BEST OF MY LIFE

Kitty hadn’t seen Josh for days -- not since she had left him at the restaurant. Maybe he’d changed his mind. Maybe her demands were too much. Joey had said Josh wasn’t one to play games with people, but who was she to know?...

“He’ll be back,” Joey assured her, guessing the very obvious reason for her very un-Kitty-like quiet of the past few days.

“What are you talking about?” she asked defensively.

Joey snorted inelegantly. “JC has been gone for four days -- and you got no reason to keep looking at the door.”

Kitty frowned at her costar.

“She could’ve gotten wind of his falling for you like a ton of bricks and decided to make herself unavailable.”

“But if he means nothing to her---”

“She’ll be losing her ticket to some pretty high profile events. That’s probably why the magazine hired her in the first place, because of JC. She won’t be happy about losing whatever clout being his girlfriend gave her.”

“She’s been using him like that?”

Joey nodded. “Did I tell you it wasn’t a good relationship?”

“He starts shooting in two days.”

“He’ll be here,” Joey repeated. “JC’s as reliable as they come.”

At that moment, the stage door opened and a harried, tired-looking Josh entered. His eyes scanned the set until he saw Kitty. He smiled and opened his arms to her.

Without hesitation, Kitty ran to him, jumping up to wrap her arms and legs about him. Josh laughed as he stumbled back a little, finding a wall to steady them. His smile disappeared as she lowered her mouth to his. This was what he had been starved for -- the sweet taste of Kitty. At his quest, she opened readily for his hungry exploration. When she sucked on his tongue, he groaned.

Pulling his head back, he gulped in air. “Sweetness, you’re gonna destroy me with your kiss.”

“Did you want some sweet little peck?” she challenged.

He grinned. “Hell no! The Kitty I’m learning does everything in full measure. I should’ve expected you to kiss that way, too.”

Something vulnerable flashed in her eyes and she hid her face in his neck.

“Miss me, baby girl?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“You were afraid I wasn’t coming back for you,” he accused gently. He felt her nod. “You’re already buried so deep in my heart, it would kill me to have you removed. Don’t you know that?”

Tears sparkled in Kitty’s large violet eyes and clung to her eyelashes. “Ah, baby...” he crooned, kissing the tears away. “We’re all right. I’m here and I’m all yours.”

For a moment, they merely held each other, taking comfort in their closeness. Eventually, Kitty raised her head. “Aren’t I getting heavy?”

“Not particularly.” He liked the feel of her body against his. He could stay that way forever.

Unwrapping her legs from his waist, she let her feet touch the floor. The hands on the back of his neck urged his head down for another kiss. This one was slow to build, their tongues danced, tasted, and explored. This time when they pulled apart, they were both panting as if they had run a marathon. Josh buried his face in her hair.

“Oh, sweetness, you taste so good.”

“I’ve waited for days.”

“I know...I know. So have I. Robin wasn’t easy to track down. The rumor mill had been working over time. She knew it was coming. I told her it was true, that I had fallen in love with someone -- and it wasn’t pretty.”

“I’m sorry...”

“No, baby, I’m not. It means you can be mine.” He lifted his head, running his fingertips lightly along her jawline. “I told her she deserved the truth and a good-bye. Then she started calling you names and threatening your career---”

“She writes for a teen magazine. I’m certain the directors and producers who hire me don’t put much stock in her column.” Kitty nuzzled his chin, comforting him.

“Anyway...I told her she could be as mad as she wants at me, but I wasn’t listening to her bad-mouthing you.”

“Could she hurt your career?”

“They won’t stop buying our records on her say so, if that’s what you mean. A lot of fans didn’t like her.”

She raised innocent eyes to his. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Very sure, Kitty.”

“But didn’t you buy a house here to be close to her?”

“I bought a house here, yes. To be close to her, no. To be here, where a lot of music is made, yes. To be close to you, yes.”

She didn’t remind him that he’d bought the house long before they had met.

“Have dinner with me tonight.” Josh needed to be alone with her, to hold her and know he had the right to do so.

“Okay. You can come over to my place. We can order in and go over your lines.”

“I don’t think I’ll make a very good Tyler Matson.”

“You’ll be fine. If nothing else, I can make you mad before we shoot the scene,” she offered impishly.

