The Complete Groupie Trilogy (82 page)

He didn’t care who knew Andy was his girl, and had always held his heart no matter what girl was on his arm. He finally ready to shout it from the rooftops, but Andy was the one who put the brakes on his enthusiasm. Everything negative that had happened in the past year – from Vanni’s public fall from grace to the shakeup of the band – had landed in Andy’s lap as far as the press (and his fans) were concerned. She was understandably gun-shy to be thrust back into the public eye any sooner than necessary.

One gun stuck in her face was enough.

Vanni suggested that they at least come clean about the debacle with Holly, outing her for the lying opportunist she was so it could take the misplaced anger directed toward Andy and finally put it on the right person. But Andy convinced Vanni it was just best to ignore the past entirely. Holly was gone; they had much more positive things that deserved their focus. Who cared what the press had to say about it as long as they knew they were happy?

So he took her up on her challenge to celebrate their very happy present. He orchestrated a special trip to the place where their love affair had taken root. Not only had they fallen in love with a New York backdrop, they h
ad conceived their child there.

Best of all his old Brooklyn neighborhood was traditionally working class and low-key. They could be themselves again – which was the best gift he could have given her.

She glanced over at his sleeping form and the way his hair fell over his naked back like a silky curtain. Her heart filled with her love for this amazing man. He was her dream come true in almost every way possible. All she wanted to do was make him as happy as he had made her. She slid from the bed and padded barefoot down the hall to the kitchen, where she prepared breakfast from the staples they had grabbed from the market as they drove into town.

The smell of bacon and eggs roused him from his slumber. She turned to find him leaning up against the doorframe with his tousled hair and clad only in loose pajama bottoms. He met her smile with his own as he walked over to where she stood by the stove. He wrapped his arms around her waist, his large hand cupping the barely noticeable bump in her abdomen. “I love it when you spoil me,” he said as he nuzzled her neck. “My woman,” he claimed as he turned her around and kissed her deep and slow.

“My man,” she growled as she kissed him back. It had been a long time coming to make that claim, and she was going to exercise her girlfriend rights whenever the opportunity presented itself.

He was hers now. And she was going to fight to keep it that way, even if it took staking a very public claim.

This trip had reminded her how much she missed being a part of the world, even the crazy world that surrounded Vanni. She didn’t want to worry about how to avoid the press and keep a low profile. She wanted to go to the supermarket, ride the subway, to walk down the street hand in hand. The minute they got to New York she had been liberated. They went to an all-night deli, and lost themselves in the crowd in Times Square. Nobody around them cared who they were. He barely got recognized himself thanks to his hat, glasses and jacket.

He was just another New Yorker in the midst of a crowd of thousands. He didn’t even look that remarkable dressed down in jeans and a beat-up leather jacket. This was a far cry from the half-naked man who strutted around the stage in skin-tight leather pants, rings on every finger, cuffs on either wrists, his long hair flying about his head in unruly waves.

His most effective disguise was masquerading as an ordinary man. Only he was far from just another man. He was her man.

And for the first time in months Andy felt it was high time the world knew it.

After breakfast they spent the morning in the city. They did some window shopping before they headed for the park. He talked her into going ice skating, which meant she spent the better part of the afternoon tucked into the nook of his arm as he pulled her around the rink. He never let her fall. Instead they laughed and cuddled and kissed in the crisp wintery air. That night they were off to eat dinner with her dear friends, Iris and Jacob.

Everyone doted on Andy and she soaked up the attention. Her L.A. life with Vanni had been loving and romantic, but she had missed being around other people, especially people that she loved.

Unfortunately the past few years had put her and her friends on opposite courses. They chatted regularly and got together whenever possible, but they were on two completely different coasts in two completely different environments. She realized with a start that her closest friend in the past few years had been Graham, especially in those lonely days after Alana left for England.

Because of this she still missed Graham something awful, but had never breathed a word of that to Vanni for fear she’d hurt his feelings. She knew that relationship had been a sore spot for her lover, even though he had te
chnically “won” her in the end.

It had just been easier to hide within the safe four walls of their house than deal with all the complicated circumstances around her extended social circle.

New York showed her that she wanted something more.

She was the one dragging him from the brownstone every day during their trip. She wanted to prowl the museums, go shopping, and see the sites – even those she had seen before. When she had made her living as a travel writer she was constantly on the go, writing about all the fabulous places to visit all across the country and even abroad. She didn’t realize until her time as an accidental homebody just how much she needed to be a part of the world around her.

Eventually Vanni was recognized, and she could hear the snapping of photos as they entered or exited popular restaurants. But by that point she was kind of over it. Let them take their stupid pictures, let them spread their nasty rumors. She was tired of being a prisoner to her life, especially when she was the happiest she had ever been.

By the time Vanni suggested that she take a job on the production of
Fierce
, she jumped all over the idea. Her only hesitation was that she’d be visibly pregnant by the time the show premiered, and eventually she’d have to confront Graham with the truth. She wasn’t looking forward to it – especially as good as he had been to both her and Vanni since they had returned from New York at the beginning of the year.

Had it really only been three months since she was living in Graham’s home and sleeping in Graham’s bed?

It was the one secret she had kept from Vanni. There had never been the right moment to confess how intimate her relationship with Graham had become. Vanni seemed to work best under the assumption that Graham had been unable to truly compete for Andy’s affection in any physical way. He was happiest focusing on the things he could do for her now. Vanni had gone into overdrive to make up for all the years they had been apart, to treat her with all the devotion and loyalty he had been so afraid to show before.

