Tinseltown by Stephanie Taylor Page B

having to play his cards just right. Seconds ticked by as he waited for Deb, making him just a little more anxious. Cars filled with photographers sat at the end of the driveway, as they had been for a week now. They were desperate for some show of the two of them together. Well, he would give them one.
    He wouldn’t dishonor Deb’s wishes by any means… but maybe, just maybe the cameras would show her how he really felt, since he was an idiot and wasn’t sure how to tell her himself.
    She was still reserved, although their kiss earlier definitely felt like a step in the right direction. This past week he expected their relationship to turn to a different level. But instead, he had been pawned off on Deb’s father. The man was pleasant enough, but Zach would have rather spend the time with his wife. Deb also avoided him by spending every waking moment with her mother. He would have to find a gym and fast, because his jeans were snug and he felt like he’d gained at least ten pounds. Of course, shoving his mouth full of the wonderful food they’d prepared wasn’t helping much.
    “She’ll be down soon,” Marie said as she came down the stairs. He stood at the bottom, feeling like an out-of-place statue.
    “Thanks,” he said, swallowing.
    “She looks beautiful,” she whispered as she stepped off the last step and leaned closer. “She also looks like she’s as nervous as you are. Guess it’s not often you have your first real date as husband and wife, huh?”
    Zach grinned, trying to look nonchalant, but Marie gave him a motherly, you-can’t-fool-me look. Man, he’d forgotten how mothers had a sixth sense.
    A few moments later, Deb opened the door to her bedroom and walked to the platform at the top of the stairs. “I’m not sure this is the most appropriate getup if we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.”
    He couldn’t help the foolish grin spreading across his face at the sight of her. Her hair was swept off her neck, low and to the side, pinned up with rhinestone clasps. Wisps of hair curled and framed her face perfectly. There wasn’t anything overly special about her hair, except it was… Deb.
    She wore a black lacy cocktail dress, reminding him of Julia Roberts’ dress in Pretty Woman . It fit against her body the way he longed to — tight and against every curve. Her breasts were modestly covered, considering the “v” in the neckline, but the slightest hint of cleavage reminded him they were, indeed, present. The skirt fell just below her knees and on her feet were classy, ridiculously high-heeled black shoes. For the life of him, he’d never understand why women chose to wear those things. But he was glad they did because they created a beautiful shape to any woman’s calves, including Deb, who already owned perfectly shaped legs.
    He swallowed, unable to rid the dryness in his throat. It was going to be more difficult than ever to keep his hands off her. “You look amazing,” he said as she walked down the stairs. With each step she took, his heart pounded a little harder.
    Zach could see the nervousness in the way she held her hands in front of her, one hand fiddling with her wedding ring. When she was close enough, the tremble in her fingers gave her away.
    “Thank you,” she said.
    He should have had flowers or champagne, or something equally cliché. Instead, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek, inhaling the incredible perfume — vanilla and sunshine — that she used to drive him mad.
    Unable to stop himself, he lowered his nose to her neck, where the perfume smelled the strongest, and raised his fingertips to touch the other side of her neck. Ever so lightly, he kissed her and exhaled. Goose bumps rose against her flesh, and he grinned. “You sure you want to go out in public tonight? I’m not sure I can be a gentleman at all.” His lips grazed her skin as he spoke. It was no longer his brain thinking, and he knew he had to pipe down this intense physical