Hollywood Prince (Hollywood Royalty 3)

“Just make sure everything is set up once I get home,” I tell the man on the phone. I get out of the car and walk up the stairs to Erin’s apartment. I dropped her off five hours ago, and I was going to stay, but she told me to go away and let her get ready without me. I went home and worked out and basically moped around my house until it was time to get ready. Now I’m wearing my black on black tux, and I’m already dying to get out of it. I knock on the door and wait for her, hearing her shoes click on the floor. She opens the door smiling, but I don’t have time to look at her because she turns to walk away from the door.

“I just have to pack my purse,” she says, and I see that the back is tied around the neck, but it’s all open back. It’s also tight with long sleeves, and it looks silver with some glints of black. When she finally comes back, I see the front, and I have to stop and just stare at her. The dress starts at her neck and comes down tight, cutting in on the sides all the way down to the floor. It’s all silver, and her makeup is darker than she’s ever worn it. The details of the dress look like flowers. You hear the slink when she walks. “You look nice,” she says and leans up to kiss my lips lightly so I don’t get lip gloss on me.

“I’m buying you a black garbage bag and a white belt,” I tell her, and she shakes her head. Her hair is parted down the middle and tucked behind both ears. “Where is your bag?” I ask her, and she rolls her eyes.

“Right there”—she points at the small bag by the door—“and I packed enough clothes until Friday.”

“Good,” I say, holding the door open for her. “You’re learning.”

She walks to the stairs and picks up the dress to walk down the steps. I walk next to her, and we make it downstairs. “We should get a picture of you,” she says, and I put the bag in the back of the car. “Turn my way,” she says, and I look over my shoulder and give her the smirk.

“Now come and take one with me,” I tell her, and she walks over to me. I snap a selfie of us, her head next to mine and both of us smiling. “That’s a good one,” I say to her as she gets in the car.

The line-up to get to the Grammys is insane. “We are car number twenty,” the driver says from the front, and we move at a snail’s pace. We finally get to the front, or near the front when I hear a roar take over the crowd. I look out and see that Kellie has arrived. Kellie is the artist up for the most awards tonight. We worked together on one film when she first started in movies. She actually just had her first baby, and it’s the first time she’s performing in years. So all eyes are on her tonight.

“Kellie just arrived.” Erin looks up when the car stops. I get out and hold out my hand to her. “Come, I want you to meet Kellie.” I tell her and we walk to Kellie, who is holding hands with a huge guy watching everyone. “I didn’t think she could look more beautiful,” I say to the side of her and watch the man next to her stand up full alert.

“Carter,” Kellie says and walks to me, kissing my cheeks. “Look at you, all dressed up,” she jokes, then looks behind me. “Where is your harem?” she jokes, and I burst out laughing.

“Erin.” I turn to look for her and finally see her next to me. Her auburnhair is shining in the sun. “This is Kellie,” I say, and Erin walks over to her smiling and holding out her hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Erin says to her, and Kellie smiles, moving to the side.

“This is my husband, Brian.” She reaches for his hand. “Brian, this is Carter, and his girlfriend Erin.”

“Oh, no,” Erin says. “I’m not his girlfriend.” She shakes her head, and I turn and glare at her. “I’m PR for his brand.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Kellie says, and then looks at her husband, trying to hide a smile.

“No one even knows what that means,” I say to her and try to grab her hand, but she puts her clutch in it.

“It means I’m in charge of your image. We already went through this,” she tells me quietly. “Now if you can please stop letting people think we are together.”

“I’m not in charge of what people think,” I say with a sly smile. I’m about to let the cat out of the bag because I’m done with the hiding and not being able to hold her hand when I want to. “Let’s go take a picture so you can put it on my Instagram.” I tell her this so she can stop the glaring, then I turn to Kellie. “See you in there, and good luck tonight.” The sound of the bell lets us know that the show will be starting any minute.