It was appalling how the gossip and news shows embellished flat-out lies about him and his co-stars. No wonder he had to be so careful. Any slip was fodder for the media, which was spread like wildfire and believed by millions.

I had my reasons for being hesitant, but now I had another reminder why he had to be hesitant too. He was a constant moving target.

Chapter 14 - Date

“So what are you up to?” Ryan asked when he called me on his lunch break on Friday.

“I’m… shopping.” My tone was definitely mischievous.

He laughed lightly. “You sound like you’re up to no good.”

“Maybe. I’m hoping I have a date this weekend and I wanted to get something nice to wear. Hey, you’re a guy. Let me ask you… do guys like really short dresses or will a new pair of jeans work?”

“That depends. Where is your date taking you?” he snickered in my ear.

“Nowhere. He’s kind of shy and very private. I’m happy to just stay home and keep him warm and safe. Maybe spoil him a little? I could probably get away with a little tank top and stilettos but I’d really like to impress him. Do you have any suggestions?” I was thoroughly enjoying toying with him.

“How about a very small towel? I know most guys like when women wear towels. Something about the convenience of it that’s appealing – you always have a place to dry your hands.”

“Towels? Hmm.” He definitely caught me off-guard with that one, but I was glad he was playing along.

“Oh look – Victoria’s Secret is having a towel sale today! Imagine that! So in your expert opinion, what color towels do men prefer?”

“Color isn’t important. The less snaps and fasteners the better. Towels should not be complicated,” he said casually.

“You have a good point. This man I’m hoping to see lives a very hectic life. I’d hate to add to his stress level with additional complications.

Maybe I’ll just buy this snap-less black towel here. Top it off with some thigh-high nylons, thong perhaps, although panties are optional… and heels.

How does that sound?”

“So what night is this date? I don’t want to call you at an inconvenient time.” I heard him laugh under his breath.

“I’m not sure,” I replied. “He’s a very busy man. But I’m going to get a variety of towels just in case he’s dirty and needs to be washed. I’m thinking that might help reduce his stress level.”

“You realize I’m due back on set in like twenty minutes? Do you have any idea of the damage you have caused?” he growled at me. “I have half a mind to leave here and break down your back door, but I’m afraid I can’t go anywhere in public in my current state.”

“I’m sorry. Did I raise your stress level?” I asked. “I just want to be clear about your current state.”

“Very much so!” he confirmed.

“Then I guess we’re even.” My fingers drifted over several lacy bras, imagining his reaction to seeing me wear something like this.

“Even? Tell me when I inflicted this kind of pain on you without finishing you off!”

I thought about the first time he made my body tingle. “The morning when you played your song on my guitar. I definitely, definitely had an unsatisfied moment there.”

“Really? Interesting! I would not have guessed that. It’s good to know, though. You sort of had the same affect on me the other night,” Ryan admitted.

“When?” I asked, surprised to hear that.

“Monday night when you played. Why do you think I took the guitar out of your hand so quickly? I couldn’t think straight anymore!” He laughed.

“I almost tore the guitar out of your hands that same night! I was thinking about chewing on your neck,” I whispered seductively.

“Okay, so you have to talk about something else because I am not in good shape right now,” he groaned.

“That’s debatable.”

“Stop!” he pleaded.

I tried to come up with benign conversation. It was difficult as I was walking through a lingerie store filled with naughty, frilly things.

“You sound exhausted,” I breathed.

“I am. It’s been a long day already and we’re filming night scenes tonight.”

“Crash in your trailer for a while,” I suggested.

“You read my mind,” he whispered. “Sometime between three and seven I’m turning my phone off to sleep.”

I spent quite a few dollars on silk, satin, and lace in different hues. It had been a long time since I felt inclined to, for lack of better terms, dress to impress, so I got carried away while shopping - for him. My mind wandered over our conversation, and picturing that he was aroused because of it provided a lot of incentive to buy even more.

I also spent more than I would have liked to on two simple but tastefully adorable cocktail dresses: one was black satin sheathed in black lace and another in a unique shade of sapphire blue, just in case. My wardrobe seriously lacked formal wear as there was never an occasion to get dressed up, nor had I ever entertained the thoughts of going out in public with a man like Ryan. I also thought about meeting his parents. That would definitely be an occasion to look my best. I bought myself a lot of new things so I’d have new wardrobe options.

That night, Marie flipped the television back to the entertainment news, much to the dismay of several of my male customers who were enjoying watching the sports highlights. My heart sank when I heard tonight’s headlines.

“Ryan’s steamy Manhattan hook-up” was all I needed to hear to send my emotions into a downward spiral. Pictures of him dressed in a suit with his arm around some girl were flashed all over the screen. She was young, attractive, and there, with him, in pictures. And then I felt the extreme burn of jealousy roll through me as my phone rang.

“Hi. What?” I answered. My voice definitely sounded perturbed.

“Taryn? What’s wrong?” he asked. “Are you okay?”

“No, not really,” I grumbled.

“Why? What’s going on?”

“Marie turned on Celebrity Tonight,” I muttered.

“I should have warned you.”

“It doesn’t matter.” The damage was already done.

“Yes, it does matter!” he breathed out. “You can’t believe anything you see or hear about me. Please! You promised! The girl in the picture is the daughter of the producer. I told you he brought her to dinner.”