by Jayne Frost
He pushed to his feet. “Whatever you say.”
Daryl frowned, eyeing the pool house as he walked away.
Whatever.
Grabbing my phone, I scrolled to my contacts and, before I could think better of it, I swiped my finger across Taryn’s name. She answered on the second ring but remained silent. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
“I can hear you breathing, T-Rex,” I finally said, digging my fingers into my eyes.
“Hey, Miles.” Instead of the strain I expected to hear, her tone was soft, almost wistful. “How are you?”
Shame and guilt flooded my insides. Because even after everything, I knew she wasn’t talking about the press. Or the video. She wanted to know about me. My life.
“I’m good,” I replied, voice a little shaky. “Look, T-Rex, I got no right to ask. But I could really use your help. You’ve seen what’s going on, right?”
“Yeah. Of course. But I’m in Dallas right now with my…um…Chase. The guy you met at the concert. He’s got a thing.”
And because she was still her, and I was still me, and we shared a friendship that spanned decades, I couldn’t help myself. “Jeez, Taryn. I hope he’s got a thing. I’m sure I would’ve heard if you changed teams. But if you did, I’d like details.”
Her laughed raced across the line, bridging more than the distance between us. “God, I’ve missed you, Miles.”
My heart squeezed, and I couldn’t find the words. And maybe she knew that too, because as soon as her laughter died down, she said, “I’m flying home in the morning. How about if I drop by and you can tell me what I can do to help.”
I cleared the lump of emotion from my throat. “Yeah. Sounds good.”
“Okay…see you then.”
Before she could end the call, I blurted, “Taryn!”
“Yeah?”
“I…um…”
She chuckled, and I pictured the smile dancing on her lips.
“I know,” she said lightly. “Me too. See you tomorrow.”
Gelsey
Tears stung the backs of my eyes as I stalked to the walk-in closet. Balling my hands into fists, I looked around the vast space.
Stupid girl.
After my talk with Miles last night, I’d felt comfortable enough to hang my clothes. I knew I’d only be here a week, maybe less. But claiming that little spot in the corner of the closet for my few belongings made me feel like a guest and not a charity case.
But I wasn’t a guest. Not to Miles. Hell, I didn’t even exist.
She’s a nobody.
That’s what he’d said to Daryl.
At first, I’d thought I was still dreaming. Things were a little fuzzy. I didn’t exactly know how I’d gotten here but figured it out pretty quickly. Miles had picked me up. And now he was laughing about it.
She’s a nobody.
I wasn’t sure what precipitated the comment. And I didn’t stick around to find out what other gems he’d regale his bodyguard with.
Spinning around, a garbage bag in one hand and an armful of clothes in the other, I screeched when I found Miles hovering by the door of the closet.
His gaze bounced from the garments to my face. “What are you doing?”
“Leaving.”
He didn’t seem all that surprised, but he also didn’t move. So I dropped the items on the floor and turned to grab another handful.
I tensed when I felt his warm breath skate across the back of my neck. The heat from his chest scorched me through my peasant blouse, and I closed my eyes. Didn’t the man own a T-shirt?
“I know you’re probably pissed,” he said. “And I don’t blame you. But can we talk about this?”
If I turned around, it would be worse, so I took my time peeling each item off the satin hangers. “Why would I be pissed? I’m a nobody, right?”
“Why would you say that?”
His tone held a note of shock. And that was enough for me to forget all about the heat. Or his stupid citrus scent.
Whirling around, I came face-to-face with his rock hard pecs. “I didn’t say it! You did!”
He cocked his head. “What…When?”
Instead of owning his comment, maybe throwing in a half-assed apology, he stood his ground like I was the crazy one.
“Have you looked at your phone?” he asked calmly, crossing his arms over his chest.
There were only three people who’d have an occasion to call me. Shannon was on my shit list for asking Miles to pick me up in the first place. My dad was MIA. And I didn’t even want to think about what it would take to get Ivan to pick up the phone.
She’s a nobody.
Miles was right. But I’d never admit it. And why was he changing the subject?
“What does my phone have to do with anything?”
Whizzing past me like a man on a mission, he buzzed around the bedroom for a minute before returning with the crossover bag I’d worn to the imaging center. He shoved the purse at me. “Check your phone.”
Lifting my chin, I took the bag and dug around inside. Nothing on the screen except an apology from Shannon. Good. Maybe she’d feel bad enough to pick me up, so I wouldn’t have to stuff all my shit in an Uber.
“What?” I waved the phone at him. “There’s nothing here.”
Closing his eyes like he was praying for strength, he muttered, “Your browser. Check your browser.”
