Emily McKay - The Hudson's - Luc, Jack and Charlotte

“I can’t believe it,” Bella said, interrupting Luc as she nodded to the left. “Look who’s here.”

Reluctantly pulling his gaze from Gwen, Luc caught sight of the woman Bella was referring to and shook his head. “Leslie Shay.”

“Who is it?” Gwen asked.

“Paparazzi. She lives to dig the dirt on Hudsons,” he said.

“What I want to know is when does it cross the line to stalker?” Bella asked.

“Unfortunately, when it’s the press, that line is pretty muddy,” Luc said.

“I’ll say,” Gwen said and slid her hand under Luc’s chin. “Let’s give her something to talk about.” She pulled his head down and kissed him full on the mouth.

He heard a roar of applause and peripherally noticed the flash of cameras. He pulled back slightly and laughed. “You know how to work the room without moving from one spot.”

“I’m just like you,” Gwen confided. “Fifteen minutes and I’m done.”

“Then we’d better get moving. Let’s face the bearded dragon first.” He led her toward Leslie Shay.

Leslie immediately motioned for her cameraman. “Luc Hudson and Gwen McCord, you pulled a fast one on us. We never saw you two as a couple until you announced your engagement. How did you manage to keep your relationship secret?”

“Montana is very cold,” Gwen said with a smile. “It discourages the paparazzi, who are accustomed to the warm weather in L.A.”

“It’s ironic that your engagement coincides with your sister Nicki’s visit to rehab, Gwen. Care to comment on that?” Leslie asked.

Watching Gwen’s face turn pale, Luc stepped forward. “Gwen is naturally very concerned about her sister. We both are. Nicki has experienced some deep pain in her life, and she hasn’t always handled it well. We’re both proud of her for getting the help she needs.”

“Still, this can’t be convenient for Hudson Pictures with the summer release on the horizon,” Leslie said.

“I can tell you’re a sensitive woman,” Gwen said. “I so appreciate your interest in my sister. She’s very dear to me. More than anything, I want her healthy and happy.”

Leslie nodded. “Always a class act, Gwen. Is there any chance we’ll be seeing you in a project with Hudson Pictures soon?”

Gwen laughed. “I’m retired and engaged.”

“A loss for the rest of us,” Leslie said. “I can’t help but believe your ex-husband isn’t kicking himself up and down the street. He hasn’t had a true hit since your last film.”

Luc stepped in again. “Sorry, Leslie, they’re motioning for my fiancée. Enjoy the party,” he said and guided Gwen away.

With his arm around her, he felt her take a deep breath. “You okay?”

She nodded. “She’s a regular badger, isn’t she?”

“And then some. I think she had a crush on my uncle that never panned out. Unrequited passion, or something like that.”

“Maybe it’s good that we’re making this appearance tonight. Prep for L.A.” She gave a cryptic smile. “The same way kindergarten is prep for medical school. This is looking like a long night.”

“Afterward you get a hot tub,” he said. “And me.” Her lips curved in a sensual grin. “That’s motivating.”

Gwen and Luc made the rounds, and when it came time to introduce the keynote speaker, Gwen captured and held the attention of everyone in the room. She spoke with such passion and conviction that even Luc felt himself holding his breath.

Bella touched his shoulder. “She’s amazing. Are you sure you can’t talk her into coming back into the business?”

As Gwen finished, he watched her walk down the stairs and saw a flicker of vulnerability cross her face. “Not now.”

Throughout the evening, people approached Gwen and Bella and asked for their autographs and to have pictures taken with them.

Luc pulled her away. “How’s it going?”

“I’m about done,” Gwen said. “Even though it’s a friendly crowd, it’s wearing and I’m out of practice.”

“Could have fooled me,” Luc said. “I’m all for saying our goodbyes.”

Luc shook hands with Dane and hugged his sister.

“You owe me,” Bella said.

“You’re a glutton for attention. You loved every minute of it,” he chided.

“Except the freezing temps. She’s different,” Bella said, nodding toward Gwen. “I mean that in a good way. But not your type, right?”

“Fishing,” Luc said. “I know better than to bite.”

“Okay, be that way. Love you,” she said and hugged him again.

Extracting Gwen from a group of fans, he led her toward the coatroom. Just after he helped her with her coat, a woman approached them.

“Everyone else may be fawning all over you, but I know the truth. You left your husband high and dry after agreeing to do his movie, then welshing on the deal. When he couldn’t get the backing he needed for the movie, your husband had to fire a lot of people. My husband was one of those people. You have no idea how many people’s lives you ruined with your—”

Refusing to allow this woman to continue to blast Gwen, Luc stepped in front of her. “That’s enough. You have no idea what went on between Gwen and her ex-husband. She doesn’t deserve your wrath because of Peter Horrigan’s poor planning. Excuse us,” he said and led Gwen away.

He bundled her into the waiting limo, where she leaned her head back against the seat and sighed. “And this is just the beginning,” she said.

Exhausted and raw from the exposure to invasive questions, Gwen entered the suite reserved for her and Luc and headed straight for one of the bedrooms. She immediately began to ditch her jewelry and accessories. She pulled off her earrings and necklace, kicked the designer shoes from her numb feet and reached for the zipper on her dress.

Luc’s hands covered hers, provoking a different set of emotions. “I can handle this,” he said.

Conflicted, she let him slide the zipper all the way down to the base of her spine. Cool air rushed over her bare skin, but his hands quickly replaced the dress.

“You did very well tonight. Between Leslie Shay and that crazed woman who approached us at the coatroom, I would have expected you to crack, at least a little, but you didn’t.”

A feeling of suffocation closed over her. Hating that she was being forced to live a lie again, she stepped away from Luc. “I was hoping people wouldn’t be asking questions about Peter.”

“You had a very public relationship,” Luc pointed out.

“Not by my choice,” she said, feeling a trickle of bitterness slide through her like acid.

“From the outside looking in, it appeared you enjoyed the attention as much as he did.”

“It was novel in the beginning, but very quickly I wanted to keep our relationship more private. Peter didn’t agree. He always said it was silly not to use our relationship to further our careers. I think it was more about his career.” She broke off, remembering the arguments they’d had. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how different a relationship can be on the inside from how it looks on the outside.”

“You haven’t talked about your marriage much,” he said.

“And I don’t want to now,” she said. “I think I could use a good night’s sleep.”

“Your bath is waiting,” he said with an unreadable expression on his face.

She blinked in surprise. “How did that happen?”

“I called ahead.”

Gwen’s conflicting feelings swelled inside her again. On one hand, she deeply resented that Luc had been the one to put her in the position of leading a public lie. On the other hand, she couldn’t help feeling protected when he sprang to her defense.

“I hate living a lie,” she said.