He pushed open the back door of the limo and stood, his hand still locked on hers. She scooted across the seat and stood behind him, momentarily dazzled by all the commotion. Cameras flashed, cell phones were thrust in their faces, and the screaming intensified. Two big guys with security badges cleared a path for them through the crowd.

Sam gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, then released it to greet his fans as they slowly made their way toward the back entrance of the Avalon Hollywood, where he was hosting a release party tonight for his new album, Hot as Ice.

She watched as he shook hands, signed autographs, and posed for selfies with the throng of fans gathered outside the theater. She’d seen him in action a few times already, but tonight was the biggest event they had attended together, and wow, this was really part of her life now.

Sam signed a final autograph, then turned with a warm smile to take her hand. “Ready?”

She nodded and followed him inside. They were whisked upstairs to a room bursting with people. Carly spotted a few familiar faces—Sam’s publicist, his manager, his parents. She saw a few famous faces she recognized, too, including Tina Torrey. The place was packed with enough star power to set her head spinning.

Sam’s new album was playing over the sound system—songs she’d first heard those days they’d been iced in together at his house in the mountains, songs she’d heard countless times since as they were polished and recorded for Hot as Ice.

Sam drew her in and kissed her. “You look absolutely stunning tonight.”

“And you look like a rock star.” She grinned against his lips. It was true. In his form-fitting retro tee revealing the tattoos inked down his left arm and casually worn yet ridiculously expensive jeans, he looked every inch the heartthrob that he was.

“I’m your rock star.” His voice was low, possessive, meant only for her ears.

“And I’m your biggest fan.”

“Just not in a creepy, Kathy Bates in Misery kind of way, right?”

She laughed softly. “Only in the ‘you look so hot tonight I’m going to screw your brains out when we get home from this shindig’ kind of way.”

Sam groaned. “You live to torture me. I don’t know how I ever did any of this stuff without you, you know that, right?”

Yeah, she did, but it still sent a thrill up her spine to hear him say it. He introduced her around the room for the next hour or so, and she did her best to stay cool and calm when she met some of the most famous names in Hollywood.

His manager came over and tapped Sam on the shoulder. “They’re ready for you up onstage.”

Sam nodded. He drew her in for another kiss and whispered in her ear, “I love you.”

“Love you, too.” So much her heart was bursting with it. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, babe. That means a lot.” He gave her one last kiss then walked onto the stage as the room erupted with cheers and applause.

Carly’s breath caught in her throat as he lifted his guitar—the same one he’d had in the mountains, the one he’d held in his lap while he wrote these songs with her leaning in across it—and stepped up to the microphone stand.

“Thank you all very much for coming out tonight to celebrate with me,” he said, causing even more whoops and cheers from the crowd. “I’m pumped to share this album with you, and I want you all to know the woman who inspired it is standing right over there.” He pointed at Carly, and her heart almost burst out of her chest. “This one’s for you, babe. Love you.”

He played the opening bars of “Crazy Beautiful,” and Carly felt tears well in her eyes. He’d written this song for her, with her, and it absolutely boggled her mind every time she heard it on the radio. Early buzz on Sam’s new album was that it was a hit. Sales for the first single had been his highest to date, and coming on the heels of the duet with Tina Torrey, which had topped the charts for most of the summer, Sam’s future looked brighter than ever.

She’d gotten used to being with him around Los Angeles. She’d visited him here several times now, and he’d spent a lot of time in Haven, too. He’d bought the house he was renting, the one where they’d been stranded together, and was having a recording studio built inside it.

“Crazy beautiful,” he sang, his eyes locked on hers. “That’s what you are.”

A shiver traveled down her spine as she remembered the night he’d written those lyrics. The way he’d whispered them in her ear as they made love in front of the roaring fireplace.

Crazy beautiful. She couldn’t think of a more perfect way to describe their relationship. The crowd around her roared with excitement as he sang, and Carly’s heart was full, with this, her crazy beautiful life with Sam.

Source: www.seynovel.com