My cheeks went up in flames and I dropped my arm to my side. “I don’t have a data plan.”
Not exactly the truth. I’d just exceeded my usage on my pay as you go plan. But I wasn’t in the mood to share.
Miles’s mouth dropped open. “You don’t have a…?” He shook his head, like the idea was unfathomable. “How do you get on the Internet?”
“I use a Wi-Fi connection,” I said quietly. “It’s not a big deal.”
But it was. For someone like Miles. He probably had every piece of technology known to man, while I had a five-year-old iPhone and a first generation Kindle.
“My laptop is from the stone age as well,” I added, sarcasm dripping from my tone. “Would you like to look at that too?”
He shook his head, then commenced to rub his neck like he was trying to remove a layer of skin.
“I need to pack,” I said, dropping to my knees in front of my clothes. “It’s your house, so I can’t exactly tell you to leave. But I wish you would.”
Wrestling his phone from his pocket, he shoved the device under my nose. “Not until you see this.” I rolled my eyes and kept on folding. “Take it, Gelsey. Please.”
Blowing out a frustrated breath, I did as he asked.
“Hit the first link,” he said as he eased down beside me. I gave him the side-eye. “Just do it.”
Reluctantly, I hit the link, and the TMZ logo flashed. A familiar voice bled from the speaker, but I couldn’t place it. Not until the camera focused in on Nurse Maxine, jogging after…Miles?
“Mr. Cooper! Please!”
It was Miles, all right. He had a woman in his arms, swaddled in a blanket and burrowed against his chest. All I could see was a mass of blond hair. And ballet flats.
“That’s me,” I croaked.
Miles nodded grimly. “Watch.”
I returned my attention to the screen in time to see Miles whirl on Nurse Maxine. “What possible excuse do you have for leaving her passed out in a dark room? For who knows how long? What if she fell off the table and cracked her skull?” He snorted derisively when the nurse lifted her chin. “Yeah, you don’t have an answer for that, do you?”
“This isn’t a hospital,” she spluttered. “We don’t have adequate staff to watch every—”
“Save it,” Miles spat.
The camera stayed on Nurse Maxine as he marched away. Once he was a safe distance, she called, “If you feel that strongly, then perhaps you should’ve been here sooner!”
The camera swung to Miles who replied with an expletive that was drowned out by a loud beep. Daryl was now in the fra
me, holding the door open to the SL600. They exchanged a couple of words, then Miles gently eased me onto the seat.
The camera zoomed in as he buckled my safety belt. From the angle of the lens, I noticed a hand on his face. My hand. He smiled and said something the microphone couldn’t pick up, then pushed to his feet, striding confidently to the driver’s side.
The TMZ logo flashed again, and the screen went black.
“You were there,” I said quietly, my eyes still glued to the phone. “I…I thought I was dreaming. Why were you so mad?”
When I chanced a peek, he was frowning. “The nurse took me to a dark room in the back. I guess that’s where you had your test. The door was closed, and you were curled up on a metal table. Passed out from some meds they gave you.” He shook his head. “Maybe I overreacted.”
The warm feeling in my chest evaporated, a thousand questions pinging around in my brain. But none found their way to my lips.
Miles took my hand, scooting a little closer. “When you heard me talking to Daryl, I said you were a nobody because you’re not famous. He wants to put a bodyguard on you until this blows over.”
“But…no one saw my face, right?” He nodded, and I closed my eyes. “Thank God.”
“That doesn’t mean you can just waltz out of here.” He tugged a fallen strand of my hair. “One look at this mane and everyone will know who you are.”
“How?”
He took the phone and, after scrolling around a bit, he turned it back in my direction. I recognized the gate in front of Miles’s house. Only people were there now. With cameras.
“Reporters?” I asked, zooming in on one of the faces.
“Paparazzi. They’re sniffing around for a follow up to the story.”
“What story? I don’t understand.”
He reclined on his palm. “Well, I did carry you out of a medical building. So the prevailing theory is, you’re my girlfriend. And you’re either on drugs or you’re pregnant. Maybe both.” He ran a hand through his hair. “My publicist is coming over tomorrow. She’ll know how to spin this. Who knows? It could all blow over by then.” A small, unconvincing smile touched his lips. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
I looked down at my hands. “I’m sorry, Miles.”
He sat up, dipping his head to catch my gaze. “Why would you be sorry?”
I sighed. “If you hadn’t gone to pick me up, none of this would’ve happened. I guess it would be better if I just went to Shannon’s. Does Daryl have any idea how I could…I don’t know…sneak out of here without anyone noticing?”
