Free Breaking News by Fern Michaels Page A

tuxedo. For that matter, he planned to change a lot of things in his life. He could only hope that Abby would agree to the changes.
    With one last look in the mirror, he ran a comb through his hair, knowing it wouldn’t stay in place no matter what he did. Then he shut the light out, grabbed the keys to his Toyota Camry, and headed for Brentwood. Since selling his condo, he’d relocated to an apartment just minutes from Abby’s. He liked being close to her, liked that he could be at her house in ten minutes, and that was in heavy traffic.
    Five minutes later, he pulled into Abby’s drive. Her bright yellow MINI Cooper was parked in its usual place. Abby had spent hours weeding, watering, and planting, and now her front lawn rivaled any in Beverly Hills. In the back, the courtyard had been overrun with elderberry vines, honeysuckle, and morning glory. Abby had artfully trimmed the vines, making her back lawn a place to kick back and relax. If it were up to him, he’d rather toss a couple of steaks on the grill and enjoy the sweet scents and the view. Not that night, though. It was an important night for Abby, as she, or rather The Informer, had been invited to attend the movie premiere. In the world of tabloid journalism, it was big news.
    A loud bark jolted him out of his reverie. He hopped out of his car and walked behind the house to the fenced-in yard, where Chester was racing around. Chris unlocked the door to the gate, as Chester stood on the other side, waiting to greet him like an old friend. He stooped down to pet the big German shepherd and received a big, slobbery doggy kiss.
    â€œHey, not tonight, old guy. I’ve got a hot date with the best-looking woman in LA. I don’t think she’d like it much if I smelled like a dog.” Chris rubbed the shepherd between his ears. “No offense, buddy.”
    He left the backyard and went around to the front, where he knocked on the door. He could’ve tapped on the French doors, and Abby would’ve let him in, but tonight was formal, special. He wanted the evening to be perfect, because if he was lucky enough, both his and Abby’s lives were about to change.
    She opened the door, and what he saw literally took his breath away.
    â€œDon’t you look like the sexiest man alive,” Abby said as Chris stepped inside the entryway. “You could give any one of those movie stars a run for their money.”
    Chris grinned but said nothing. He stared at Abby as though he were seeing her for the very first time. “And I could say the same about you. If I didn’t know better, I would mistake you for one of those starlets that you write about.”
    Abby stopped and turned to face him. She placed a hand on each shoulder, then leaned into him, her lips mere inches from his. In her most sensual voice, she said, “If you ever say that to me again, I will smack you squarely in that delicious mouth of yours.”
    Chris placed his arms loosely around her waist, then whispered in her ear, “Promise?”
    â€œI’m not making any kind of promise,” Abby said, her blue eyes dancing playfully. She stepped out of his embrace. “Though I must admit, you clean up very nicely.”
    â€œOnly because I wouldn’t want to publicly humiliate you,” Chris joked.
    Abby really took a good look at Chris. “There isn’t a chance of that, and you know it very well. I think the tux suits you, kind of James Bondish. I like the all-black look.” She scanned the length of him, then smiled.
    â€œI take it I pass your inspection?”
    â€œWith flying colors,” Abby added, then did a quick swirl. “And?”
    Chris laughed. It wasn’t like Abby to seek a compliment, but he liked that she did, and from him especially. “That dress looks as though it were made for you. The color brings out your cheekbones.”
    â€œYou sound like Joan Rivers on the red carpet,” Abby said,