The last thing they needed in this vulnerable stage of their relationship was for him to know
she had slept with another man.

Technically it hadn’t been cheating, considering they weren’t a couple at the time. In fact she turned to Graham for comfort, thinking she had lost Vanni forever thanks to Holly and her scheming. But regardless of her reasons, she had the sneaking suspicion that Vanni wouldn’t be as forgiving of her indiscretions as she had always been of his.

Graham had been a sticking point in their relationship for years. There didn’t seem any reason whatsoever to give Vanni information that – when it was all said and done – would only fuel his insecurities.

They were happy now, and it was a hard-won happiness. Now that he had given her his heart exclusively – finally – the best gift she could give him in return was peace of mind. After all, he had nothing to worry about; she was completely committed to their life together.

She couldn’t imagine any other man who could ever come close to meaning what he meant to her, especially now that he was the father of her child.

On Valentine’s Day, he pulled out all the stops. They began their day with breakfast in bed, drinking sparkling cider and feeding each other fruit, cheese and bread. He took her to a world-renowned jewelry store, where he was presented with a signature blue box containing what had to be a sparkly little bauble inside. Despite her clasped hands and happy smile, he pocketed the gift and led her from the store. “Not yet,” he said with a smile.

He took her to get a decadent frozen hot chocolate that was so large that even though they shared it, they still couldn’t finish. It didn’t matter. They were completely sated as they leaned close together, holding hands while he stole kisses across the table and they daydreamed about the new show. She expected him to present the gift before they left, and bugged him relentlessly between kisses and giggles, but he just shook his head with mischievous grin. “Not yet.”

They strolled through the city streets, his arm draped possessively around her shoulders. He led her straight to the park, where he rented a hansom cab. He didn’t care if the whole world saw… he cuddled her close for the whole busy city to see. He would tell random people as they rode by, “I love this woman!” which made her giggle in spite of herself. Few seemed to recognize him in his dressed-down state, with his hair pulled back and his dark sunglasses. They simply saw a sappy romantic courting his lady on Valentine’s Day, and would smile and wave in return. When he sang old songs in between hungry little kisses, it drew a little more attention. “Was that…? Could it be…?” But the horse kept clomping forward before they’d know for sure.

They snuggled together as they enjoyed the ride. All it was missing was the snow. “Remember our first kiss?” he asked.

She tipped her head to look at him. “Of course. Your birthday.”

His head bent lower. “One of the best gifts ever,” he said as his lips toyed with hers. As he deepened the kiss, fire spread throughout her body. Even after all these years, it still felt like the first time. How did he do that?

She was breathless when they broke apart. “Speaking of gifts…” she began as she reached inside his jacket for her present. He swatted her hand away playfully. “Vanni, you’re torturing me! When do I get my present?”

He slid his hand up her thigh. “Depends. When do I get mine?” he growled playfully before he nuzzled her neck.

“July!” she shot back with a happy smile. His smile was warm and ge
nuine as he caressed her tummy.

“I can
’t wait,” he told her honestly.

She touched his face with her hand. “Me either.”

After the ride was over, he helped her from the cab and they strolled into Central Park. Every time they would reach a picturesque setting, he would pause with a teasing smile, reach into his pocket… and then shake his head and move on. They strolled along the mall, they stopped along the bridge. They even kissed in front of the fountain.

She was beside herself with anticipation the longer he made her wait. The day was nearly over as they rode to the to
p of the Empire State Building.

“This better be good,” she warned as she snuggled against him in the elevator.

He wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m pretty sure you’ll like it,” he said.

They stepped out onto the observation deck. “This is the real gift,” he told her as he turned her to face the city. He held her from behind as they watched the sky catch ablaze with a fiery sunset. “You see that?” he whispered against her ear, and she nodded breathlessly. “That’s your present.”

“What?” she whispered.

“The world,” he answered as he turned her back around and looked deep into her eyes. “I’m going to give it to you.”

She watched in open-mouthed wonder as he dropped to one knee and finally took the tiny blue box from his coat pocket. She gasped when he opened it; it was a two-carat pink diamond engagement ring, princess cut, surrounded by tiny, sparkling diamonds on the band and around the sides of the stone.

Never… in her wildest dreams…

But there he was, taking her left hand in his. “Andy Foster, you are the love of my life,” he said simply as he looked up at her and gasped her hand. “Marry me.”

It wasn’t even a question. It was a command. “Vanni.” The word came out in a breath. She didn’t know what to say. It was a dream come true. He didn’t wait for her answer; he took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger, then rose to his feet to take her into his arms. There were tears in her eyes as she kissed him.

Neither one spoke as he took her to the hotel where they had conceived their baby. They held each other tight as they rode to the top floor and checked into the same penthouse suite. Rose petals led the way to their romantic paradise. He lifted her effortlessly and kicked the door shut behind them as he followed the pretty pink and red trail.

He placed her gently on the bed, but there was nothing gentle in the way she pulled him down to her. Her kisses were hungry and demanding. This was her man now – he had committed to her a lifetime with the ring she now wore on her finger, one she never could have expected from that first sexy dance in Philadelphia so long ago. Her fingers tugged his ponytail free and tangled in his hair as she pulled him close.

Until they were one, nothing was close enough.

His fingers unbuttoned her top and slid it from her shoulders as he kissed his way along her neck and towards her chest. She gasped when his mouth closed over her bare breast, which he unveiled with the same rising ardor. She tore his jacket away and slipped his shirt above his head, her fingers dancing over the so
lid muscles of his broad chest.