Starstruck - Book Four by Gemma Brooks Read Free Book Online Page A

anticipation.
     
    As I inhaled the scents of luxury and elegance, Hudson’s
reflection appeared in the mirror behind me.
     
    “Hey,” I said as he came up behind me and wrapped his hands
around my hips. I pulled my towel tighter around me. “Save this for later,
okay?”
     
    “I don’t know if I can wait,” he whispered in my ear while
he nibbled it.
     
    “I can’t wait to go out tonight,” I said. Alec had helped me
pick out the perfect date night outfit earlier that day, and I’d just had my
hair done that morning, so it worked out perfectly. I figured there would be
paparazzi out there, and this time I was going to be more than prepared for
their glaring flashes and off handed comments.
     
    “I can’t wait to get you back home,” he replied.
     
    I smiled as I watched our reflections in the mirror. In many
ways, I hardly recognized myself, but in so many other ways, I loved the woman
I was becoming. She was fearless, adventurous, and beginning to let go of the
ideals she’d once clung to out of sheer comfort and fear of the unknown.
     
    “Reservations are in an hour,” he said. “I just came in to
remind you.”
     
    “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” I teased. “If you want me to
look good, it takes time.”
     
    “You always look amazing, Brynn,” he smirked as he looked me
up and down before exiting the bathroom.
     
    I hurried up, did my makeup, and got dressed, donning a black
jumper with an insanely deep, plunging neckline. I slipped on a pair of diamond
stud earrings and spritzed on some gardenia perfume. After searching high and
low for the perfect pair of red-bottomed shoes, I was finally ready.
     
    “There she is,” Hudson said as I walked out to the kitchen.
He’d been standing there for a while, waiting, and talking to Flor.
     
    Flor looked me up and down and said nothing, only offering a
polite smile.
     
    “Ready?” he asked as he extended his hand and helped me into
his car. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to walking in five inch heels.
     
    The restaurant scene was hopping. There were throngs of
patrons, tourists, VIPs, and wanna-bes all standing outside the building or
coming and going. Two spotlights lit up the earth above us as their beams
crossed against the backdrop of the night sky.
     
    We valet parked and hurried inside, quickly ushered to our
table in a dark corner away from most of the action. Hudson always knew how to
get the best seats in the house.
     
    The place was dark and a single candle in a simple crystal
glass lit the space between us, illuminating Hudson’s devilishly handsome face.
     
    “You look beautiful tonight, Brynn,” he said. “I can’t stop
staring at you.”
     
    I blushed, though I was sure he couldn’t see it in the dim
lighting of the restaurant.
     
    “Thanks,” I smiled. “You look quite handsome yourself.”
     
    His eyes twinkled as they locked onto mine, like he was
envisioning some sort of play-by-play he had planned for me later that night.
     
    Our server came to take our drink orders, and Hudson ordered
us a bottle of some kind of red wine I’d never heard of before.
     
    “Will you excuse me?” I asked him. The champagne from my
bath earlier was beginning to fill my bladder and I couldn’t fight it off any
longer. “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”
     
    “Of course,” he said. He stood up from his chair when I
stood up. A true gentleman.
     
    With my clutch in hand, I navigated my way to the ladies’
room for a little relief. But the moment the door swung open, I was faced with
the last person I expected to see.
     
    As we nearly collided, she quickly took a step back and
placed her hands firmly on her hips.
     
    “What are you doing here?” Ava asked, as if I was intruding
on her turf.
     
    “I’m on a date with Hudson,” I replied, not that it was any
of her business.
     
    She stared me up and down with a mean girl smirk on her
face.
     
    “That’s funny,” she