Pour Judgment

  My God, she’s beautiful. Looks exactly as she did in my dream last night. Well, maybe not exactly. She was wearing fewer clothes.

  “I was there,” I say, disgust rising in my throat as I push it back without reading whatever ridiculous headline accompanies the photo. I’m not at all in the mood for this today.

  “Fine!” Anika squawks, hopping to her feet. “I’ll read it to you then.”

  “Can I stop you?” I tease, knowing there’s no chance. It doesn’t matter how often I tell her I don’t want to hear about this stuff, she insists on freaking out over every little article. Quite frankly, it’s exhausting. The girl’s gonna give herself an ulcer before we’re thirty. It’s bad enough that she’s already on high blood pressure pills at twenty-six.

  “Country heart throb Rhett Taylor proposes to unknown,” she reads, adding venom to the word, “proposes.”

  Hey now…they may be on to something. I tune out everything else she says as the most genius idea begins to formulate in my mind. Maybe this time I can use the rumor to my advantage. For once these snakes might have actually done me a favor.

  “I’ve got to call her.” I throw off the covers, stalking across the room butt naked to retrieve a pair of boxers from my dresser drawer.

  Anika stutters, momentarily struck speechless, while she ogles the goods. I do enjoy screwing with her.

  “Pick up your jaw,” I taunt, winking her way as I step into my shorts.

  The now flustered brunette mutters a string of curses beneath her breath before planting her hands on her hips, her chest red and splotchy and heaving. “This is serious. Like career-ending serious, friend.”

  “I know,” I agree, retrieving my phone from the charging dock. “If you don’t mind…” I motion for the door with my eyes. “I need to reach her before she gets wind of this from anyone else.”

  My best friend’s eyes grow wide. “Are you dismissing me?”

  I nod, shooing her away as if she were no more than a gnat. The truth is, I couldn’t survive this crazy life without her, and she knows it. So, I make it a point to downplay that from time to time. Gotta keep her on her toes.

  “We need to nip this now, Rhett…before it spreads any further.”

  She reaches for her phone and sudden panic wells in my chest. “Don’t,” I say, stopping her hand, “Don’t do anything until I’ve had the chance to talk to Korie.”

  Another sigh. “Just tell me it isn’t true, and I’ll leave you to your call.” Worry lines wrinkle her forehead as she stares at me intently, all but begging with those doe eyes of hers for me to put this gossip to sleep.

  “Give me a little time to figure this out.” I smooth the creases in her forehead with the pad of my thumb. “Until then…keep your big mouth shut. Got it?”

  Anika’s features soften to my touch. She pulls her arms tightly across her chest, looking up at me from beneath her long lashes. “Why do I feel like you’re about to do something really stupid?”

  I shrug, grab her by the shoulders, and spin her toward the hall, before giving her a pat on the ass to get her moving. “You always feel that way.”

  With her lower lip trapped between her teeth, she hesitates in the doorway. “Rhett…”

  “Go.”

  As soon as the door clicks into place, I retrieve the forgotten device from her vacated seat to study the picture a little harder. In my outstretched hand sits a black box with the top flipped open. It’s the style of box that can only mean one thing.

  “Damn,” I mutter, impressed by how realistic the image appears. There’s no sign of the cellphone that was clutched in my palm. My eyes are latched onto hers, waiting with bated breath. Who would believe looking at this that I was simply trying to get the girl’s number?

  No one.

  Shit. I’ve got to reach her before they figure out who this mystery girl is and she wakes up to press banging down her door.

  The first five calls are sent to voicemail, before she finally gives in and picks up. “What do you want?”

  I muffle a laugh at the irritation in her tone. “Morning, Stick…miss me yet?”

  “How ever did you know?” she groans, her voice laden with sleep.

  “It’s okay. You don’t have to be embarrassed. I miss you too.”

  “I thought I was pretty clear when I told you this wasn’t happening, Hollywood?”

  “Yeah. I know what you said, but I really do need to see you,” I insist, calculating how long it would take me to reach her in Texas. “So, you’re just gonna have to get over that.”

  “Not happening,” she repeats. I hear the smile in her voice and my chest puffs up.

  “This is serious, Korie.” I manage to sound just like Anika, and chuckle to myself, which must confuse the hell out of Stick, not having been privy to the tantrum she just threw in my bedroom.

  “Fine,” she huffs. “Whatever you have to say can be said over the phone. Hurry it up so I can go back to sleep.”

  “We have a bit of a situation…”

  I hear shuffling in the background and clearly envision her leaping from the bed. “Oh my God. Is Nick okay? Did—did something happen?”

  “He’s fine. This concerns the two of us. We need to talk, though. In person. And it has to be today.”

  “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but I’ve got class and you’ve got to record an album. We. Are. Not. Doing. This.”

  “Stay in your house,” I order, switching her over to speaker phone so I can throw on a shirt and jeans. “Don’t answer the phone for anyone but me. Don’t open your door for anyone but me.” I pick back up the phone and shoot off a quick text to Nick to get us on the first flight to Houston and a car from there to College Station, and that I’ll explain on the way to the airport. “You’re not going to class…” I trail off, retrieving my toiletries from the bathroom counter. “You can’t go anywhere, actually. And go double check that your doors are locked.”

  “Okaaay. Rhett, you’re really freaking me out. I can’t even tell if you’re serious right now.”

  “Oh,” I add, shoving my shaving kit and a few changes of clothes into a bag. “No internet either.”

  Chapter 17

  Korie

  “What’s he saying?” My pulse is freaking racing and I try peeking over at Raven’s phone while she’s busily texting away with my cousin. Unlike myself, she’s not panicked at all. She doesn’t care why…she’s just thrilled for another chance to hook up with Nick. “Rhett’s not talking to me at all.”

  “You really wanna know?” she asks, waggling her brows.

  “Dude. I’m dying here. There are news vans for three different stations outside our apartment. Yes, of course I’m serious.”

  “He said…” She squirms in her seat, clearing her throat. “ ‘I’m rubbing my cock ring on your cli—’ ”

  “Stop!” I shove her in the shoulder, damn near knocking her off our couch. “He’s sexting you from the air?”

  “Mmhmm,” she says, red-faced and giggling like a teenager. “There’s a pic too,” she taunts, waving her phone side to side. “Wanna see?”

  I’m fairly certain she’s just messing with me. I mean who takes a picture of their dick on a plane? Nick. That’s who. I shudder at the thought. Can’t be too careful with these freaks. “No, thanks.”

  No longer wanting to be anywhere near their conversation, I begin pacing the living room, my bare feet leaving tracks in the shag carpet. I’m going out of my mind with worry. The shades are drawn tight, but every few minutes I split the blinds and sneak a peek. It looks like a damn press conference is being held on the front lawn, and my best friend is all but flicking her bean across the room. We had to take the house phone off the hook because it wouldn’t stop ringing. Worst of all, my mom is beside herself with worry. I can’t answer her calls, because I know the first thing she’ll do is blurt out whatever it is she’s read online, and I promised to give Rhett the opportunity to tell me. So, I had Raven text her and tell he
r not to believe anything she’s seen on the web and that I’d call her as soon as I could to explain. What exactly I’ll be explaining…well, that is the million-dollar question, isn’t it?

  I’m about thirty seconds from breaking down and checking the celebrity news when “Crazy Bitch” finally blares from the phone in my back pocket. Yeah. Yeah. Stop judging me. It doesn’t mean anything. I just happen to like the song.

  “Are you almost here?” I answer, sounding as out of breath as I feel.

  “Well, hello to you too, Stick.” His tone is too light and relaxed for someone putting me through this kind of hell. Patience is not one of the many virtues I possess. “Just landed. We have a car picking us up from a secret location. It’s a black Navi with tinted windows. Nick’s been chatting with Raven about the layout, and I think we’ve figured out a course of action.”