I chewed the hell out of my lip while he contemplated.
“You can’t go to Shannon’s,” he finally said. “Not right away.”
“But—”
“There’s a chance that whoever took that video is going to come forward. Even if that doesn’t happen, someone is going to recognize nurse what’s her name.”
“Maxine.”
“And when they do,” he went on, “they’ll start throwing money around to find out who you are. It may not work. There are laws, and I have excellent lawyers. But if it does, I can’t protect you at Shannon’s. It’s better if you stay here.”
My stomach flipped as the gravity of the situation sank in.
“I have to tell my coach,” I blurted. “He can’t find out from some gossip site.” I buried my head in my hands as the panic took hold. “He’s going to kill me.”
“Gelsey—”
“You don’t understand! Even if it’s not true, I’ll have to tell him the whole story. That I accepted a job with you. Shit.”
My breathing came faster, and Miles ran a hand up my back. “And he’d have a problem with that? Because of who I am?”
My gaze shot to his. “No. It’s just…I’m not allowed to work outside of dance. It’s a rule. Ivan has lots of rules. And I still have to rehearse.”
The oddest look flashed across Miles’s features. And I got it. To someone outside the dance world I probably sounded crazy. But to his credit, he didn’t ask any more questions, just continued to stroke my back.
“Let’s see what kind of solution my publicist comes up with in the morning,” he finally said, squeezing my shoulder. “She’s a genius at this stuff. You may not need to say anything.”
“Okay.” I blew out another breath, corralling my wayward thoughts. “Tomorrow, then.”
Miles hopped to his feet, and I scrambled up as well. “I hate to ask,” I said with a sheepish smile. “But I didn’t go shopping. Do you have some peanut butter at your place I can borrow?”
He laughed. “Borrow? Like you’re going to give it back?” Flashing me a heart-stopping grin he tipped forward and grabbed a handful of my clothes. “I’m sure we can do better than that.”
My hand shot out to grab the items. I felt so stupid for jumping to conclusions; I was eager to stow the evidence. “Let me get these.”
But Miles didn’t let go. Instead, his grin widened, the dimple carving out a little nook in his cheek.
“Didn’t I tell you?” he said, his index finger brushing over mine. “You’re moving up in the world.”
“Up?”
“To the main house.” When my eyes widened, his smile slipped. “It’s not safe out here, Gels.”
Not safe.
I thought of the reporters at the gate. And the video. And all the sites dedicated to his fame. Miles was probably right. So I let my hand fall and nodded, wondering how I’d ended up here in the first place.
Miles
Gelsey held tight to a fistful of her clothes, clutching them to her chest like a security blanket. “I don’t understand. Why can’t I just stay out here? If no one knows who I am…”
I could see the wheels turning, and for a moment I actually considered tossing her over my shoulder and ending the discussion.
That’s kidnapping, the voice of reason in my head not so gently reminded.
Technicalities.
Still, I took a step back to keep from following through with the plan.
“It was Daryl’s idea,” I said with a shrug, hoping that invoking the name of the bodyguard might set her at ease. “This place isn’t secure. The windows and the door aren’t hardwired into the security system. I’m taking care of that tomorrow.”
Gelsey rubbed her forehead with the heel of her palm. She looked a little unsteady on her feet, so I inched forward, ceding the ground I’d surrendered five seconds ago.
Jesus. Why couldn’t I stay away from this girl?
“You okay?” I asked, my hands buried in the armload of clothes I’d grabbed. Thank God. It was the only thing keeping me from touching her.
Peering up through her lashes, she studied my face. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
I bit down a smile. Literally sank my teeth into my bottom lip to keep from grinning. “I’m sure.”
Her shoulders curved in resignation. “Okay.” Parking her hands on her hips, she glanced around at the mess on the floor. “Give me a few minutes to tidy up.”
“No need. I can get someone to—”
Leveling a serious glare, her lips flatlined. “If you tell me you have a maid or a butler, I’m sleeping in the Civic.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, wondering how in the hell I was going to keep Cora the housekeeper hidden.
Gelsey barked out a laugh. “You do have a maid, don’t you?”
“She’s more like …” Think, you idiot. “A house manager.”
Who cleans. And does my laundry. Cooks occasionally. I kept that part to myself.
Gelsey shook her head as she stuffed items into the Hefty bag. “Well, you do have one hell of a house. So I won’t hold it against you.”
Crouching down to help, I steered clear of the lacy thongs, boy shorts, and bras.
“What about Emily?” Gelsey asked, her attention fixed on her task. “What does she do?”
Something more than idle curiosity threaded her tone. