The day of the awards was upon them before they knew it. The bus pulled to a stop in a hotel parking lot early that morning, and everyone filed off, wearing sunglasses and ball caps and carrying their bags. They checked into their rooms, talking excitedly.
When Hunter was alone in his suite, he pulled his phone from his pocket and called Nancy, his hair and makeup woman.
"Nancy Flemmings speaking," she answered cheerily.
"Hey, Nance, it's Hunter. Listen, I need you to do something for me, if you don't mind."
"Sure thing, hon, what do you need?"
"Beth doesn't have anything to wear to the awards show. Could you help her out? Take her shopping or something? I'll pay. You can get something too, Nance. You deserve it."
"Aww, hon, you're too sweet. Sure, I'll take her! I was going to go look around anyway. No problem!"
Hunter sighed in relief. "Thanks, Nance. You're the best."
She laughed. "Okay, talk to you later, dear."
"Okay, bye! Thanks again!" The line clicked closed and he lay back on the immaculately made hotel bed.
As excited as he was for tonight (an award nomination and a public date with his amazing woman - what could be better?), he felt an odd sense of foreboding, like something was going to happen tonight that he wasn't prepared for. Maybe not a good thing, either. But he just shrugged it off, thinking how lovely Beth would look on his arm tonight.
What could go wrong when she was finally his?
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It was beautiful; it was sexy. It was perfect.
It was nerve-wracking! The dress was covered in nothing but silver sequins that were sure to make her look like a Twilight vampire with the cameras flashing. It would certainly draw attention. The slit that rose from the floor-length hem to just above her right knee made her short legs look long and graceful. The tank top style straps and sweetheart lined bust made her look full and womanly, and the drop in the back that scooped up just above the small of her back exposed her velvet smooth skin, all the way up to the nape of her neck.
The dress was wonderful, and she felt like a goddess, but there was so much that could go wrong with it! She could step on the hem with her strappy high heels, she could fall out of the front of the gown, or it could pull down too far in the back. she wasn't used to showing so much skin, either. What if Hunter hated it? What if the pictures were awful and everybody thought she was a slut?
Nancy had practically glued the dress to her body, which put her mind somewhat at ease, but she was still really worried about tonight. She had this strange sense that something unpleasant was going to happen.
"There you go, dear, you're ready." Nancy stepped back, admiring her work. "You look gorgeous, doll."
Beth looked at the finished product in the mirror. Wow, I do look rather fetching, she allowed. She blushed. The curly up do of her hair was a masterpiece, and the work Nancy had done to her face was astounding. She'd smoothed her skin, then added a hint of color to her cheeks, but mostly focused on her eyes. Her eyes were the most simple shade of brown, but tonight they looked like the darkest, most delectable chocolate, the richest soil, the most beautiful cherry mahogany.
"Wow. Nancy, you work miracles." Beth stood and folded her into a hug. "Thank you so much!"
Nancy laughed. "It was a pleasure. You get tired of working with just men all the time. Sometimes you want to work on a woman. It wasn't hard to make you beautiful, dear. You don't need my help."
Beth blushed again, and helped Nancy put her things away. She walked her to the door, and just as she was reaching for the doorknob, someone on the other side knocked. She let the door fall open and saw Hunter standing there, looking dashing as always. She grinned, thinking how very well that grey suit fit him. She did miss his signature Converse, though, since he'd traded them for more traditional black dress shoes for the occasion.
He gawked at Beth, his mouth falling open and everything. He caught himself quickly, hugging Nancy and complimenting her gown.
"You look lovely, Nance." He smiled and winked at her.
She waved her hand dismissively. "I'm just the appetizer, dear. This," she pointed at Beth, making her blush, "is the dessert. Enjoy," she winked, striding out the door and leaving them alone.
Hunter closed the door behind him, not once taking his eyes off Beth. He leaned up against the door, putting his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching for her. He was afraid to touch her; he'd mar the perfection.
"Could you just, um," he stammered. "Do something for me, Beth." She blushed, feeling the urge to cover up. His face was inscrutable. What was he thinking?
"What?"
"Could you just...turn around?" She cocked an eyebrow at him questioningly.
"Why?"
He laughed nervously. "Just...please? For me."
Reluctantly, she turned around, well aware of how much exposed skin he could now see. Her face flushed as she heard him suck in a breath and move closer.
Standing behind her, he took a deep breath. He pulled his gift for her from his pocket and draped it around her neck.
She jumped, feeling the cold metal against her skin. She grasped the necklace and smiled. it was a simple piece - just a single teardrop diamond on a thin silver chain - but it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever been given. Hunter's fingers shook as he locked the clasp in the back, and he trailed his fingers over her bare shoulder timidly.
"It's beautiful, Hunter. Thank you," she breathed, turning to him nervously. His face was still unreadable. Say something, she begged. Anything.
"Beth, you look...positively resplendent. I'm kind of afraid you're not real." She giggled, blushing scarlet for the hundredth time. "I'm sorry, that sounded bad didn't it?" he fretted, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just meant - you're just so - how can I - words are hard."
He sighed in defeat, chuckling weakly and looking up at her shyly from beneath his eyelashes.
She stepped closer and kissed him, pulling him in for a hug he enthusiastically returned. They stood there for a minute, his fingertips whispering against her back.
She sighed. "Hunt?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm a little nervous."
"Why's that?"
"What if your fans don't like me?"
He laughed. "Do you even know how many of my fans were begging me to get with you after the "Tattoo" video? They already love you, Beth. Besides, even if they don't, I don't care. You're mine, not theirs."
He squeezed her reassuringly, then pulled back to look at her. "Okay?" he prompted.
"Okay," she agreed. She was still nervous, but as long as he was with her, she knew she'd be all right.
Just a bunch of cute stuff. (:
You guys are great, hope you know that! Thanks for reading! God Bless and Happy Reading!
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Secret Love (Hunter Hayes Fanfiction)
Romance"I'm falling for someone who isn't falling for me." "I know exactly how you feel," he answered, leaning down and hugging her tightly. "Do you?" She hugged him back, willing him to know just how much she cared for him. He chuckled. "Yeah, I do." H...
