Hollywood Princess (Hollywood Royalty 2)

“Here,” Cori says, coming out of the room and then stopping in her tracks. “Jesus Christ,” she hisses, “how the hell are you still single?”

Brian looks over at us and laughs. “I take it this is Bad and Boujee enough?”

“Oh, yeah,” Cori says, and I watch her eyes as she gives him another once-over.

“Okay, are you done?” I snap. “Is the car here?” I look at my watch and see that it’s right on time.

“Yes.” She finally snaps out of her gawking and turns to me. “Let’s go.”

Brian walks over to the patio, making sure the door is closed. “I’m going to double check your bedroom.” He walks into my bedroom, and I look over at Cori, who’s watching his every move.

“I can’t get over how hot he is,” she says, looking at me, and I glare at her. “What?” She holds out her hands. “I’m allowed to look at your man.”

“He’s not mine.” I say the words that taste like sand in my mouth, and I watch him walk back out. “Are we good?”

“Yeah,” he says and walks to the door, opening it and waiting for us to walk out and then closing it behind us. We get in the golf cart, and he drives us to the front entrance where the car is waiting. We walk through the marble lobby and out the front door to the black SUV.

“Where is the driver?” I ask Cori, and she looks at me and then at Brian.

“I just assumed Brian would drive us.” I look at Brian who just nods and holds out his hand for the keys that Cori hands to him. He walks to the car and opens the back door for me. “I’m not sitting in the back. That’s silly.”

“Get in, princess.” His voice comes out gruff, and Cori pushes me, so I get into the back. He waits for Cori to get in and then slams the door.

“I didn’t mean for it to seem like he’s our chauffeur,” she whispers to me, and I watch him walk around the car and get in the front seat.

I lean in now. “Put your belt on, Kellie,” he says, starting the car.

“Brian,” I whisper, and he adjusts his rearview mirror, “let me sit in the front.” I wait for him to answer, and he doesn’t. He just takes off, following the directions to the restaurant, so I sit back in the seat, looking out the window.

“It won’t happen again,” Cori says from beside me, shaking her head. “I’m sorry.” I don’t answer her as I watch the scenery. When we pull up to the restaurant, I see that the paparazzi is already camped out. Brian turns the car off, then twists to look at us in the back.

“Don’t get out of the car until I open your door.” He gives the orders. “I’ll walk on the right-hand side to block the guys from stepping in front of you.” I nod at him, and the flashes are already going off. He gets out of the SUV and tosses the keys to the valet guy coming over, then opens the door. “Cori, come out first,” he says, holding out his hand. She climbs over me, grabbing his hand and stepping down on the foot step to the sidewalk. I hear my name being called now and stop for second, not sure I want to get out.

“Kellie.” I hear my name being called, but it’s Brian as he holds his hand out to me. I grab it, stepping down like Cori except, with Cori, he let her walk away. With me, he puts his hand around my waist, pulling me close to him, and I do the worst thing I could do. I inhale his smell. He slams the door to the SUV and then walks with me to the front door that is being held open by Cori. He shields me, and I’ve never felt safer.

When we walk in, his hands fly away from me. I still feel them on me, though, as Cori guides me to a table in the corner. I follow her, and Brian follows both of us. She stops at a table for four, and the girl gets up, coming to Cori. With dark brown hair tied on top of her head in a ponytail, she wears tight black leather pants, leaving little to the imagination, and a black lace long-sleeved V-neck shirt, totally see-through with a black silk bra under it. “Cori.” She comes closer, and I see her eyes are bright blue, her cheekbones high, and her lips are one step away from exploding. Kissing Cori on both cheeks, she looks over at me and smiles, and then looks behind me. I see it happen before my eyes, the look from friendly to viper. If you’ve been around as long as I have in Hollywood, you get to know the looks.