Kiss Me Katie (Complete)

Chapter 15

Katie

"Hell to the no! I cannot be seen in public wearing this!" I stared into the mirror, my face burning. The girl in the red velvet and lace medieval gown reflected back at me was a total stranger. Apart from the fact that the dress was perfect, and fit like a glove, I was mortified at the thought of anyone seeing me wearing it.

No way. I looked like a total slut.

Annie stood beside me in the dressing room with her eyes popping. "Hot damn, Katie. It's perfect. You look... sensational."

"So... ummm... does your partner in crime get to have a say in this?" Riley's voice floated in from the other side of the curtain, sounding a bit husky. Of course. After Annie's embarrassing comment about the popping cleavage, any red-blooded male would want to see if the reality matched the visual. I almost giggled, and then memories of Mark's gross friend describing my boobs as 'ginormous puppies' flashed in my mind and made me want to throw up.

Nope. The dress had to go.

"Come on Katie, it can't be as bad as those pantaloon things Joel and I have to wear. At least give us a look before you make up your mind." The image of Riley in his costume instantly banished all thoughts of Mark and his sleazy band of morons. Riley would never make me feel dirty and degraded like they had. Maybe I could do this.

Okay, so I had to admit the dress really did fit the part. I sucked in a deep breath – oops, maybe not such a good idea with the threat of an escaping-boob-fest – and closed my eyes. "Fine, but if either of you laugh, I will punch you in the face!"

Riley chuckled. "What, like you two didn't practically roll on the floor when we –"

He'd stopped talking as I stepped out from behind the curtain. Holding up the bottom of the dress and keeping my eyes glued to my hands, I held my breath. The stunned silence was the last reaction I'd expected, and I lifted my eyes to see what was going on.

Wait. Riley's face was so red he looked ready to burst a blood vessel.

What was that all about?

Maybe he was upset about me looking so slutty?

"That bad, huh? Well, I did try to warn you..." I turned to head back into the dressing room, feeling like a complete idiot.

I stopped when Riley's — was it seriously shaking? — hand reached out and grabbed mine, letting the dress fall to the floor. "Are you serious? How is anything about this... bad? You look... Jesus Katie... you look incredible."

My eyes flew to Riley's in shock, and I was instantly lost at sea. Did this gorgeous guy really just say I looked incredible? This couldn't be happening. I needed to pinch myself, 'cos this had to be some fantasy playing out in a dream I was having. I tried to swallow, but my throat was so dry it was pointless. There was something in his eyes I didn't recognise. And whatever it was, no-one had ever looked at me like that.

Annie cleared her throat and stepped out from behind me, wearing a similar dress to mine, but in blue, and I didn't miss the flare of appreciation in Joel's eyes.

Hmmm... interesting.

Thank the stars for Annie and her ability to defuse an awkward situation. Because if Riley had kept looking at me like that, I was either going to burst into flames or throw myself at him... again. And the friends-hug excuse was starting to wear a bit thin.

Annie did the clapping hands thing and giggled – both of which I had given up caring about. Acting mature was so over-rated. "That's what I tried to tell her. Can someone else please tell her she has to wear it? It's perfect."

Joel dragged his eyes away from Annie and threw me a huge grin. "Yeah. Annie's right Katie. You are seriously rockin' the part in that dress." He turned to Riley and raised an eyebrow. "What say you, Petruchio?"

Riley laced his fingers together on top of his head, stepping back and running his eyes over my entire body, before returning his heart-stopping gaze to mine. "Ummm... they're right Katie. In fact, I'm feeling much better about wearing the whole pantaloon thing already. 'Cos with you wearing that, no-one will even notice what I have on."

Damnit. Why did he have to say nice stuff like that? He almost made me believe I looked... beautiful. "Yeah right. Come on Riley, you don't have to —"

"Don't, okay? Would it really kill you to just take the compliment for once?" I was about to snap out a "fine", when he held up his hand, his eyes holding a distinct warning. "Graciously."

Annie snorted and threw her arm around my shoulder. "Girl... you have just been told!"

I shivered as Riley's eyes continued to hold mine.

Hot damn he was mind-numbingly sexy when he was mad.

Pulling myself together, I adopted a cheeky grin, pursing my lips and throwing him what I hoped was a sultry look. Dropping into a curtsy, my heart hammering in my chest, I held his gaze throughout. "Many thanks, Petruchio. It pleases me to know you approve."

Holy cow! Was I seriously flirting?

Riley's eyes glittered, a slow smile lifting the corners of his lips. "Pity we're not doing the scene where Petruchio puts Kate over his knee and spanks her for being such a shrew."

A deathly silence hung in the air, as if no-one dared to breath. I knew they were all waiting for me to explode, but instead I burst out laughing.

How did he even know about that scene?

Unless he'd watched the entire movie?

I mean, Annie and I watching it the previous night was one thing, but Riley sitting through the whole thing?

Joel was frowning and scratching his head. "Wait... what spanking scene? What'd I miss?"

Okay, so he hadn't watched it with Joel.

Annie grabbed my arm and dragged me back into the dressing room. "Come on, let's get changed. I'm not sure that dress is going to hold up under all your hysterical laughter."

Reining in my laughter, I allowed Annie to help me out of my dress. But I really had to know. "By the way Riley... how do you know about that scene? Please tell me you did not watch the whole movie?" I called out over my shoulder.

Riley's chuckle floated through the curtains. "Fine. So I may have wanted to know a little more about the characters. Now can you two please hurry up before our allotted rehearsal time runs out? I'd like to at least have the song ready if I'm going to be seen in this ridiculous costume."

I giggled and nudged Annie. "I'm beginning to wonder how many times he watched the movie. He's starting to sound more like Petruchio every minute. Bossy and conceited."

"I heard that," Riley growled, and my heart skipped a beat. I loved it when we bantered and pushed each other's buttons. And as for that warning look he'd thrown out earlier? Dear God, I'd almost melted into a pile of goo at his feet. The thought of what he might do if I pushed him too far made me tingle from head to toe.

Nah... he wouldn't... would he?