Chapter Eleven
Spencer opened the door and almost knocked into a burly police officer as he tried to step into the house.
The police officer put a hand out and stopped him. “Who are you?” He gave Spencer and head to toe scan. “And how are you related to Miss Kristen Park?”
“I’m her husband,” he said and brushed past the officer. “Kris.”
Kristen looked over at him from the dining table. “Spence.” She stood, and he ran over and pulled her into his arms.
“Are you all right?” He brushed her hair aside. “What did he do?”
When Kristen hesitated, the female police officer told Spencer what Kristen had said.
“He kissed you?”
“On the forehead.”
Spencer sighed and closed his eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Kristen said.
That was when Spencer noticed Ana sitting at the dining table, next to the female officer. “Why weren’t you with her?”
Ana’s brows drew together.
“I sent her to get my laundry.” Kristen took a step to the side, but Spencer kept his arm around her and she didn't move away from him.
“You should’ve stayed with her,” he said to Ana.
Ana’s brows rose. “You can’t blame this on me. I didn’t know this would happen.”
Kristen put a hand on his chest. “He isn’t blaming you.” She gave him a let-it-go look when he turned to her.
“Unfortunately, we won't be able to charge him,” the female police officer said. “He didn't threaten to hurt Kristen.”
Spencer frowned. “He said he would take matters into his own hands. Isn't that enough?”
“It isn't.” The female police officer looked at Kristen. “As I said, you should have your assistant with you, especially when you go down to the parking garage. And the two of you may want to consider hiring security.”
That Spencer could handle.
“Thank you.” Kristen leaned to one side and smiled at the police officer who had blocked Spencer from coming in. “You, too. Thank you.”
Ana got up, walked the female officer to the door, and closed it behind her. “I’m sorry, Kristen. I should’ve stayed with you.”
Kristen waved it off. “I sent you to run an errand. It wasn’t your fault.”
Spencer ran his hand down her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nodded. “I was freaked out—still am. But I’m okay.”
He took a deep breath and said, “You said your parents live in Pennsylvania, right? Should we visit them? The production crew keeps bugging us about shots with the family anyway.”
“But you—”
“If they insist, then we’ll film my mom too.”
“There’s no need, Spence. I really am okay.”
“I like the idea of going away for a while, and I’m sure your parents would love to see that you’re all right and no longer moping around.”
She cracked a smile.
Spencer wanted Kristen away from Melody’s father. He didn’t like the idea of that man lurking around, but more than that was the uneasiness in his gut.
All those times when he’d felt someone staring at him in the parking garage, were those all the doing of Melody’s father? Or were those times simply the product of his paranoia?
And were the paparazzi really the ones following Kristen and him in the car?
“Are you sure?”
“I am,” he said.
“Kristen,” Ana said while looking at her phone. “Keegan says he doesn't mind coming over and recording here if you’re up for it. Are you up for it?”
“Keegan?” Spencer asked.
“The YouTube star I was going to meet. Is that okay with you?”
Spencer tucked a stray lock of hair behind Kristen’s ear. “I don't mind if you’re up for it.” It might take her mind off what happened.
Kristen nodded after a moment. “Yeah, sure. Why not? I’ll be in my room.”
Spencer followed Kristen to her room. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“What for?” She sat on the bed and pulled a leg up before grabbing the guitar by her bed.
“Melody’s father wouldn't have harassed you if it weren’t for me.” He pulled out the chair by the desk and sat.
“I thought we’d already established that what happened to Melody was an accident. It wasn't your fault.” Kristen strummed the guitar. “I don't think he was out to hurt me. He seemed … I don't know. I think he saw me as Melody.”
“I don't care what he was thinking. He shouldn’t have come near you. He shouldn’t have touched you.”
She gave him a small smile. “Do you still want to learn?” She gave the guitar another strum. She patted the bed and waited for him to join her. “Here.” She handed the guitar to him and positioned his hands on it.
She put a pick in his hand and adjusted his fingers, then she moved behind him and held his hand. “Here goes.” She moved his hand, brushing the pick over the strings in a constant beat.
“You know, they say you can play lots of hit songs with just three chords.” She adjusted his fingers on the strings and moved his hand over the guitar.
He managed to learn all three chords before Keegan arrived. He still wasn’t able to adjust his fingers fast enough to play a proper tune, but it was fun to spend time with Kristen.
“I’ll go record the video,” Kristen said when Ana knocked on the door again. “You can keep playing with this.”
“Actually …” He put the guitar aside. “I have some things to do.”
“Okay.”
“Have fun.” He watched her bounce out to the living room before heading into his own room. He pulled out his phone and called Keith to ask for Samantha Levette’s number. Samantha was an ex-FBI agent who had her own TV show.
Spencer hadn't seen it, but Sarah, Keith’s wife, had gone on about what a capable investigator Samantha was. And Samantha had helped solve the murder that happened on the set of his last movie. He knew his was a minor case in comparison, but he wasn’t sure who else he could trust.
