Page 93 of How He Got the Girl
“What do you think?” Brittany leans forward in her seat.
I didn’t realize that I hadn’t said anything. “I feel sophisticated.” I turn to look at the back before facing her with a wide smile. “And beautiful.”
She pops up, moving to stand behind me with a smile. “You should. Griffin won’t be able to keep his eyes off you.”
I can’t wait to see the look on his face tomorrow night. Just the thought of it sends a shiver down my spine.
MypulseskittersasMallory’s car pulls up to the red carpet. She insisted that we take two cars so she could surprise me with her outfit. The anticipation is killing me, especially since Brittany texted me yesterday and told me that I willdie deadwhen I see Mallory tonight. I don’t exactly know what that means, but I understand enough to know she’ll be stunning. Although she looks amazing in anything she wears.
There’s also something that happened yesterday while she was dress shopping. Something I need to tell her about, but am terrified to. It all happened so fast that I’m still trying to get a grasp on it myself, but I know the longer I wait, the longer it’s going to eat away at me. I’m just not sure how she’s going to react to the news.
The car rolls to a stop, and my heart thumps loudly in my chest. The driver rounds the vehicle, opening the back door as the paparazzi push closer, clicking their cameras incessantly and shouting questions as I step closer, not wanting any of them to get too close to my girl.
I offer my hand into the open door, and Mallory grasps it like I’m the only thing saving her from falling off a cliff.One leg slowly follows the other as she emerges from the car.
The corner of my mouth tilts up in a smile. Stunning isn’t a strong enough word for how she looks tonight. “I— Wow, you look—” I shake my head with a laugh.
Mallory smiles, and I hear more cameras click around us, trying to capture the beauty that is her to live for eternity in a photo. “Cat got your tongue?” she teases.
I rub the back of my neck. “What can I say? You’ve rendered me speechless.” My eyes roam over her, drinking her in. Her gown is long and muted pink. It goes off her shoulders, and she has this long piece of matching fabric around her neck and floating behind her like she’s some type of goddess.
The dress reminds me of her usual pink outfits, but more upscale with a restraint and subtlety that make her even more captivating.
Rather than make a fool of myself by trying to say all this out loud, I offer her my arm. She wraps her hand around my bicep in a death grip, and we walk down the red carpet, stopping to pose for photos along the way.
“You look pretty dapper, yourself,” she whispers as I wrap my arm around her waist.
“Thank you.” I dip my chin, trying to hide my goofy grin from the photographers. “How do you feel about all this?”
Mallory smirks. “Right now, I feel like an animal in a zoo. All eyes on me.”
We smile for another picture.
“I know one set of eyes that is definitely on you.” She spins to me, and I wink at her, trying to ease her nerves. A blush blossoms on her cheeks as the sun sets behind her. Mallory is radiant.
I might be the Hollywood star, but she is the sun I revolve around.
“Griff.” She pats my chest repeatedly, then points behind me. “It’s Rhett Hayes.” She says his name like one would say Taylor Swift or Morgan Freeman, in awe that she’s in the presence of celebrity royalty.
“There’s Hollywood’s power couple,” Rhett says in his southern drawl.
I turn just in time for him to pull me into a crushing hug. After a few pats on the back, he moves toward Mallory, his bare arms wide. The sleeves of his white shirt are cut off, and it’s tucked into denim. I shake my head. This isn’t the Country Music Awards. Only Rhett could pull off jeans and a bolo tie at a fancy red-carpet event without making anyone bat an eye.
“The woman of the hour.” He extends a hand to Mallory. I assume he wants to shake hers, but no. Rhett twirls her around, showing off her dress and giving me the perfect view of the way the fabric of her gown dips low on her back.
Have freaking mercy. She’s trying to do me in. I’m going to be gawking at Mallory in all of tonight’s photos, and I don’t even care. Some guys might say I’mwhipped, but I say let the world know I’m completely, unashamedly smitten with Mallory Porter.
“I’m hardly the woman of the hour.” Mallory laughs.
“Have you seen you tonight?” Rhett tilts his head, and she blushes. If it were anyone else besides Rhett telling her this, I would be burning with jealousy, but I know how harmless my best friend is.
“Do you have a sister?”
Mallorylaughs. “A brother.”
“Darn.” Rhett presses his lips together. “What about a cousin? Or a really young aunt?”
I clap him on the shoulder. “Why don’t we talk more about her available family members inside?”
