Page 23 of The Publicity Stunt

"We don't really have another opportunity to make our relationship official like this, do we?"

"No, I don't think so. But I also don't really care whether or not we need to. Let them speculate all they want."

Sighing, she kicks her legs out next to his. "No, we need to do this. Otherwise, Easton still has the upper hand. I just really hate carpets of any kind where I have to strategically pick out an outfit for the cameras that won't get me criticized. But it'll get torn apart by the critics anyway, so I might as well just go and smile for the pictures regardless."

"I think whatever you wear will be amazing. Even the white robe you're sitting in."

"I do not have the confidence to try that," she says, and he holds his hand out to her. She takes it, letting him pull her out and up, and she keeps hold of his hand as he picks himself up from the ground. "But thank you."

"I like your hair," Kace says and looks down at the top of her head. "How does it stay like that?"

Bri laughs, wrapping her arms around him without even thinking about it. He hugs her back, and she wants to just melt right into him. "With many, many bobby pins and enough hair spray to deplete the ozone layer."

"Are you good now?" he asks as she pulls away, thankful she didn't have any makeup rub off on his suit jacket.

"I'll be good when we leave, but I'm okay enough to change and get going. You have a car we can take?"

"Yeah, I'll give them a call now."

Walking into the small closed off section where the dress hangs, she shrugs out of her robe and tosses it over the divider. Part of her wishes he'd sneak a peek and catch sight of her in just her panties. Then she could tell if he's actually attracted to her or just being nice.

"Thank you, Kace. I don't know what I would've done without you."

"You would've hidden under the table and lied, saying you were abducted, probably," he jokes.

Taking the black sequined dress from the hanger, she steps into it gingerly. It was a little snug the last time she tried it on, but the tour helped slim her down just enough to fit.

Looking in the full-length mirror on the divider, she barely recognizes herself. She feels this just about every time she finds herself forced to wear some fancy designer gown for one reason or another. This just isn't her. Her style is either blue jeans and a t-shirt or sweatpants and a sweatshirt. There's really no in-between. And right now, she feels a little like a fraud.

She steps from behind the divider and sees Kace hang up the phone. When he turns around, his eyes widen as he looks her up and down.

"Can you zip me up?"

"Yeah, sure," Kace says and walks over to her with slow, deliberate steps.

His fingers touch her skin as he reaches for the zipper, and he drags it up with slow precision. The feel of his skin on hers creates goosebumps across her back as she closes her eyes, her breath hitching.

"Good to go," he says, his voice low and near her ear.

"I'm just glad it fits," she says and slowly turns back around.

The way his eyes bulge from his head at the sight of her makes her feel sexy. Bri never feels sexy. Even when she's on stage and wearing an outfit that should do just that, while singing about being sexy, she doesn't feel it. She never knew how it felt until this very moment.

Kace licks his lips and stares as she slips into her shoes, holding onto his bicep for balance. "You look amazing."

"Really?"

"If you wanted a revenge dress, I don't think you could have picked a better one."

The compliment makes her smile and flush. "Thank you."

"Wow," he whispers.

"I really look that good?" Bri turns and looks at herself in the mirror again, her eyes catching his from behind her. "No one's ever been this impressed with me before."

Closing in on her, he places his hands on her hips and lowers his mouth to her ear. "The only thing sexier would be seeing this on the floor in the morning light."

Her breathing hitches again, and she locks eyes with his reflection. "Kace..."

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