“I think not.” He had to laugh at the offer. He was so besotted with her; he doubted such a tactic would even register!

Kitty reached up to kiss him again. “Mmm...I do like the taste of you, blue-eyes,” she whispered. Then she said, “But I have to get back to work.”

“I’ll stay until you’re finished for the day.”

“That could be hours---”

“I’m staying, Kit.”

She kissed him teasingly. “Did you happen to buy condoms?” she asked breezily as she walked away.

Josh was stunned. From no kissing to bed in a few days time? Kitty had told him she was saving herself for the love of her life. Was she saying he was the one? Surely, she expected a wedding ring, at the very least, an engagement ring, before she gave herself to him -- and she deserved it! He wanted them totally committed for life!

He found Joey. “Tell Kitty I had to go out for a while, but I’ll be back.”

“What’s up?”

“I have to go shopping.”

One thing Josh should have expected from Kitty was that she was a daredevil. It had never occurred to him. He was glad his jeep was sure-footed as he followed her little red convertible along the winding beach roads to her home. The girl had a lead foot. If he hadn’t known better, he’d have believed she was trying to lose him. At last they came to a stop at the top of a hill, in front of a two story house with an outside staircase to the second floor.

Josh had barely stepped out of his car when Kitty pounced on his with joyous, giggling kisses. All thoughts of scolding her for reckless driving fled when he finally captured her mouth in a long, drugging kiss.

“Baby, I can’t get enough of you,” he whispered against her neck as his lungs searched for oxygen. “It’s never been like this, like every second we’re apart is a second too long.”

“Then maybe we should stop right now and cut our losses.” She nibbled at his ear. “We’ll be apart quite a bit.”

He shivered when she traced the shell of his ear with her tongue. “Sweetness, I’d rather be without you for stretches at a time than be without you forever.” He lifted his head to smile down at her. “And I may just need those breaks to recuperate. You’re damn potent.”

“But you have loads more experience than me.”

Impossible as it seemed Kitty was an innocent. She was so openly sensual it could drive a man insane with desire.

Kitty pulled away. “My place is on the second floor. Race ya!” She took off running.

Josh easily caught her since his strides were longer. He grabbed her up in a fireman’s carry and hauled her, giggling all the way, to the top of the stairs. “Key.” He held a hand behind his back for the key to be dropped in his palm. Once inside, he set her down with a pat on the bottom. “We’re tied.”

Kitty reached her arms around his neck to pull his head down for another kiss. She liked this kissing business...not that she’d had much practice until Josh. She was clearly getting the hang of it. “I think I’ll have you for dinner,” she whispered against his lips.

“Kit, you amaze me.”

“How do I do that?” she asked just before she trailed her lips down his neck.

Josh wanted to melt. For an innocent, she seemed to know all the things to do to make him nuts. “You’re this wonderful exciting mix of innocent girl and sexy woman. You’re making me crazy in a way I truly enjoy.” He ended on a groan when she sucked at the sensitive flesh at the base of his throat above the lion medallion he never took off.

“Can I have you for dinner?”

When her mouth made a return foray along the side of his neck to nibble at his ear, Josh dissolved. “Mmm... You’re killin’ me here.”

“Am I doing it wrong?”

“Oh, no...You’re doing it very right,” he assured her huskily. “That’s the problem...Kitty!” he gasped when she rubbed her fingers along the hard swell at the front of his jeans.

Stepping away from her, he held out his hand in entreaty. “I realize you have no idea how potent you are, but you gotta stop this right now. I do love you, Kit. And I’m not letting you rush us into bed. It wouldn’t be fair. Not to you. Not to me.”

Kitty frowned. She supposed it felt like rushing to him, but she had waited 24 years for this! All the books and movies had couples readily fell into bed...and she was so curious!...

“We got the rest of our lives to be physically intimate, sweetness. Isn’t there more you’d like to know about me first?”

“I don’t have any diseases, if that’s what you mean. Do you?”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t -- and that’s not what I meant.” He brushed a tender kiss across her forehead. “Real love is mind, body and soul, not just about bodies.”

“But I am so curious!”

Her pout was adorable. She must have gotten away with murder as a child. Batting her long, dark eyelashes and putting her pretty lower lip out...Who wouldn’t want to put a smile back on her face? He certainly did.