  “Wai—what?”

  “We can’t just walk up to the door like commoners, Korie. I’m sort of a big deal, you know.”

  Oh, Jesus. “And let’s not forget, so modest too.”

  He continues barking orders like I haven’t even spoken. The ass has been doing that a lot today, and he’s going to hear just how much I don’t appreciate it as soon as I figure out what the hell is going on.

  “The driver is gonna pull up as close as he can to your unit. Nick and I will be in disguise. Don’t wait for us to knock, because we’ll be running through the equivalent of a herd of rabid dogs. Just unlock the door and move out of the way.”

  I nod, as if he can see me.

  What the hell have I gotten myself into?

  My heart is racing a million miles a minute when their inconspicuous ride pulls up. Seriously, what the hell were they thinking? If they truly didn’t want to cause a scene, they should have taken a damn Volkswagen Bug or something. Disguised or not, there is no way anyone out there doesn’t assume whoever’s in that car is newsworthy. Considering they’re all camped outside my apartment, and I know it isn’t because they’re dying to meet me…it’s safe to assume the media already have a pretty good idea who might be showing up.

  “Now! Go, go, go,” Raven screeches, pushing me toward the door. “Unlock it.”

  I miss watching them make their big run for it. But judging by the guffaws coming from my best friend over by the window, I bet it’s as good as the two of them barreling into the apartment and falling into a heap of limbs on our floor. And what the hell are they wearing? Pajamas? With…tails?

  After slamming the door in the clamoring horde of reporters’ faces and securing both of the locks, I turn to confront the ridiculous sight before me. “I think you fooled ’em,” I snark. “Good job, boys. If music doesn’t work out, I’m sure you two could make it as spies.”

  I take a deep breath, bracing my back against the door. A sudden warmth spreads through my veins as my body reacts to his nearness.

  “Sloth onesies?” Raven barks, trying to catch her breath.

  “What? Did you think a hat and glasses was gonna throw them off our scent?” Rhett laughs, peeling himself off of Nick. “Might as well give ’em something to talk about.”

  “Besides, our faces are covered,” Nick adds, making his way over to wrap Raven up in his claws. “They’ll never prove it’s us. Any pictures they’ve taken are useless.”

  Now that I’ve had a moment to regain my senses, it’s time to get to the bottom of this. “All right. Enough of the foolishness…what the hell are you two doing here?” My eyes bounce from one idiot to the next. It’s so hard to take them seriously when they’re dressed for trick or treat.

  “Go ahead and pull up TMZ,” Rhett instructs as he unzips and steps out of his costume, revealing a fitted vintage Merle Haggard tee and distressed jeans.

  Raven and I waste no time reaching for our phones.

  “Millions of hearts around the globe shattered this morning when they awakened to learn that one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors has been snagged.” I read the caption aloud, studying the doctored photo that makes it look like Rhett proposed in the parking lot yesterday. “I don’t get it…”

  “They think we’re engaged,” he explains, the corner of his mouth curling into an amused grin.

  How stupid does he think I am? “I understand that much. What doesn’t make any sense is why it’s such a big deal? Surely things like this happen to you on a daily basis. Can’t you just make some public statement explaining that the photo is doctored and the engagement bogus?”

  “I could,” he agrees, dropping down to one knee and pulling a black box, nearly identical to the one in the article, from behind his back. “But instead, I’m going to live on the edge. Stick, will you do me the absolute honor of pretending to want to marry me? What do you say? Will you wear my ring? Be my partner in crime? My plus one to all red-carpet events? Korie Potter, will you be my fake fiancée?”

  My throat swells shut, thick with words I can’t seem to formulate.

  “Oh my God!” Raven squeals. “Holy shit, we’re going to be famous!” Her hands clamp down on my shoulders, and she gives them a good squeeze. “This is like…almost romantic.”

  “Why?” I ask, tuning her out. The one syllable word is the only one I can manage. What the hell is this boy up to, and why does he want to make me a part of it?

