Kissing a Fool
by Kelli

Chapter 9

"You're daydreaming," Pete says in my ear, which makes me jump and almost spill the drink in my hand.

"Dammit!" I yell.

"Sorry," he chuckles. "We're at a party, how can you be off in la la land like that?"

"I'm an artist, it's easy," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Have I told you thank you for coming to this party with me tonight?" he asks, looking around.

"Yes, many times. I still don't get it. You can easily get a date who's going to give you some later on...why me?" I shrug before taking a sip of my drink.

He cocks an eyebrow. "What makes you think I'm not going to get any out of you later?" he asks, teasingly pulling me into his arms as he nuzzles my neck. "After all, it is New Year's Eve."

I almost choke on my drink.

"Pete...stop," I say as I try to push him away.

He tries tickling me but stops when some of my drink spills on his pants.

"Uh huh...see? Not so funny when it's you."

"It'll dry," he says.

"How many drinks have you had tonight, anyway? You're awfully frisky."

"I've only had a couple," he says, looking around the room again.

He quickly turns to me and groans.

"What?" I ask,

"Petie!" a very annoying, whiney voice screams from across the room.

"That's what," he says as he pulls me closer to him. "Play along with me, okay?" he whispers.

I give him a confused look but it doesn't last long when a very beautiful, tall woman walks up to us.

"Petie, I was hoping you'd be here tonight," she says. "It's been ages."

"It's been a little while," Pete agrees.

"Well, aren't you going to give me a hug?" she asks.

He unwraps his arm from around me and leans down to quickly give her a hug.

"How are you, Danielle?" he asks as he wraps his arm around me again and pulls me closer to his side.

"I've been lonely," she pouts and bats her eyelashes.

I try to hide my smile as much as I can and snuggle in closer to Pete, just for fun.

"I haven't," he says, looking down at me. I take the cue and look up at him and smile.

"So I see," she says, not hiding the jealousy in her voice very well.

"I'm Ashleigh," I say, holding out my free hand.

She barely holds the tips of my fingers and shakes it.

"I'm Danielle."

"It's nice to meet you," I say.

"Petie hasn't mentioned you before, are you new?"

Again, I try to play along and hide my shock at her rudeness.

"Oh no, I've been around for a very long time." I set my drink down and start to gently rub Pete's chest. "Right honey?"

"Long time," he agrees.

"So, it's funny that he's never mentioned you to me," I say pointing from her to myself. "How do you two know each other?"

"Long story," Pete says before Danielle can say anything.

"Not really...we met in Madrid," she interrupts.

"Spain?" I ask, looking up at him.

He nods. "Remember when I was there for a couple of weeks?"

I think back. "A few years ago?"

"Right."

"Ah, okay. So, you from LA, Danielle?"

"New York originally, but daddy's mostly out here now. So Petie, have you been back to Madrid recently?" she giggles.

"No, just that once. I don't really travel to Europe unless my parent's are going over there," he nods.

Suddenly I realize his thumb is gently stroking the bare skin of my back. She can't see behind me so I wonder if he realizes he's even doing it.

"Maybe we should take a trip over there, baby," he says, looking down at me. "For our anniversary."

"I've never been to Madrid," I say, smiling up at him. "Sounds wonderfully romantic." I tap his nose with my finger and then return my hand to his chest.

"Really? You've never been to Madrid? With as much as your parent's toured?"

I shake my head. "Not that I can remember..."

When I glance at Danielle, she has a very bored look on her face and she's studying her fingernails.

"Well, we'll have to remedy that."

My eyes get a little big when he leans down to give me a quick, but gentle kiss on the lips.

I wipe the lipstick from his lips with my thumb and notice that that got Danielle's attention.

"Oh look...I think I see another old friend over there. We'll have to bump into each other again soon, Petie," Danielle says, as she touches his arm.

Pete gives a nervous laugh with his smile.

"Ta ta," she says with a wave of her hand.

"It was nice meeting you," I say to her retreating back.

I watch her as she goes into the other room and starts harassing someone else before I turn and look at Pete, who is studying me intently.

"Thank you," he says.

"Oh no, you're not getting out if it that easily," I say as I start to pull away from him but he keeps me close to his side.

"Don't go, she might still be watching."

"Then let's go outside so you can tell me what that was about."

I pull away from him and grab his hand, leading him to the patio.

As soon as we walk outside I find a spot overlooking Hollywood Hills that's not occupied. Pete adjusts his collar a little.

"Was it hot in there or was that just me?" he asks.

"Maybe it was her," I say, crossing my arms over my chest. "She could have been your score tonight, Pete? Why didn't you go for it?"

He turns to face me and stands a little closer so he can talk more quietly than I was.

"Would you keep your voice down? Geez, what kind of a guy do you think I am?"

"Apparently not one looking for a good time," I say, trying not to smile.

"You saw her...would you want her?"

"True. So, you guys had a thing in Spain, huh?"

He shakes his head. "No, it wasn't anything like that. I have to admit, I was wooed by her looks when I first met her and I took her to dinner but after one evening of conversation with her, I was done. But of course, she found me back in LA and I played like I was seeing someone seriously..."

"And were you?"

"Not at that time. So, she's tried to call me here and there but one time I had my number changed and the other, I just didn't return her call."

"Persistent little bugar, isn't she?"

He chuckles. "Well you know, when you've got it you've got it," he says, acting like he's polishing his nails on his shirt.

"Uh huh...so is this the reason why you brought me here as your date tonight?"

"Just one of them."

"Oh, there's another one of these women lurking around?" I ask, looking past him at the crowd on the patio.

"No," he chuckles.

"So, what's the other reason?"