“It won’t be too long, Kit,” he assured her. “I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to hold out against you for too long.” He grinned. “In fact, I don’t believe I’m saying no right now! Believe me, the minute you kissed me this afternoon, I wanted to lay you down.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“You know, you shouldn’t saying things like that,” she told him impishly. “It only encourages me to keep pushing.”

“Please, sweetness, don’t. Give me a break.”

Kitty snuggled up against him, more sweet than sexy. “I’m sorry, blue-eyes. I don’t really mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s like...well, I’ve known you forever -- even if I know nothing about you.” She touched her chest then his. “It’s like we’ve always been connected here.”

“Yeah, that’s the way I feel, too.” He wrapped his arms about her so they were heart to heart.

“So, it’s hard to hold back when I know it’s right -- and I’ve been waiting forever to feel this way.”

“I am so very happy you feel that way, but there’s a practical side to this, too. It’ll look like we’ve rushed head on into a new relationship to the rest of the world. That’ll play into Robin’s benefit. You’ll look like the ‘other woman’ and she’ll play it for all it’s worth. I don’t want people talking about you -- and there’s bound to be gossip.”

It dawned on Kitty what he was really saying. “You’re trying to protect me.”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Okay -- for now.”

Josh wondered how long ‘for now’ was.

Kitty pulled away. “There’s a great Chinese place just up the road and they deliver. Sound good to you?”

He grinned broadly. “You are truly my soulmate. It’s my favorite.”

Kitty grinned, too. “Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

She handed him the portable phone. “Four on speed dial. Just tell ‘em it’s for Kitty.”

“You want me to order?”

“You order. I’ll take a shower.”

“What do you want?”

“Besides you?” she asked huskily.

“Uh, don’t go there.”

Kitty laughed. “Everything they have is wonderful.” She reached up to give him a light kiss. “I trust you. Just remember they have very generous portions.”

They sat across from each other at her coffee table, sofa pillows under their bottoms to cushion them from the wood flooring. Like the intimate couple they were, they fed each other with chopsticks, laughing, talking in low tones.

Josh leaned back against the sofa, looking at her with a smile on his face.

“What?” Kitty asked around a mouthful of fried rice. She wiped at her face with a paper napkin, thinking she must be a mess.

“Nothing, sweetness. I am just blissed out.”

“That’s a good thing?”

“A wonderful thing.”

“I know. I am a little piglet when it comes to Quon’s shrimp-fried rice.”

“You’ve got a healthy appetite. Nothing wrong with that.”

“I’ll never be one of those wafer thin models.”

“I’m not in love with them. I’m in love with you.”

“Good. ‘Cuz I can’t peel a grape and call it dinner.”

He burst out laughing. Kitty was going to be so good for him!

“When I was young, I saw a lot of hunger and starvation.” She shook her head sadly. “I don’t like the idea of wasting food or starving for vanity’s sake.”

“You must have seen a world I’ve only read about.”

“I saw a lot of bad,” she agreed. “But I also saw a lot of good, too. I’ve seen first hand that faith and the human spirit can be awesome.”

“You’re a special lady.”

“Not me. My folks, now they were awesome.”

Kitty grew quiet and wistful. It had been seven years and still she missed them -- some days it seemed like only yesterday.

“I’m sorry, baby. Joey told me what happened.”

“They died together. That’s a comfort. They loved each other madly. I don’t think either one of them would have wanted to go on without the other.”

“But they had you.”

“Yes -- and they loved me unconditionally, but it wouldn’t have been the same. They were soulmates, true soulmates. They would have been lost without one another. They had been married ten years when I came along. I was an ‘accident’. They had never intended to have children.” Kitty gave a little shrug. She had never questioned the times when her parents let her behind with one relative or another. In the end, it had saved her life. It simply was.

“You want kids?” It occurred to Josh such an upbringing would turn her off family life.

“I love kids.”

“Sweetness, that’s not an answer,” he pointed out.

“I want kids,’ she assured him. “And you?”

“Me. too.”

“But I don’t want to wait ten years.”

“Me neither.”

“Then we are agreed.”

Kitty got to her feet. “Done?”

Josh rose. “Yeah.”

“I’ll put the leftovers in the fridge.”

“I gotta run to the car. I’ll be right back.”

Snatching up some of the cartons, she called over her shoulder, “Meet you back in five.”