  “Quite simply,” he says, removing the huge rock from the cushion and holding it out for all to see, “you need me.”

  That breaks whatever trance I seem to have fallen under. “I most certainly don’t need anyone. Least of all you.”

  “What better way to be seen?” he asks, his face sobering. “The games are in five and a half months. That’s plenty of time for us to get you on their radar...use me.”

  “You came all this way to stop me from correcting this ludicrous rumor—to help me?” I’m completely dumbfounded. It’s selfless and beyond generous and the last thing I’d ever expect from a man of his position.

  He nods, mussing his hair nervously. Jesus, does he have to look so hot doing that?

  “Why? Why, Rhett? Why on Earth would you do this for me?”

  He takes my trembling left hand into his, sliding the gaudy ring onto the fourth finger, and I know it’s pretend, but I still feel woozy, like I’m going to faint. “Why wouldn’t I? You’re my best friend’s cousin, and I’m in a position to help. Let me prove to you we’re not all like your father. That I’m not like him.”

  Of course, Nicholas told him about my dad.

  “I’m not actually going to marry you,” I warn, shocked that I’m even entertaining this bizarre idea. “You do realize that?”

  “Not yet,” he fires back. “But who knows what could happen in the coming months.”

  “Not ever,” I insist, rotating my hand to test the weight of the ring.

  “We’ll see.” He rises to his feet, giving me a panty-melting wink before stepping forward and wrapping me in his embrace, like this is already a done deal. I haven’t agreed to anything yet.

  “I mean it, Rhett Taylor,” I say, breathing in the scent of his cologne. “Don’t you go falling in love with me.”

  His smirk grows to a blinding smile. “Is that a yes?”

  With a hard swallow, I shrug. “Couldn’t you have gotten a simpler ring? This is really expensive for a fake engagement.”

  Rhett scoffs like he’s offended. “I have a reputation to uphold.”

  “Speaking of reputations…” I pull out of his embrace, digging a finger into his chest. “Don’t make me look like a fool. Do not turn me into my mother.”

  “Never,” he promises, without a hint of a smile. “I will be the picture of monogamy. The best fake fiancé to ever exist.”

  My chest swells to almost bursting. And in this moment, I realize that I’m the one who’ll have to find a way to keep control of my emotions, but this could work. I’ll have to take some time away from volunteering at the hospital and graduate absentee, but he’s exactly the exposure I need for a shot at the games. And apparently, I want it bad
enough to risk my reckless heart.

  “Okay,” I whisper, swallowing a ton of lead. “Let’s do it.”

  Chapter 18

  Rhett

  “I’ll be back to pick you up outside of class at exactly ten o’clock.”

  Korie raises her brows in annoyance. “You do realize I’ve managed this college thing just fine on my own for four years, right? This isn’t necessary.”

  “This is new.” I grab her left hand and tap the ring that’s only been on her finger since last night. “We need to be seen together,” I rasp into her ear. “And I’m worried about the way people will react to you since the news dropped. Let me get you all squared away before I have to head back to L.A.”

  “Fine.” She narrows her eyes, shoving my chest playfully. “Go away. See you in two hours.”

  Walking backward, I keep my eyes trained on hers until she’s no longer in sight. I sign a few quick autographs as I make my way back to the waiting car, silently thanking God it’s finals week and the students have to actually go to class. I’ve got a few very important things to take care of, and the last thing I need is to be trapped here all day.

  “Where’re we going?”

  “To celebrate you passing that damn test.”

  “Oh yeah?” She slides closer on the back seat, so her leg rests against mine. “How do you know I didn’t bomb it?”

  “You have a 3.9 GPA with a week left of school. I think it’s safe to say, you just made that exam your bitch.”

  Korie jerks her head back, eyes narrowed. “Are you spying on me?”

  “I prefer the term, studying.”

  “That’s kinda creepy.”

  “It’s no creepier than you internet stalking me,” I return. “Look, I need to know things if we’re going to pull this off. People will be asking about you—about us.”