around and noticed there were few people in the water. Some scattered here and there and others sunbathing on the beach, but for the most part, the beach was quiet.

“What are you doing with the rest of your day? I’m assuming you help teach tonight’s dancing lesson? What else do you plan to do today?”

She opened her eyes as she turned to him and licked her lips. Markus’ eyes homed in, watching as her little pink tongue crept out to lick her bottom lip followed by the top. He bit his tongue to stop a groan from slipping out.

“Sunday is my lazy day. I do try to get some work done, depending on my mood.”

He grinned, as this was the first time she’d mentioned anything about her work. “What type of work do you do?” His eyes remained glued to her lips, imagining what they would taste like while wondering if it was too soon to kiss her.

She bit her lip before she answered. “I’m an artist. I paint. That’s not what pays most of the bills, though. I work as a checkout chick part-time, and that, with the dancing and what I sell… Well, I live quite nicely. I own my house and have a little bit left of my inheritance.” She got a serious look in her eyes. “I’d much rather have my parents though,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry about your parents.” Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her to him. He didn’t know what else to say. Markus reflected that he was lucky to have both his parents, brothers, and sister alive and well.

Breathing in her scent, he stroked her hair. She let out a loud sigh, leaning into his touch. Reluctantly he let her go.

She got up, brushing the sand off. “I love your accent. Where are you from?”

He didn’t want to tell her too much and scare her away. “I’m from Greece. I’m here to have a rest as my job is very demanding.”

She raised her eyebrow at his vague answer.

“I’m here for two months, and then I’ll go back to my work.” He knew she wanted to know more, but right now, he wasn’t ready, so instead, he changed the subject. “Would you like to go to the Reptile Park with me? I’d love to see some of the sights.”

Kylie seemed to work out he was diverting her from asking more questions about his job. He smiled when she shrugged. “Okay. How about I be your guide?” She turned startled eyes on him, as if shocked by what she’d said.

Grinning, he didn’t give her a chance to change her mind. “That would be great. So the Reptile Park today, and when you have time, you can show me around some more. We can discuss what free time you have each morning while we walk.”

He watched as she turned bright red, and her eyes grew wider.

“How about I walk home with you? Then I’ll know where to pick you up.”

Kylie nodded, calling her dog to her. The big lug bounded over to them dripping wet, stopping only to shake the water all over them.

He smiled as her eyes grew bright, and her face lit up as she laughed. As she scolded the dog, her laugh got louder when she looked at him. Glancing down at himself, he noticed he was the one who got most of the sand and water.

Chuckling, he pulled her to him and couldn’t resist. His lips brushed hers, and his hands trailed down her back. Slowly his tongue slipped out, and he traced over where her tongue had been only minutes before. She tasted better than he imagined, a combination of chocolate and mint.

Her dog shook his wet coat again, and Kylie pulled away, giggling. Markus wished his running shorts weren’t so tight because there was no way he could hide how he felt. They walked in silence to her house.

* * * *

Kylie sat on her bed, looking at her closet.
What do you wear to the Reptile Park with your fantasy man?
Her mind kept going back to the kiss. He had tasted like coffee and mint, which wasn’t what she expected with his fresh outdoor smell. The kiss had been mind-blowing, so much so that the whole walk back to her house she hadn’t known what to say. Her body tingled all over from his touch. Kylie’s shower had been cold and lonely.

She reached for her phone and called one of her girlfriends, Gemma. “I’m stuck. Help!”

“Well, hello to you too. What have I been up to, you ask? Why nothing much. Haven’t seen or heard from my friend in over a week, and she calls me up out of the blue asking for help.”

“Sorry, I know I’m a bad friend, but I’ve been kinda busy. I‘ve met my inspiration. And that inspiration has asked me to go with him to the Reptile Park. He’s also invited himself on my morning walks. What do I—”

Before she could finish, she was met with, “What? Why have you waited this long to tell me? When did this happen? How?”

Kylie hadn’t said anything to Gemma before because she knew her friend would make a big deal out of it. It also didn’t help that James and Gemma hated each other, and now that she thought about it, she and Gemma were probably the only two women in the whole of Caves Beach who were single and hadn’t slept with James.

“Gemma, don’t worry. You didn’t miss anything really. I’ve been stalking him all week. Sorta. I’ve been making sure I’m at the beach every morning as he stretches and goes for a run, and yesterday he was late. I was lying down, chucking Buddha’s ball, and I hit him. He came up to me, introduced himself as Markus, and I swear as soon as he touched me, I felt tingles all over my body.” She shivered as she remembered his touch. “Markus invited me to go to the Reptile Park with him. The problem is I don’t have a clue what to wear.”

Gemma squealed on the other end of the line. “Oh! I’ll be there in five.” Without another word, Gemma hung up.

Great, now she’d probably have to introduce her to Markus, or she’d never hear the end of it. Falling back on her bed, she groaned. A few minutes passed before her doorbell rang.

Gemma pushed past Kylie when she opened the door. “Oh my God! You’re still in a towel. When is he going to be here?”

Kylie stared at Gemma as she grabbed her hand, dragging Kylie to her bedroom.

Gemma bounced with excitement. Her red hair in its ponytail swished from side to side, and her blue eyes were bright. She wouldn’t let Kylie get a word in. “I’ve waited years for you to start dating again or just become interested in men.” Gemma paused and patted Kylie’s arm. “I know losing your parents was hard, and your sister being a total bitch didn’t help matters, but the last two years have been dull without you.”

Kylie laughed as her friend jumped up and down.