Damn, but she looked sexy in her well-worn flannel boxers and lavender tank top she said were her pajamas.

Kitty felt his eyes and looked back. “What?”

“A guy’s allowed to enjoy a rearview.”

“So is a girl. Get going, blue-eyes.”

Josh held the two boxes he’d brought in from the car behind his back as Kitty settled on the sofa next to him. “Left hand or right?” he asked.

“What?”

“I’ve got something for you in either hand. Which do you want first?”

“Hmm...the right.”

“Right it is.” When he brought his right hand into sight, it held a box of condoms.

Kitty giggled. “Oh, goodie! Just what I’ve always wanted.”

“And if we’re gonna use those, you’re gonna need this.” Josh’s left hand held a ring box.

“Josh...”

He opened the box, revealing a small, exquisite diamond ring. “Marry me, Kitty.”

“Josh, it’s...I...”

“Say yes, sweetness,” he urged.

“But, Josh, you can’t want to marry me.”

“Why not?”

“It’s only been a couple of weeks.”

“You’ve as much said I’m the love of your life. What makes you think I don’t feel the same way?”

“Do you?”

“Yes. You are the love of my life.”

“After I held you off?”

“You held me off for the same reason I want you to wear this ring, to make sure no one else is between us.”

Kitty shook her head. “I can’t accept an engagement ring yet. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“No unfair would be me leaving L.A. not sure you’re really mine.”

“You’re leaving?”

“In a couple of weeks. I gotta get ready for the tour.”

Kitty closed the ring box. “Then maybe we should wait.”

Josh set the ring and condom boxes on the coffee table. “Then we won’t be needing either box right now.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“I wasn’t trying to tease you -- or trap you, for that matter.”

“I never thought you were.” Josh pulled her back against him. “So, tell me about Kitty Winston.”

“Well, my name is Katherine. I was named for my great Aunt Catherine who was called Cat - hence Kitty.”

“Kitty Cat. Cute,” he mused.

“Why are you called JC? Joshua is a nice name.”

“I was fourteen when I got my first break in show business. There was already a Josh in the cast, so it was decided I should be JC -- and I’ve been JC ever since.”

“What’s your middle name?”

“Scott.”

“Joshua Scott. I like it.”

“So, Katherine, what’s your middle name?”

“Elizabeth.” She tilted her head back to see his face. “I know. I have an old lady name.”

“Did I say anything?”

“No, but you were sure thinking it.”

“No, baby, I wasn’t.” He nuzzled her neck. “I like those names. Names like Brandi and Tiffany, they don’t grow old gracefully. Imagine a sixty-five year old Brandi.”

“How about a sixty-five year old Kitty?”

“She’ll be as beautiful as they day I met her,” he assured her softly.

They were quiet for a time, simply enjoying being together. Kitty snuggled back against him and Josh held her closer.

“Josh?”

“Hmm?...”

“You look awfully tired. Shouldn’t you go home and get some sleep?”

“I don’t want to stop holding you.”

“We never did go over you’re lines.”

“I’ll work on them tomorrow.”

There was another stretch of silence.

“Josh?”

“Yeah, sweetness?”

“My bed isn’t big, but it’s big enough to share.”

“Kitty---”

“I can’t offer to lend you any pajamas, but you are welcome to stay.”

“Is that what you want, Kit? For me to stay?”

She rubbed her cheek against the cotton fabric covering his shoulder. “Mmm...hmm...I really would like that.”

“Then I’ll stay, sweetness.”

Kitty rolled in her sleep and met with a solid form beside her. For a moment, she was confused, then she remembered. Opening her eyes, she found Josh sleeping next to her. He looked so sweet and young in sleep. Already, the fatigue was fading from his face.

It was the first time she had the luxury of being able to study him at close range. The fact he wore only his sport-shorts let her see much more! For one so slight, his arms, chest and shoulders were heavily muscled. The dark hair on his chest made her want to run her hands over him. Raising her eyes to the more familiar territory of his face, she studied him further. He had a sweet, full mouth. His deep blue eyes were now closed, leaving a sweep of long dark lashes against his cheeks. Those sharp cheek bones kept him from being too pretty. All in all, he made a fine specimen.

“Like what you see?” came Josh’s low purr. Her eyes on him had awakened him.

“Yes. Makes me want to see even more,” she said truthfully.