“Samantha Levette? This is Spencer Rowe,” he said when Samantha answered his call.
“Oh, hi. Are Keith and Sarah okay?”
“Yeah. Actually, I’m hoping I can hire you. Have you seen the news about the accident that happened in the Bahamas?”
“Yes.”
Spencer told Samantha what happened in the Bahamas and how Melody’s father had showed up to harass Kristen.
“And what would you like me to do?”
“Would you look into the case and talk to Melody’s father? Tell him what you find. He won’t listen to me and thinks I’ve bribed the Bahamas’ police. Maybe he’ll listen to an ex-FBI agent.”
“I’m not sure if that’d work.”
“Please, Samantha. He really freaked Kristen out. I’ll fly you to the Bahamas. I’ll even do an exclusive interview with you. I’m sure your producer will let you go if they know that.” So many journalists had tried contacting him for an interview, but he’d rejected all of them.
“I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, you should hire a security detail for Kristen and yourself.”
“I will. I’m thinking of taking her to her parents’ place in Pennsylvania next week.”
“You want me to solve the case in a week?”
“The police in the Bahamas already closed the case. They believe it was an accident. I think so as well.”
“I follow the evidence, Spencer. If I find—”
“I understand, which is precisely why I want you to take a look at it. If you decide it was an accident, I think it may just convince Melody’s father.”
“I can’t promise anything. I’ll call you back and let you know if I can convince my producer.”
“Great. Thanks.” He ended the call, then called Nick next to ask him about the security outfit he and Kerri had hired when they were dragged into a court case.
Once he got the information, he called the company and hired four bodyguards for Kristen.
“And when would you like them to begin work?”
“As soon as possible. If you could send them over tonight so Kristen can meet them.”
“Of course. I’ll make the arrangements and get back to you.”
Spencer was about to head out to the living room when Samantha called him back. As he suspected, her producer was more than happy to do this favor for him.
“She’ll make the arrangements, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Okay. Just send me the bill.”
“I didn’t tell her that you offered to pay. If Melody’s father finds out about that, he’ll think you bribed me, too. I just told my producer that you’re willing to give me an exclusive interview if I’ll fly down and talk to the police there.”
“Thanks, Samantha.”
“Thank me after everything’s over. I got to go.”
He’d thought he wouldn’t require an assistant since he was just filming a reality TV show, but now he wondered if he should get himself one. That way, it would be easier to schedule his time around Kristen’s.
He texted his manager, requesting an assistant, then went out to the living room to watch Kristen and Keegan’s recording.
Kristen rocked her body to the music and sang a cover of a popular duet arranged by Keegan.
Keegan pushed his curly golden brown hair back while his other hand danced in the air.
She was glad she’d chosen this song and realized Spencer was right. It was all right to have a little fun and go a little wild with music.
She beamed at Spencer when he came out of his room, and he winked at her from across the hall.
Spencer leaned against the wall, his eyes on her throughout the rest of the recording.
When she and Keegan were done recording, she introduced Keegan to Spencer.
Keegan tugged on his light gray jacket before taking Spencer’s extended hand. “Wow. Spencer Rowe in the flesh.” Standing in such close proximity with Spencer made Keegan appeared scrawny. And his star-struck look made his already youthful and slightly feminine face more pronounced.
Spencer smiled politely. “I like this version better than the original.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket when it starting ringing. “I need to take this. Excuse me.” He gave Kristen a peck on the cheek before walking away.
Narrowing his eyes, Keegan leaned closer. “Are you guys really together?” He looked around at the cameras. “Or are these still recording?”
She didn’t have an answer for Keegan, so she just smiled coyly.
Since the last kiss, which neither of them had spoken of, nothing else had happened. On and off camera, they’d flirted. But besides the times when Spencer kissed her on the cheek, mainly on the official date nights where they had an entourage of cameramen and production crew members, nothing had happened.
Still, even as he planted the kiss just now, it felt as if that was the most natural thing in the world for him to do.
“Did you guys sign a non-disclosure clause or something?” Keegan asked.
Kristen laughed softly. “I had fun, and I love your arrangement.”
Keegan nodded, seemingly accepting the fact that she wouldn’t disclose information about Spencer and her relationship.
“And I’m sorry for the last minute changes.”
Keegan shrugged. “I was free anyway. Ana said there was a security incident. Is everything all right? We were rushing to do the recording, so I haven’t asked.”
“I’m fine. It’s a long and boring story, but I’m fine.” She moved back to where her instruments were and helped Keegan pack up his camera and microphone.
Ana strode over from the dining table. She had been especially quiet since Spencer raised his voice to her.
“I’ll send you the video once I’ve got it edited.”
Ana held the door open for Keegan. After closing the door, she angled her phone’s screen to Kristen. “I just got a text from a Kurt Reynolds. He says he is Spencer’s assistant and would like to have your schedule for tomorrow so he can arrange Spencer’s.”
