Well, that answered that.
I gave Thatcher a helpless shrug, and she helped hold me steady as I slid my feet into the towering heels. After she’d laced me in, I did a practice lap around the mirrors—thanking my lucky stars that Amanda and I had practiced walking in heels from the day we decided we’d grace the world of entertainment with our presence. Still—they were really freaking high.
“How do those feel?” she asked with concern. “Too loose?”
“No,” I reached out to the mirror to steady myself, “they’re good. Plus, it’ll give me something to do all night—try to stay standing.”
She laughed as if my discomfort was a complete novelty. “That’s right! You two should probably be getting on your way if you want to get to the gala.”
I glanced at her curiously. “Marcus told you about the gala?”
“Everyone knows about the gala.” She laughed again, like I
was trying to pull her leg or something. “Mr. Taylor hosts it every year. It’s the event of the season.”
That’s right, seasons had events. Wait... Marcus was hosting?
I nodded distractedly and brightened up in relief when Marcus rejoined us. He gave me a quick once-over, looking genuinely impressed. “You are a vision.”
“And look how tall!” I couldn’t help but beam as I stepped up next to him, my eyes coming up to his nose. “Almost as tall as you.”
He took my hand and led me out to where a town car had pulled up outside. “Goodbye, ladies, thank you,” he called over his shoulder.
“Yeah, thank you—” I tried to twist around as well, but the turning radius on my heels was not what I expected. With a gasp, my ankles slipped out from under me, and I went crashing to the ground. Except...I never made it there.
Marcus caught me just as easily as if we were back on the dance floor. I looked up breathlessly as he cradled my head in his hand—holding me just inches from the ground.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
Heels aren’t really my thing. I nodded, and then shot him the biggest smile. “See what you do to me? You make me feel weak in the knees when I touch you.”
He flashed his dimples right as a flashbulb went off just a few feet away. I gasped in surprise, and he set me gracefully back on my feet.
“Always looking for attention,” he chided teasingly as another camera went off.
My eyes narrowed imperceptibly, but I smiled, ready to play along. “Well, sometimes people need to make a bit of a statement to get your attention.” I laughed delicately, to the delight of the cameras.
“You are the best thing that has ever happened to me,” he said.
I gazed into his eyes. “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
I heard a chorus of “awwwww” all around me.
Our eyes locked and we stared into each other’s eyes. Whether we wanted to admit it or not, we had this amazing connection, this amazing chemistry.
I kissed his lips. I showed all those flashing cameras that the flames of passion were still burning brightly for us. Markus couldn’t have hired a better actress for the part. I was giving the performance of a lifetime.
“They can’t get enough of each other,” I heard a woman say. “She’s so lucky!”
“These two are just as in love as ever,” another said.
“They can’t hide their feelings for one another,” a far-off voice said.
“Give us a passionate smooch,” someone else asked.
I thought I’d kick up the excitement a notch.
“You can have any girl in the world, and yet, you choose me.” I touched Marcus’s face.