by Gower, Hazel
“Your sister said you had interviews today. She didn’t think you would be home.”
He sighed as he got up, running his hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t be. I’m late for a radio talk, and then I’m heading to do some TV, but I couldn’t do anything until I checked on you.” He came to her and gently kissed her lips before he moved away and went to his closet to get ready.
“Are you by yourself? Shouldn’t your manager be here?” Kylie looked around the room and gripped the towel tighter to her.
He came out in perfectly fitted jeans encasing his tight ass and a black Ralph Lauren T-shirt. He looked utterly gorgeous, especially when he grinned at her.
“Oh, there’s no way he could get up here. I left him with Bettina.”
She giggled because, thanks to the last twenty-four hours, she knew exactly what Markus’ sister was like.
Reluctant to let him leave, she spotted her suitcase close by and mentally went through it for an outfit to wear. Kylie looked at the bedside table clock. “Can I come with you?”
He paused putting his shoes on and stared at her as though he was trying to decide what the right answer would be.
“I’ll stay here if you want. It’s just I’d like to see more of your world, get used to it.”
Markus finished putting his shoes on, and then strolled to her. “I would love for you to come and be there. But I don’t want to rush you. I think I pushed you too far the other night, and I don’t want to ever have you feeling like you did again.” He stroked her cheek, and she leaned into it.
“No, I want to give it a try. Your sister can come too, so, if I feel I’m overdoing it, she can help me, and we can leave together.”
Markus brushed his lips over hers. “I love you, omorphoula. Thanks, I would love you to be there with me. Why don’t you get dressed while I go down and tell my sister and manager what’s going on?”
She smiled and nodded and was about to move out of his hold when he dropped to his knees, putting her hands in his.
“Kylie Breal, marry me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out her engagement ring, placing it back on her finger. “Marry me, not next year, not in six months or three, but in a month. I would say sooner, but I know you’ll want your friends there.”
Staring, stunned, down at Markus on his knees, she took a deep breath and turned from Markus to look around the room and then back at the handsome man in front of her. “Is this because of the baby?” She touched her stomach and prayed he wasn’t pushing because of this.
Kylie studied a shocked face. His eyebrows rose, and his mouth had a kind of O shape to it before it slammed shut and drew into a thin line. His eyes narrowed, and he growled. “That isn’t even a consideration here. How could you think that of me?” He got off his knees and cupped her face in his hands. “I asked you to marry me well before I knew you were pregnant. I would have married you the night I gave you the ring, you silly fool.”
She knew tears were rolling down her cheeks. He gently brushed them away with his thumb. “I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t changed your mind after my tirade at the hospital. I don’t want you to love me and marry me only because I’m having your baby.”
Markus pulled her to him, laughing. “Oh, my omorphoula Kylie, you have nothing to worry about. I loved you more than anything before I found out you’re pregnant. Nothing has changed.” He held her tight for a moment before pulling away. “So, is that a yes?”
Biting her lip, she thought of everything they had been through so far and still come out on top. Nodding, she muttered, “Yes, but I’ll be watching. Your lips are mine.”
He beamed at her, and then he lifted her up, spinning her around twice before he put her down.
“I will let you get ready. We’re really late now, so hurry. Do hair and makeup in the car. I’m sure Bettina will help.”
She growled and shooed him out.
* * * *
With a bounce in his step, he wandered into the living room to see his manager trying to dodge around his sister, who looked at ease holding him back. “Am I interrupting something?” They both turned to him, Gaelan with a look of pure relief, but it was the smile on his sister’s face that had him smiling.
“Am I joining you this afternoon?” Bettina asked. He chuckled as Gaelan shook his head frantically.
“If you don’t mind. Kylie is getting ready now. She should be down soon. I told her you would help her with hair and makeup in the car. Do you need to do anything before we go?”
She nodded. “Yeah, give me five to get changed. I’ll do the same as Kylie with putting stuff on in the limo.” She ran off.
Gaelan let out a dramatic sigh. “At least their presence might generate more sympathy considering you’re going to be late.”
Markus shrugged because he really didn’t care anymore what people thought. The only person’s opinion that mattered to him was walking to him now in a blue summer dress, carrying her shoes and bag.
“I’m ready to go.” She turned to Gaelan and smiled. “Sorry for holding you up.”
Gaelan lifted his lips slightly in the corners and nodded before glancing at the ring on her finger again. “No problem, Miss Breal. I’m sure they’ll understand, considering where you’ve been the last twenty-four hours.”
Kylie turned bright red and looked around the room.
A moment later, his sister came running to them, yelling, “Okay, let’s go.”
They all headed out the front door. Markus made sure he kept hold of Kylie’s hand. From now on, he wasn’t letting it go.
* * * *
The radio show had been understanding, especially as they got the exclusive that Kylie was out of the hospital and with him today to help support him.
They were now at his third TV show. Sitting in the green room, Markus hugged Kylie closer to him and waved a slice of a sandwich in front of her. “Come on. You hardly ate anything, and Bettina said you only had a piece of toast earlier.” He chuckled as Kylie shot Bettina a glare before turning on him.
“If you shove that food in front of my face one more time, I swear I’ll shove it down your throat.” She moved the arm from around her waist as Bettina laughed.