“I don’t know anything about that. I’ll ask.” Kristen pursed and released her lips. “Ana, Spence was just … caught off-guard. I’m sure he knows it isn’t your fault, and I definitely don’t blame you.”
“Yeah, I know,” Ana said simply.
There didn’t seem to be anything more for Kristen to say. “Okay,” she said. Perhaps Ana would be fine tomorrow. “I’ll ask Spencer about Kurt.”
She strolled over to Spencer’s room and leaned against the doorway when she saw him on the phone.
“Yeah. Okay,” Spencer said into the phone. Kristen was about to go back to her room first when he ended the call and saw her standing outside his room. “Done with your recording?”
She nodded. “Ana just got a text from a Kurt Reynolds?”
“That’ll be my assistant. He did a pretty good job the last time he was with me, so I thought I’d get him again.”
“Okay. He’s asking for my schedule from Ana so that he can arrange your time.”
“I don’t have much going on, so I told him to arrange whatever I need to do around yours. That way, I can drive you wherever you need to go.”
She probably should tell him that she didn’t need him to be her chauffeur, but she was relieved that she wouldn’t have to head down to the parking garage either by herself or with Ana.
“And I probably should’ve discussed this with you, but you were busy so I thought I’d make the decision. I hired four security personnel. They’ll be here tonight, and we can let them know our schedules then.”
“Someone’s been busy.”
“You were great out there. I’m sure the video will turn out amazing. And I realized something.” He stood and walked over to her.
“What?”
“I realized I don’t quite enjoy watching you sing with others, especially guys.” Spencer had this look in his eyes. A look of seriousness, of possession.
Kristen laughed it off, not allowing herself to read too much into his words. This was just Spencer playing his husband role and nothing more. “I was taking your advice about having fun.”
He took her hand and pulled her into the room. “It seems I’m selfish enough to only want you to have fun with me.” He closed the door behind her and cupped her face. “Please stop me before I do something stupid,” he said, pushing her back. His other hand pressed against the wall, caging her between his arm and the back of the door.
Kristen couldn’t get herself to respond. She was lost in his gaze. If it wasn’t for his warm hand on her face, she would’ve thought she had melted away.
“I’ve been telling myself that this is a bad idea, but watching you with another guy …” He bent his lips over hers. “Tell me to stop now and I’ll walk away.”
She pressed her hand on his chest. “It is a bad idea.” Curling her fingers, she clutched his shirt and closed the distance between their lips.
Spencer’s hand went around her waist as he deepened his kiss. When he pulled back, they were both panting. He skimmed his hand down her hip and onto her leg, and Kristen sighed before pulling away from him.
“I’m sorry,” she said and ran her hand through her hair.
“It’s a bad idea.” He already knew that, but his heart ached from having to say that. After their first kiss, he’d managed to stay away for two weeks. But not after this, not when Kristen clearly felt something for him, too.
He was about to try and convince her otherwise when she continued, “I’m not trying to be a tease. It’s just I don’t do this. I don’t believe in sex before marriage.”
His jaw almost dropped. “The last time …”
“I know. I just … When you kiss me, I just forget everything.” She gave him a sheepish grin. “I’d like to think I wouldn’t have gone that far.”
His lips curled at that. “Then marry me,” he blurted before he could stop himself.
“So we can have sex?” She laughed softly. “When I marry someone, it’ll be forever.” She brushed her index finger against the edge of his lower lip. “And I don’t think you do forever.”
“What if I told you I’ve had a change of mind?”
Her eyes squinted. “One woman for the rest of your life. Are you sure you could do that?”
He’d never wanted someone this much just from a kiss, and it wasn’t just the kisses he wanted from her. He wanted more. If she was willing, he would go to hell for the rest of eternity to have her right now.
But there was more.
He’d never felt his heart yearn so much for a genuine smile cast his way, a glance to let him know he was noticed.
He ran his hand through his hair and pulled her fingers from his lips. “No sex. But can I kiss you again? You can tie my hands up if you want.”
“Your kisses scare me.”
“Why?”
“Because they make me want to do crazy things.”
“You’re killing me.”
Her lips parted in a beautiful smile. “Promise you’ll protect me from myself?”
“I promise.” He wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but he would do anything to keep kissing her.
She rolled onto the balls of her feet and kissed him.
He kissed her slowly this time, savoring the softness of her lips, the sweetness of her mouth. He broke the kiss and groaned, then immediately opened the door. He gave her another peck on the lips and nudged her out of his room.
“Are you kicking me out?”
“I’m protecting you from me.” He inched forward again and shook his head. “I’m going out for a jog. I’ll fix dinner when I get back.” He closed the door so he couldn’t pull Kristen back into his room.
This is crazy. What was wrong with him? He’d never been this desperate for someone. If a woman wanted to have fun, he was up for it. Otherwise, there was always someone else.
But he didn’t want anyone else—not with Kristen.
He needed to clear his head. He changed, then headed out of the house without saying anything to Kristen or Ana.