The next week flew by super quick. I immersed myself in work and television and everything non-rock-star related.

Hawke had texted at random times. No calls, just random texts since I’d last seen him a week before. I waited for those texts and hoped for some calls. Somehow, I believed that things between us would change because I thought we had shared something special in Paris, but it didn’t.

As the September leaves covered the trees in a burnt red and deep orange, I thought of him nonstop, which only fueled my sullen mood. I told myself it would pass. That our love affair had been brief and without promises. There was no way to know what the future held for us, and that was something I couldn’t change.

So, I decided to drown myself in work. I wiped the sweat from my brow and discarded my white apron into the hamper in the locker room. Being back to my normal life and routine had me wondering if my time in Paris had all been a dream.

“Shift’s over. You’re out of here, BFAW!” Candice patted my back and threw on her white apron.

“What?” I laughed, shaking my head at Candice and her acronyms that she would make up on the fly.

She playfully hit my shoulder. “Best Friend at Work, duh.”

I smiled at her silliness. How was I supposed to know that?

When a phone rang in my purse, my breath hitched in my throat. For a few seconds, I stared at my black fold-over purse on the ground. It was Hawke. It had to be.

I dropped to my knees, my hands digging to the bottom, and I pressed the receiver to my ear. “Hello?”

“Sunshine?” Hawke’s usually smooth voice sounded strained, maybe even agitated.

“Yeah? What’s wrong?”

“Where are you right now? I’ve been trying to call you all day.”

“I’ve been at work. I can’t have my phone in the kitchen. Why?”

He huffed. “Someone must’ve been watching us in Paris because a photo was leaked.”

My pulse raced at his words, but I tried to calm my fears and think the best. “So?”

“It was of us kissing.” His tone dropped two octaves lower, and so did my stomach, plummeting to my toes.

I leaned against the lockers for support, letting my head bang against the metal.

“It’s all over the Internet, and the media is swarming my hotel. In a matter of hours, they’ll know where you live and that you came with us to Europe.”

I’d never thought of the ramifications of being with Hawke or even contemplated that the paparazzi would be remotely interested in my life. And, now that it was here, I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think of what to do next.

Candice, who had been fiddling with her phone while she waited for my conversation to finish, turned in my direction, her eyes wide. She stared hard at my face, at the phone in her hand, and back at my face. “Sam?”

She flipped her phone to show me the picture that was apparently trending on all social media sites. The photo had been taken outside the plane at the private airport. The band members were blurry figures in the background, but what was in clear view was me. They must’ve zoomed in because you could see my whole face before Hawke had grabbed my cheeks and kissed me hard on the lips.

I breathed in deeply through my nose and out through my mouth in one long, excruciating breath to prevent a full-on panic attack from taking over. “What am I going to do?”

“Sunshine, you’re going to have to stay low for a while. Until…until I figure this out.”

I grabbed my hair by the roots, my eyes searching the room for an answer, for divine intervention, for something. “I have to go to work every day this week.” I couldn’t have the paps disrupting my life and stalking me at the restaurant. The restaurant would never put up with that.

“Is there any way you can take off?” he asked. The normal calmness in his tone was not there, only replaced by a heightened worry. “You know what? I’m going to fly you somewhere secluded. Somewhere you can stay until this dies down.”

My shoulders tensed, my thoughts a jumbled mess. “No, I took time off to be with you. There’s no way my manager is going to give me more days off—unless he fires me. Then, I’ll have plenty of time,” I snapped with a bitter chuckle. I closed my eyes, praying to God I wouldn’t be fired.

He huffed on the phone. “I need you to get home and stay there. Are you on social media?”

Who wasn’t? I nodded, but he couldn’t see.

“If you are, shut down all your accounts. I’ll take care of this.”

But how could he? He was all the way on the other side of the world.

“I have a great PR team, and we’ll get this managed,” he said, mostly talking to himself.

His voice lowered. “Sunshine?”

“Yeah?” I asked, trying not to hyperventilate.

“It’s going to be fine,” he said as though he were that sure.

I wished I’d felt as sure as he sounded.

“All right,” I whispered, trying my best to believe him.

“Just get home as quickly as possible and stay there, okay?”

I nodded and clenched my eyes, not wanting our conversation to end. I pictured his crooked smile to keep myself calm. “Okay.”

And then the line went dead.

When I opened my eyes, Candice’s jaw was gaping so wide, I could see her tonsils. “Was that him?”

I pushed myself up and looked away. “Uh…”

“You weren’t at a family emergency, you liar! You were in Paris, weren’t you? Are you with him?” She bounced on the balls of her feet, excited, as though I had just told her Santa Claus was real.

I pressed a hand to my pounding heart. My heartbeat was racing like a ticking bomb ready to explode.

Where are the paps now? How long do I have before they find me?

My manager is going to find out that I lied to him.

Oh God. My heart is beating awfully fast. I hope I don’t pass out.

“It’s complicated. Yes, I was in Europe. I’m not sure what we are. Yes, that was him.” I didn’t want to elaborate on our non-relationship.

She immediately threw her arms around my waist and started to jump up and down, her large boobs pressing against my chest. “Oh my gosh! I cannot believe it.” She pulled back, and a look of wonder came over her, her eyes sparkling. “I want an autograph! I want to meet him.” She pressed her hands together, like she was in solemn prayer. “Please, please, please.”

Oh, goodness. I never thought anyone would top Chloe. I guessed I was wrong.

“Okay,” I said to placate her even though I didn’t know the next time I’d see him.

“It’s all over the Internet!” she squeed, fingers dancing over her phone.

I backed away and rubbed my sweaty hands on the front of my jeans. First things first, I needed to get out of here. Then, I’d figure out how the hell I was going to deal with all of this.

“I have to go. Before they find me here.” I took her hands in mine. “Please, don’t tell anyone. It’s really important.” I hoped that maybe, since the majority of my coworkers were men, they stayed away from the normal gossip and social media sites.

She nodded, her eyes serious. “Okay.”

I pulled her into another hug, tighter, squeezing her, like I used to squeeze Teddy Belly when I was younger, pouring my anxiety into that one hug. “I’ve gotta go. Thanks, Candice.”

She shook her head and cast me a glance, her eyes intently focused on mine.

A frown formed on my face at the starstruck look in her eye. “Stop looking at me like that.”

She dimmed her smile and bit her lip to prevent her smile from widening. “Okay. It’s just so surreal.”

“I know, I know.”

My whole escapade with Hawke—from meeting him to joining him on the start of his European tour to the whole world knowing our business now—was crazy surreal. I didn’t regret our time together, but I was beginning to regret that I hadn’t taken his warnings about the paps more seriously. Not to mention, I’d lied to my boss, and now, he’d soon find out. I just hoped I wouldn’t get fired. My only saving grace was that I had taken my earned vacation days and not extra time I hadn’t been entitled to have.

I waved one last time, slipped my purse over my shoulder, and made a beeline for the door. The hope that my coworkers and boss wouldn’t find out fizzled in an instant as I screeched to a stop by the front door.

Satan’s Posse—otherwise known as the paparazzi—was gathered outside.

I quickly pressed myself against the brick wall.

Damn vultures knew where I worked? Didn’t they sleep? How fast had word spread?

I needed to get home. I needed the comfort of my apartment. I needed to leave.

From my back pocket, I pulled out my phone and dialed Chloe.

“You’re trending on Twitter,” she said, elated.

I groaned. “So, you know, too?”

She chuckled. “Girlfriend, by the looks of this, everyone in the world knows.”

“No.” My eyes zoned in on the group of people holding their cameras, just beyond the glass double doors. “They know where I work! Chloe, I’m freaking out here.” My hand flew to the bottom of my high ponytail, and I twisted and twisted, wanting to tug my hair out.

“Calm down. You’ll be fine. Have you left yet?”

A few shallow gasps escaped my lips. “No, they are literally outside the restaurant doors. There must be at least twenty photographers.” I bit my thumbnail, contemplating my next move. “I can’t leave; they’ll recognize me. Help me, please.” The cold knot in my stomach grew into a triple knot, Boy Scout-style.

“Shit, all right. You can’t go through the back door because I bet someone is waiting for you out there, too. You have to pretend like you’re a customer. Who’s there right now?”

I swore, it seemed as though she’d done this before, but I trusted Chloe.

“The whole flipping staff. We’ve got a full crew today. Jim and Todd are here. Candice, and she knows.”

“Sam, listen. You have to tell Jim that you need his clothes. Change into them. Then, you need to leave with Todd and Candice.”

“I don’t want Todd and Jim to know,” I whined. Then, I’d get the starstruck look from them, too. Or worse, what would my boss say? I hoped I’d still have a job.

“They’ll find out soon enough. Or do you want to sleep at the restaurant tonight?”

I debated my options. A frown etched on my face when I realized that I didn’t have many. “Not really.”

“Okay. Then, you need to get going.” As always, it was Super Chloe to the rescue. She could defuse bombs if she wanted to.

“Fine.”

I skittered quickly into the kitchen, and the whole staff started clapping, hooting, and hollering. I wanted to roll up into a ball and disappear. There went the secret. Kyle, my manager, gave me a pointed stare and then lifted an eyebrow. I fidgeted with the edge of my shirt. Anxiety threatened to choke me.

Just when I was positive I was fired, he began to clap with the rest of them.

I gulped, my face flushing. “Guys…please.” I had never cared about what other people thought of my life, but now, I wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.

“Jim.” I crooked my finger toward the back corner.

He already had his apron on, ready to work the evening shift.

“Todd, Candice.” I tilted my head toward the back of the kitchen.

They laughed as they trailed behind, following me to the rear.

“Guys…” I shifted from my heels to the balls of my feet and back. In my list of embarrassing moments, this was making the top three. “I need your help.”

* * *

After throwing on Jim’s baggy jeans and hoodie with my hair tucked under a beanie I’d borrowed from one of the busboys, I looked like a not-so-attractive skinny male trying way too hard to be cool. I strolled out with Todd and had my arm swung over Candice, who was acting as my pretend girlfriend.

We timed our exit with a bunch of people who were already done with their meals. The sun was beginning to set in front of us, but it was still shining even though I’d prayed for the cover of darkness.

I pulled the hoodie low over my eyes and practiced my male swagger as my eyes took in the paparazzi. Some were taking random pictures of those walking outside, and the others were talking among themselves. They probably ran in the same circles.

I ducked my head low as we exited, any lower and I’d be kissing the ground. A few of them threw a cursory glance our way, but Candice buried herself into my side, playing the part.

We walked down the block and around the corner, away from the swarming photographers. The tension in my shoulders and neck began to ease as we moved farther away from the restaurant.

Around the corner, Todd turned toward me. “Dinner’s on you soon.” He smiled.

I high-fived him and hugged Candice one last time.

“Yes, dinner on me, for saving my ass.”

After our short good-byes, they rushed back to work.

A calming breath released from my chest as I started walking toward the train station. Without thinking, I pushed back the hood and pulled off the beanie, picking up speed, the cool of the autumn air threading through my hair.

In the next second, I heard it—my name being loudly called out, like a ripple of thunder in a storm. My eyes took in two photogs behind me. Then, two more. Then, one more.

Anxiety ripped through my body, and adrenaline pumped through my veins. I took off in record speed, running like a target was on my back. Problem was, Jim’s baggy pants made it difficult to get traction. My body shook with terror, terror like I’d never felt before. I catapulted away from the vultures, my feet pounding against the sidewalk. Then, when I turned, there were more of them, like hounds running after a fox.

I heard all their questions like echoes.

“Samantha!”

“Are you dating Hawke?”

“Are you exclusive?”

Their voices carried behind me, and my heart jumped into my throat, but I kept running, blood pumping and feet thumping against the sidewalk. I could tell they were getting closer by the growing cacophony of voices, but I ran because my life depended on it. And because I didn’t have answers to any of their questions.

My legs were burning, and my stomach churned, making me worry I was going to barf up the chicken Parmesan I’d eaten today. I was sure they’d like nothing more than to take pictures of that. The thought made me run faster down the block and toward my destination—the train. When I turned the corner, I face-planted into someone’s chest and fell back onto my butt.

“Whoa…hey there.” Hands slipped under my arms, pulling me off the ground.

I glanced up, dizzily taking in a white polo shirt before meeting a pair of familiar brown eyes. Then, I fell into his arms, already defeated.

Josh.

He peered behind me, quickly taking in the scene rushing toward us. Then, he went right into action, steering me into a narrow alley. He towered over my body, both hands against the bricks of the building, framing my head, ducking his head to hide my face.

He leaned in close, and I could smell the mint on his lips.

“Why are a bunch of people chasing you?” His warm breath brushed against my cheek, forming goose bumps that skittered across my skin and down my neck. “Did you just rob a bank or something?”

“No.” I tried to catch my breath, my chest heaving in and out.

“Well, you look like you just robbed a bank.”

I glanced down at my attire. He was right. “Long story.”

My eyes peered over him, and I cowered when I saw two photographers rushing past the opening of the alleyway.

Josh must’ve sensed my anxiety because he looked behind himself and then angled closer, pressing his body against the building, fully blocking anyone’s view of me. It was as if he were a heaven-sent angel. An angel with a crazy contagious smile. To anybody looking in, we were just a couple making out in the alleyway.

He cupped the side of my face and brushed his thumb against my cheek. I rested against his touch, craving the comfort, silence, and security.

“Hey…” More goose bumps formed where his fingers touched my skin. “Do something for me?”

I peered up at him. “Yeah?” I noted how the overhead sunlight caught the brown in his eyes. They were normally chocolate brown, but right now, his irises looked amber, just like a glass of cognac.

“Exhale,” he said soothingly.

“What?”

“You seem as though you live your life always holding your breath, afraid of the next thing that might drop. You can’t live like that. Sometimes…once in a while, you need to let it out. You need to relax. Breathe out for me. I’ve got you.” He leaned closer. “Exhale.”

I blew out a deep breath, letting the tension out of my shoulders. I’d needed that. Through the chaos, I felt oddly calm in his presence.

His hand lay perfectly still on the side of my face. “Feel better?” He dropped his hand from my cheek.

“Yeah, thank you.” I smiled up at him.

He was cute. Almost too cute. Boyishly handsome, as though his face would never age.

“Now, can you do another thing for me?” he asked.

“Sure.”

“Make sure you brush your teeth after this, all right?” His face held its composure while I felt my features fall.

A flush crept up my cheeks, and the tips of my ears became impossibly hot. I tried to remember what I’d had for lunch. It was the damn Chicken Parm.

His lips quivered, and then a deep chuckle released from his throat. “I’m totally kidding.”

I shoved at his chest. “Jerk.”

His statue self didn’t budge.

His eyes were sparkling with amusement, not apologetic at all. “You should’ve seen your face. It was epic.”

I blew another long breath in his face. “There. Take my stank breath.”

“Do it again.”

I blew out another breath.

And closer.

A smaller breath escaped.

And closer.

We were mere millimeters apart.

His eyes flickered to my lips, and I exhaled a tiny breath.

Or maybe it was a sigh?

His lips by my lips.

His hand by my head.

Voices echoed in the background. “Do you think she went down this way?”

When they were in the alley, Josh closed the gap between us and pressed his lips against mine. He pushed me against the wall, his hard chest against my soft one.

He was just playing a part, saving me from the paparazzi.

I didn’t want to kiss him, but when his lips met mine, it was as if our lips were meant to meet. Meet in the alleyway.

It felt wrong, but at the same time, I wanted to taste him. See if he tasted like mint. And he did but didn’t. He was a mix of coffee and mint and lip balm, an oddly sexy combination that had my whole body zinging.

It started with a series of slow, shivery kisses—deliberate and drugging me in the most sensual way. It was as though I were kissing someone I’d known all my life and he’d had years of practicing the seduction of kisses only to satisfy my lips.

My hands gripped his shoulders, squeezing his biceps. My body fit against his like perfect puzzle pieces. The cold air combined with the heat of our bodies only fueled my arousal.

A couple of people strolled into the alleyway. We could hear them, but I had no clue what they were saying, and at the moment, I didn’t care.

My hands crept underneath his shirt, feeling the span of his back, trailing to his stomach, caressing the tight muscles of his six-pack.

A moan escaped his mouth as my fingers pressed against his skin.

Then, a door flew open down the alley, and I jumped. Automatically, Josh pushed me behind himself and sheltered me with his body, his breathing labored, his eyes alert.

An older guy with gray hair was holding a black garbage bag.

In all the hoopla, we hadn’t noticed we were right next to a restaurant exit and some dumpsters.

My eyes flew to the busy street at the end of the alleyway. There didn’t seem to be anyone with cameras looming on the sidewalk.

I let out a thankful low sigh and looked up at Josh, my mouth still burning from his kisses.

His eyes were unreadable.

“You okay?” Josh asked.

Was I?

I didn’t know. My life had been turned upside down and inside out.

My thoughts brought me to Hawke and this situation I was now in because of him, but I couldn’t deny that unbelievable kiss from Josh. A kiss that had triggered a tingling from the baby hairs on the crown of my head down to the tips of my little pinkie toes.

This was crazy.

He intertwined his fingers with mine and placed our hands against his chest. The thumping of his heart matched the pulse in my wrist. “Crazy intense,” he whispered. It was as if he could read my mind, his brown eyes penetrating mine.

Comfortable silence ticked by until I tore my gaze from his.

He glanced behind himself. “I think they’re gone.”

“Thanks.” I didn’t know what I was thanking him for—saving me from the photographers or that unbelievable kiss.

The insane part of me wanted him to kiss me again, but that would be a bad idea. Kisses with Josh would only lead to more, and right now, I had more than I could handle.

When he stepped away, a strong wind chilled the heat I’d felt moments ago. Up close, Josh provided an easy comfort. Now, awkwardness filled the air, and my gaze veered to the right at nothing in particular. I didn’t know what to do next.

Acknowledge the kiss or not?

“Anytime you want me to do that again,” he said, “you just let me know.”

I laughed. And, just like that, the weirdness was gone. I fiddled with the edge of Jim’s hoodie “I should be getting home.”

“Not before you have dinner with me first.”

I blinked up at him. “What?”

“Well, I think you owe me.”

Shoot, because of today’s fiasco, I owed quite a lot of people.

“I just let you feel me up, so I think you owe me,” I joked back.

Amusement showed on his face. “Plus, those photographers you’re running from might be lurking around. I say you wait a while unless you want them to know where you live.”

I scrunched my nose. Too bad they probably already knew.

“All righty,” I conceded. “Where to?”

He tightened his hold around my fingers, bringing that familiar sense of comforting warmth to the surface. I barely knew him, but it felt natural, walking with Josh’s hand wrapped around mine.

“Anywhere but here,” he said.