Once the filming of season four had wrapped, Elle quickly started writing her new show, Give Me Shelter, a drama revolving around a woman in the witness protection program, struggling to make a new life for herself. Whitney was recruited for casting, and a pilot was shot. During that time, Luke was filming an independent movie in Vancouver. Elle split her time between California and Canada. It was exciting for her to sit on the sidelines, watching Luke portray a character who was nothing like David McKenzie. He pushed his limits with the role, pouring himself into the character, and the result was phenomenal. Yes, Elle was biased, but she watched in awe as Luke dazzled his director and fellow cast mates with his talent. The film was still in the editing process, but Elle was confident it would garner him much-deserved attention.
And now, it was the end of August and they were just minutes away from arriving at the Nokia Theatre. And because she’d never seen him like this, Elle was starting to worry about Luke’s nervous state.
His cheeks were flushed, his palms were sweaty, and he wouldn’t make eye contact with her. Granted, they hadn’t attended the Globes together, but she couldn’t imagine he had been this nervous. Something was wrong.
“Are you feeling okay? You look like you’re coming down with something.” Elle shifted in her seat, pressing the back of her hand to his forehead. He felt warm, but not feverish, which left her even more confused.
Luke shook his head abruptly. “No, I—I’m great. Better than great, actually.”
Elle shifted in her seat and her chiffon dress, the color of daffodils, tickled her knees as she moved. “Maybe you need a drink. The driver said there’s champagne in the fridge.”
“I know. I ordered it.”
“So have a glass.”
Luke shook his head, clearing his throat. “No, I ordered it for a reason.”
Elle tilted her head in confusion, placing her hand on Luke’s thigh. “What are you talking about?”
“To celebrate.”
“Feeling awfully confident, huh?” Elle laughed. She wished she could join in his confidence regarding their chances at a win. “That was a quick change. Two minutes ago, you looked like you might puke.”
“No,” Luke said with a laugh. “I mean, yes. But . . . aw, hell. Here goes . . .” He turned his body to face Elle and then continued. “I’ve revised my five-year plan.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I can’t wait that long.” Luke pursed his lips and shook his head. “I want you to have this now.”
Elle watched as Luke reached into his pocket, removing a small velvet box. Butterflies swarmed her belly as she looked at the box, then into Luke’s beaming eyes, then back again at the box. “Oh my God, Luke!”
Luke slipped off the leather seat, kneeling in front of Elle with the box perched in his hands. “When you asked about where I see myself in five years, what did I say?”
“You saw yourself with me.” Her breath caught as she remembered that night on the hammock. “With a ring on my finger and a baby in my belly.”
“Exactly.” He opened the box to reveal an exquisite solitary diamond on a platinum band. He removed the ring from its velvet case. “My beautiful Elle, I’ve waited thirty-five years to feel this way about another person. To feel like I can’t breathe without you near me. To feel like I’d do anything in the world to make you smile, to make you feel happy, content and loved. Yes, we’re very different, and of course we don’t always see things the same way, but we strengthen one another, we make each other better people.”
“Yin and yang.”
“Yes,” Luke agreed. “Exactly.”
“I feel the same way about you, Luke. I love you so much.”
“Then I have something very important to ask you.”
“Okay.” Elle sniffed. “I’m ready.”
Luke laughed, his eyes watering and beaming with pride. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Elle Riley. Will you please wear my ring, be my wife, and make my life complete?”
“Yes!” Elle shrieked inside the limousine, holding out her trembling hand. Luke slid the ring on her finger before taking her hand in his and kissing the inside of her palm. Elle sank to her knees opposite Luke, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
“I love you, Luke,” she whispered through her tears. “Only you.”
They remained on their knees, locked in a comforting embrace, as the limousine came to a stop in front of the theater.
“Are you ready for this?” Luke asked, wiping the moisture from her cheeks just as the door to the car was opened.
“Let’s do it.”
Luke took her hand and guided her out of the limousine. Hand in hand, they walked the red carpet, smiling for the flashing cameras and stopping to give brief interviews. Just as they were about to enter the theater, Luke turned to Elle.
“Are you sure you wanna go in there? I mean, we could just jump back in the limo and celebrate in style.”
“Don’t be silly. I don’t want to miss your first win.”
“I’ve already won, Elle.” Luke kissed her, the red carpet beneath their feet. “I’ve already won.”
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much to my editor, Maria Gomez, for believing in this story from the very start and for all of your support during the writing and editing process. I feel so lucky to work with you!
Thank you to my agent, Jessica Watterson, for your continued support. It means so much to have you in my corner. Thank you for everything that you have done to make Red Carpet Kiss a success!
Thank you to my developmental editor, Lindsay Guzzardo. I have truly enjoyed your insight and ideas. You made the editing stage FUN! You pushed me in the best possible way and I’m so grateful to you for that. It was a pleasure working with you on this project and I hope to work with you again in the future.
Thank you to my beta readers: Deb Bresloff, Pamela Carrion, Megan Kapusta, Allison East, Laura Wilson, Sharon Cooper, and Jennifer Merkley. Sharing chapters with you was my favorite part of writing this book. I loved the Team Luke vs. Team Troy debates and all of your wonderful and constructive feedback. You all helped to shape this story and I can’t thank you enough for that!
Thank you, Deb Bresloff, for all of our awesome brainstorming sessions regarding Luke, Troy, the Beatles, etc., etc., etc. This story wouldn’t have been the same without your awesome input. I am so grateful for your unconditional love and support. I am one very lucky girl.
Thank you to Beth Ehemann for all of your awesome brainstorm suggestions, support, and encouragement. I love that we are now Montlake sisters. How awesome is that?
Thank you to Janna Mashburn for all of your love and support. You’ve been supporting me since the beginning of my writing career and I am forever grateful for your friendship.
Thank you to my writing family. You know who you are and I love every single one of you. I’m so happy we’re still together and going strong.
Thank you to my husband, Chris, for always loving and supporting me—watching the kids when I needed to write somewhere without hearing the word Mommy and for always reminding me that I make you proud. I love you so very much.
About the Author
Melissa Brown is a hopeless romantic living in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Chris, and their two fantastic kids. She loves travel, baking, and just about anything Disney. She speaks fluent movie quotes from the ’80s and obsesses a little too much over television dramas like Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal.