“Then, it looks like we’re both going to a wedding,” I said, bending down to press a kiss to her lips.
CHAPTER15
Marlee
The wedding was beautiful, taking place on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The weather was perfect, with bright sunshine and a clear blue sky. The slightest breeze in the air kept us from getting too hot during the ceremony. It was picture-perfect, and I was so happy for Faith. She worked so hard to plan this, and she deserved for everything to come together so perfectly.
There were rows of white folding chairs set up on each side of a white aisle runner. Bowen and I were sitting in the third row on Faith’s side, and he’d gotten a lot of interested looks from just about everyone since we arrived. I’d spotted people whispering to each other and even a couple of younger girls pointing in his direction, but no one approached him or made a scene. I figured that was out of respect for Faith and Michael. This was their big day, after all, and they shouldn’t have to share the attention with Bowen.
Bowen didn’t seem to be bothered by the attention. He acted like he didn’t even notice it, which was probably just a practiced skill. It had to be easier to ignore that kind of thing than get stressed out about it. If I was going to keep on seeing him, I would probably have to get used to the stares too. Of course, I was still worried about the nude pictures, but if Bowen was still willing to be seen with me, then I would find a way to be fine with it all too. It was going to be hard, but worrying about it had only brought me shame and stress. I had tried to change it, but it was probably time to accept that there was nothing I could do about it.
For now, I was just happy to be on his arm. It made me feel like things were somehow going to be okay. That could change when I returned to the real world, but I wouldn’t know until I flew back to New York tomorrow.
After the ceremony, we all moved to the reception area, an open-air shelter with tables and a dance floor in front of a small stage where a DJ was set up. The food was set up buffet-style at a long table. The wedding party got their plates first, and the rest of us followed. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the smell of cooked meat reached me, making my stomach growl. I grabbed a plate and Bowen started to do the same until his cell phone rang. Pulling it out, he glanced at the caller ID before looking at me apologetically.
“I’ve got to get this. It’s important.”
He stepped away and answered the phone before I could reply, but it didn’t really bother me. He was an A-list actor, so it made sense that he was going to have to take important calls from time to time. It was all a part of spending time with a man that didn’t have a typical job or way of life.
“Marlee, there you are. You look great today,” Ashley said as she got into the food line behind me.
“Oh, thanks,” I said, glancing down at the teal dress I was wearing.
It was low cut, showing off my cleavage. The hemline was uneven, coming to mid-thigh in the front and just past my knees in the back. I had bought it specifically for this wedding, and I had to agree with Ashley. It complimented my figure and made me feel beautiful.
I was about to compliment Ashley’s outfit when she moved closer and lowered her voice with a wide grin. “So, what’s the deal with you and Bowen O’Neal? Are you guys dating now? Give me the scoop.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to her. Bowen and I hadn’t really discussed what we were to each other yet. With all the drama going on with me, it had been pushed to the back burner. Before I could figure out what to say, a pair of arms snaked around my waist from behind.
“Yes, we’re dating,” Bowen said, and I turned my head to look at him in surprise. He met Ashley’s gaze directly, the set of his jaw conveying his seriousness. It was as if he was making a bold declaration. Which I guessed he was, when I thought about it. “The two of us are crazy about each other.”
“Wow,” Ashley replied, the jealousy clear in her expression. It probably shouldn’t have made me feel giddy, but it did. “That’s great. You’re so lucky. Congratulations.”
That last part was directed at me, but Bowen responded. “Yeah, Iamlucky.”
He grabbed a plate as the line moved in front of us, and we got our food. We took a seat at an empty table, and started to eat. But I couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said to Ashley. Eventually, I turned to look at him with a smile.
“What?” he asked, his fingers trailing along the skin of my bare arm, leaving a tingling sensation behind.
“I’m just thinking about what you said to Ashley back there and wondering how you can be so confident that I’m crazy about you.”
“Oh, that.” He shrugged. “I guess I’m just hoping that you are, because you’re my girl now. I’m not ever letting you go.”
My heart stuttered. “Do you really mean that?”
“You’ll learn that I rarely say anything I don’t mean. I want to be with you, Marlee. I think we can have a future together.”
“But...you know I live in Brooklyn, right? Don’t you live on the other side of the country? In LA?”
He nodded. “I have a home in LA. And one in New York. Hell, I even keep a condo in my hometown. I do go on location for my movie shoots, but I have the money to fly anywhere I want. So, are you willing to give us a serious shot?”
I hesitated, and his smile disappeared. I wanted to say yes, but I had to know that he was sure. If I allowed myself to believe in a future with him, to accept everything he was offering me, my heart would be in it.
“I’m sorry, but I have to ask if you’ve really thought this through. Someonewilllink me to those pictures, you know.”
Just when I thought he couldn’t surprise me more, he smiled and chuckled.
“You know that phone call I just took? It was from my attorney.”