He grabs my hands and pulls them away from my body.

"I wanted to spend New Year's Eve with my best friend."

A slow smile spreads across my face.

"Okay, fair enough."

"Besides...we make a great couple, don't we? We can pull off being lovey dovey very easily," he says, wrapping his arms around me as we sway a little.

"That's because we know each other too well," I say, poking at his chest.

"That's not a bad thing..."

"I didn't say it was. So, finish telling me about your interview..."

"Oh, right," he says, pulling away and taking my hand as he slowly leads me back towards the house. "Well, he liked my work."

"Of course he did..."

"And he asked me to send him some more of my pictures."

"Really? That's a good sign, huh?" I ask him as we stop right inside the doorway to the house.

"Yeah," he shrugs.

"But...what's wrong?"

"There was something missing. I mean, we're looking over these pictures that I took, that I'm very proud of and we're looking at them with two completely different eyes."

"How so?"

"I'm looking at them with an artistic eye...you know, looking at the lighting and the colors and the moment that I captured each of these images..."

"Right," I nod.

"And he's looking at them from an informative point of view. Like, whether I captured the story in a snapshot."

"Well, sometimes they can be the same thing. You're trying to tell a story from one shot, right?"

"I guess..."

I hold onto his other hand because I can tell he's lost. He's not sure why but something doesn't feel right.

"I'm sorry," a woman standing to my left says to us. "I don't mean to interrupt or eavesdrop but are you a photographer?"

Pete hesitates so I answer for him. "Yes he is and a very good one at that."

"Ash," Pete warns.

"No, this is wonderful," the woman says. "I'm Kimberly Butler," she says holding out her hand.

My eyes get big while Pete still looks at her suspiciously and shakes her hand.

"Pete Chasez...this is Ashleigh Timberlake," he says, nodding toward me.

I hold my hand out and Ms. Butler shakes it. "Yes, I'm very familiar with Ashleigh Timberlake...her work, that is," she says, looking back up at Pete.

"Oh, well, yes, she's a very talented artist," Pete agrees.

"Pete, Ms. Butler is an agent," I say, touching his arm.

"Please, call me Kimberly."

"Oh...well, Kimberly, who are your clients, anyone we know?" Pete asks as he wraps an arm around my shoulders.

"My clients are artists...Ashleigh might be familiar with a few," she says smiling at me.

I nod as Pete smiles but still doesn't seem to get it.

"Anyway, I overheard you two and a client of mine...who is an art dealer, is looking for new photography. I'd love to see your work," she says, touching her chin.

"He's got a portfolio," I say.

Pete squeezes my arm.

"Ash..."

Kimberly laughs...a very throaty, sexy laugh. "Your girlfriend seems to be your biggest cheerleader."

"Oh she's..."

"Yes, I am...honey," I say, interrupting him while I smile up at him.

"Anyway, my client is very rich and he's throwing a little get together Saturday night." She pulls out a business card out of her purse and jots something down on the back of it. "It would be great if the two of you stopped by and brought your portfolio."

Pete takes the card and looks at it.

"Just like that? Even without you seeing my work?"

"If Ashleigh Timberlake says your work is good then I'll take her word for it."

I feel myself blushing.

"Well, thank you," I say.

I catch Pete smiling at me.

"I have to agree, she has an eye for talent, but I don't know if that means me...she's a little prejudiced," he says, rubbing my back.

Kimberly chuckles. "You two are cute. Oh and wear your cocktail attire."

"Great," I say. "We'll be there."

"I don't know what to say," Pete says.

"Don't worry about it, your work will say everything. I've got to get going. I'm glad I bumped into you two."

"It was nice meeting you Kimberly," I say.

She shakes our hands.

"I guess we'll see you on Saturday," Pete says. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me until Saturday night," she chuckles. "Bye you two," she says before walking away.

I turn to him and grab his hands.

"Oh my God," I say as best I can without moving my lips too much.

"Did that really just happen?"

"Yes," I say, jumping up and wrapping my arms around his neck.

He wraps his arms around my back and pulls me up a little so that my feet aren't touching the floor before setting me down again.

"I hope you didn't have any plans on Saturday," he says, touching my cheek.

"Even if I did, I would have cancelled them for this." I notice something out of the corner of my eye. "Lean down and kiss me," I say softly, tugging on his arm.

"Huh?" he asks before I pull him down hard enough so that his lips touch mine.

My fingers dig their way into his dark, thick hair and our mouths devour each other's. After just a few seconds of this I pull back and look around. When I realize the coast is clear I wipe the corners of my mouth and then look at Pete.

"If that was my congratulations in public, I can't wait to see what you do in private," he says as he wipes the lipstick from his mouth.

I chuckle and slap his arm.

"That girl...Danielle was walking by."

"Ahhhh, okay." He looks around. "Riiiggghhhtttt," he says, winking at me.

"Hey everyone, it's almost midnight, get your champagne and noisemakers now!" someone yells.

We're both handed a noisemaker and Pete grabs a couple of glasses of champagne as a server walks by with a tray full.

"Here you are madam," he says, handing it to me.

"Thank you sir."

He wraps and arm around me and holds his noisemaker and glass of champagne in one hand.

"Ten! Nine! Eight!"

We look at each other..."Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!"

We blow the noisemakers and hoop and holler along with everyone around us. I take my glass and clink it against his and he smiles down at me.

"Happy New Year, Pete," I say.

"Happy New Year, Ash," he replies.

We take a drink from our glasses and then we hug. He kisses my temple.

"I'm glad I'm spending it with you," he says loud enough so I can hear it above the crowd.

I pull away just enough to look up at him.

"Me too," I smile up at him.