Free Beyond Famous (Famous #3) by Kahlen Aymes Page A

ostentatious enough for you, sweet?"  He flashed me the crooked grin that always made my knees go weak.
    "Do you mean you'd wear it?  Babe, it won't fit these huge hands of yours, not even the pinkie," I teased as I kissed one of them.
    "No, I know, but maybe there's another way.  I could wear it around my neck on some sort of chain or something."
    "Eh... chain? That's just nasty," I teased and wrinkled my nose.  "No, how about a cord of some sort?
    "Yeah, whatever. We'll figure it out," he said as his fingers brushed my cheek and he brought his mouth back to mine.  The morning ended with another marathon make-out session before meeting his parents for brunch.
    Yesterday we ended up asking Cade's production assistant to get a few of the necklace assortment they'd brought in for props on the film, for some of the college students.  We picked the most functional one that was a black rawhide cord with a shark tooth on it.  I objected to it, thinking that it wasn't really his style, but Cade just shook his head and took it.
    "Brook, the necklace isn't the point we're trying to make, so what does it matter?" He yanked the tooth off and tossed it unceremoniously toward the trash can under the desk in the hotel room. It hit the mark with a hollow clank, and then Cade was sliding Julia’s ring onto it and tying it around his neck. 
    He was right.  So now my ring was on its way to Cannes, with Cade, and Julia’s R & J bracelet was firmly in place on my wrist; both pieces from the film and so a subtle hint to the die-hard fans we were together without setting off Pinnacle’s watch dogs.
    I let out a big sigh as I remembered the past few days that had become a series of work, having meals with Lillian and Carter and then making love for long hours every night.  Both of us were trying to store up the closeness for the lonely months ahead.  Not sleeping much left us both exhausted, but the moments in his arms were worth it.
    I felt the now familiar aching in my heart begin again and tried to swallow back the pain.  I was going to get my hair done and then spend the day shopping with Jennifer and Noah: something I wasn't particularly enthused about; not because I didn't want to spend time with them, but because I couldn’t shake the sadness.  Maybe this would help.  Jennifer insisted it was better than moping around my room all day long.
    I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. 
    What a mess.  
    My face was swollen from all of the tears, and there were bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. The tears I did manage to hide from Cade, not giving into them until after he'd gone.  It killed me because I could hear his voice crack and feel his pain in the way he held me as he told me goodbye.  I knew my crying would make it even worse for him, and I'd shed enough tears over the past week as it was.
    I turned on the shower and started to peel off the T-Shirt and sweats I was wearing when my phone vibrated on the nightstand.  I ran to get it, and found a message from Cade.
     
    Mum and Dad have just gone, and Denise and I are boarded for Frankfurt, where we make our connection to France.  I'll call you when I land. You're always with me, love.
     
     
     

     
     
     
    I CLOSED MY EYES and waited for Brook’s response .  Denise glanced at me and laid a hand on my arm.
    "Aren't you excited?  You'll be the biggest attraction at Cannes," she said softly.
    Bloody Hell. Who said so?
    "Who cares and who wants it, anyway?  I hate it.  It's completely ridiculous.  I feel like a moron on parade." I was exhausted.  Brook and I hadn't gotten much sleep lately and then the time difference, once we got to Cannes, was going to kill me.
    "I know it's hard Cade, but this is the price of fame."
    "The price might be too high.  This level of fam e was never what I wanted.  I just want to make films. It's gotten way out of control," I scoffed as I settled into my seat and looked anxiously at my phone. "It all gives