Page 102 of Stealing the Star Stone
The hover stopped, and the door slid open.“Destination on your left.”
He peered out and blinked, blinded by more lights.
“Eli, over here,” someone called.
“This way, Eli.”
Where’s Graham?
He ignored them all and climbed out, sauntering along the red carpet.His swagger was back.He grinned, remembering when Nova had sashayed in his body.At set markers, he paused, posed, smiled, waved, then carried on, his target the interviewer to the side of Eastwood Hall’s entrance.
“Oh, Eli, it’s so good to see you’re well.”The platinum blonde beamed, sweeping out her hand to the many cameras trained on him.
“Happy to be here,” he said.
“All are dying to know what you’ve been up to.I’ll admit, your disappearance caused quite a furor.”
He laughed.“A vacation, no more.”He peered into the center drone.“I do believe I owe E-Galactic an exclusive, and two station-secs a five-star dinner.Please, reach out to my agent.”
A splash of burgundy caught his attention.Nova.
He whipped up his head and froze.
Gliding toward him was… Nova?She looked…magnificent.Her gown hugged every delicious inch of her, shoulders bare, a high sweetheart neckline, but the fabric had the appearance of leather.It shimmered like dragon scales from her toes to her cleavage.
His breath caught.
A rushing consumed his hearing.
His heart thundered in his chest.
She smiled at Graham trailing her, then with two fingers, caught the hood and flipped it back, exposing her rich burgundy hair piled on top of her head.
She was a vision in crimson.Against the red carpet, she should have blended in.She didn’t, not with those amber eyes, the lushness of her deep red lips with her pale-almond complexion, and that outfit, right to the red-metallic, spine-shaped brackets running over the curve of her ass to nape of her neck, forming a choker.Matching gauntlets adorned her forearms.
“Missed me?”she teased, looping her arm through his.
“Always,” he managed to rasp.“Beautiful, Nova-honey.You’ve surpassed my expectations.”
She flicked a dismissive hand behind her.“Blame him.”
Graham’s smile was tight.“Argued about everything.How did you survive six days with her?”
Eli gazed at her upturned face.“It’s been longer but far too short.”
She beamed.
“I’ll confirm a few things and meet you in the cinema.”Graham hurried off.
“I should feel guilty about being difficult, but that man’s so used to getting his way.”She swept a hand down her body.“Wanted me in purple.Said it was the new black.”She rolled her eyes.
“You’ve eaten?”he asked, ushering her to the next interview marker.
“Noodles.You?”
He nodded and faced a brunette.“Hi, Mindy.This’s Nova.”
Despite the crowds, noise, shouted demands, and flashing lights, Nova didn’t move.She remained poised and smiling, sometimes cuddling his upper arm or whispering an observation.