“Oh, brother, this is going to be so much fun. I love watching you squirm. And to think I get to watch you like this for the next seven or so months. Poor Kylie. He is only going to get worse as the pregn—”
Bettina’s rant was cut off by his manager’s growl. “You got her pregnant? I thought she was just a fling. I know you gave her a ring, but for Christ’s sake, you don’t usually last over a month with a woman. I was surprised when Helena lasted two. I didn’t think you would actually marry her. She’s a nobody. She’s not even Greek!”
He glared at his now ex-manager and thanked God Kylie didn’t understand Greek. Hating to be rude, but not wanting Kylie to hear what he had to say, he answered in Greek. “I told you she was the one. I said I was going to marry her. I just had to convince her.” He glared at Gaelan as things started to click. Getting up, he stalked toward his manager, snarling, “It was you! You leaked the song.”
Gaelan looked around the room as Markus moved closer. “It’s too good to keep to yourself because some girl thought it should be just hers.”
Grabbing his manager by the collar, he pulled him close. “That girl, as you call her, will be my wife as soon as I can organize the wedding she deserves.”
“Markus, you’re not thinking straight. She’s not good for your image. You need a well-known person, or at least someone Greek. I thought when she missed your performance and saw how all the women treated you that one of you would give up. I was sure she would give you up. When I heard about the hospital visit and that she wasn’t wearing your ring anymore, I thought you’d both come to your senses.”
The longer the man talked, the tighter Markus closed his hands around Gaelan’s neck. He wondered if he got a judge who was a fan whether he could get a more lenient sentence for killing his manager.
Pulling his arm back, he punched Gaelan in the face, and was about to do it again when a hand touched his back. In a slow, calming voice, Kylie spoke in Greek.
“Don’t. He’s not worth it. Plus, I should thank him. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would never have realized certain things like I’m stronger than I thought and will stand my ground. One of the best things he did was show me, us, that we love each other and are willing to work on our differences. Nothing can break us apart if we don’t let it.”
He stared speechless at Kylie. His heart soared, and he felt so blessed. He dropped Gaelan as a knock sounded on the door.
“Five minutes.”
He didn’t care where he was and how much time he had before he had to be on stage. He turned to Kylie, lifting her and crashing his lips against hers, holding her tightly to him. His tongue found hers, and they tangled together, mimicking the actions he so badly wanted to do to her now.
Reluctantly, he pulled away when another knock came telling him it was four minutes until he went on. “When did you learn Greek? How long have you been able to understand?”
Her eyes shone, and her lips curled up into a huge smile. “I started a couple of weeks ago. When you were gone, all I listened to on my iPod was Greek. I’ve picked a lot more up since I’ve been here.”
Brushing his lips over hers, he squeezed her tight as the door opened and a guy with a clipboard hurried him out. Not willing to relinquish Kylie just yet, he moved her so she held his hand and they walked together, following the man in front. “I love you,” he whispered in Greek.
She smiled and repeated back, “S 'agapô.”
Epilogue
James really shouldn’t have come. He should have let Kylie and Markus sort out their own mess, but for some reason, when Markus had called begging him to come and support Kylie, he’d caved. So now he was about to get his luggage and meet up with Markus’ sister, who’d be waiting for him with a sign.
Getting his suitcases, he went through customs and got everything he needed, and then headed out with the other passengers who were meeting loved ones or here to have fantastic adventures. Looking around for the sign, he groaned and prayed he was wrong when he walked over to a young woman holding a huge sign that said:
I want a hot Australian. He has to be over six feet, have shaggy blond hair, a nice tan, and dark green eyes. Oh, and he needs to answer to James.
As he moved closer, the woman blatantly looked him up and down. “Wow, no wonder my brother didn’t want you to come. You’re hot. I think I need to go visit Australia if this is what they have to offer.” She linked arms with him and continued on. “I’m Bettina, by the way, but you may call me whatever you want. Kylie is going to be so happy to see you. Her other best friend arrived yesterday, and they’re busy organizing stuff for the wedding.”
He stopped and stared down at the beautiful woman. “The what?” he yelled. “Whose wedding?”
She laughed and slapped his chest. “Why, Markus’ and Kylie’s of course. That’s why you’re here now. They worked out the fiasco from the other week. Kylie is so excited you’re going to be here. Now that I’ve seen you for myself, I think I’m the excited one.”
Unsure what he felt anymore, he looked down at Bettina and noticed she was stunning. Her jet-black hair hung past her waist. She had a full, voluptuous body and a beautiful face, with pouty, plump lips and light emerald-green eyes that shone with life and happiness.
He could use some happiness in his life. Reaching for her hand, he took a deep breath and smiled. “Sorry about that. I was shocked. It’s nice to meet you, Bettina. I look forward to spending a lot more time with you.”
She beamed up at him, and they walked out of the airport hand in hand.
The End
Publisher’s Note
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About Hazel Gower
I’m the mother of four terrors between the ages of two and seven. My mother said I always had an overactive imagination. Writing, I have to say, is my salvation. After I've gotten all the kids in bed and have cleaned up, I sit at my computer or sometimes a notebook with a pencil and relax, write, and escape.
I love to hear from any of my readers, so feel free to send me an email and like me on Facebook.
www.hazelgower.com
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Table of Contents
The Price of Fame
Blurb
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
About Hazel Gower