Opening his eyes fully, he gave her a sleepy smile. “All you have to do is say ‘yes’ to my marriage proposal and you can see it all, sweetness.”

“You know, I’m tempted to say yes just to see it, too,” she confessed. “But I prefer honesty.”

“So do I, Kit.”

“Actually, I’ve seen more of you than you have of me.”

“There’s a reason for that. There’s more of you to see.”

“Afraid you can’t control yourself?”

“There’s nothing wrong with my self-control. I just don’t particularly care to spend that much time with a hard-on.”

“Shame on you! Talking to an innocent girl that way!”

Remembering how her hand had felt on the front of his jeans, he said, “You may be untried, but I don’t know how innocent you are exactly. I’m pretty sure you aren’t naive. Not in the business you’re in.”

“They use a body double for revealing scenes. It’s in my contract.”

He stroked the hair back from her eyes. “How’d an innocent like you chose acting and Hollywood?”

“I had a flair for the dramatic. Pet wanted me to join her, but singing isn’t my thing, not really. But Anne made sure both of us went to college before we started any careers.”

They looked into each other’s eyes. Something in them grew and solidified.

“Kitty, marry me. I mean before even one more day passes.”

She touched his cheek. “As much as I’d love to, I know we can’t. You film your scenes tomorrow. Then I have scenes with George. It’d be a good two weeks before I could get away.”

That didn’t leave them much time. “Then let’s get the paperwork started tomorrow. That way when you are free, we can get married.” He thought she might argue.

She nodded. “But can we not tell the world for awhile? It’s not that I would be ashamed to be your wife...It’s just -- well, I think I’ll need time to adjust. You are so much higher profile than I am. Your life is almost a media circus.”

“As long as you are mine. I’ll have to tell my family, the guys and our manager.”

“I only have Pet, Annie and George to tell.”

Kitty gave him a smile that melted his insides. So sweet and loving, it went straight to his soul, then she whispered the three little words he needed to hear, “I love you.”

“I love you, too, sweetness.”

Josh rolled off the bed and rose.

“Where’re you going?” Kitty asked.

He didn’t answer as he left the room, only to return a moment later. Climbing back into bed, he took her left hand and slipped their engagement ring on her finger. “I realize we won’t be able to wear our rings in public for a while, but we can wear them here.”

“You’ll have a ring?”

“I intend to.”

“Lots of men don’t.”

“I’m not lots of men.”

He certainly wasn’t. He was her soulmate, the one God had created for her to be complete.

Josh read her thoughts as clearly as his own. “You’re my other half, Kit.”

“You forgot the condoms,” she reminded him.

“I didn’t forget. We’ll wait until we’re married.”

“Then we won’t need them.”

“You sure?”

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t want to get pregnant?”

He smiled. “Not on my part. I can’t think of anything that says we love each other more than having a baby together. I just thought maybe you’d want to wait.”

“No, but...”

“But?”

“Do you object to being married by a priest?”

“As long as we’re married, I don’t care who performs the ceremony.”

Kitty snuggled against him and closed her yes. “We need to get back to sleep.”

Josh’s arms came around her. “Then sleep, sweetness. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Josh?”

“Hmm?...”

“I’ve never seen a naked man -- well, a real naked man. Only in anatomy class -- and well, that didn’t show much.”

“The you’re in for a learning experience.”

“Okay. I’m not particularly shy.”

He chuckled. “No, you aren’t.”

“I’ve never made out, not even light petting.”

She was in for more than she probably knew!

“You’re a clean slate, with no expectations.”

“I expect you’ll be a wonderful lover.”

“Jeeze, Kit, no pressure there!” he complained teasingly.

She gazed trustingly up at him. “Josh, you’ll be saying ‘I love you’ with every touch and kiss. How can that not be wonderful?”

“Lady, I like the way you think.”

“I like a lot of things about you, too.”

“Baby, go to sleep.”

“Okay.”

With a little sigh, her entire body seemed to relax. Moments later, her even breathing announced she was truly asleep.

Josh nuzzled her. In two weeks, he’d be a married man, married to a woman who clearly wanted his children. Some people would say they were crazy to get married so quickly -- But some people didn’t know the feeling of recognizing a soulmate. He and Kitty did. That was all that mattered. Closing his eyes, he followed her into peaceful slumber.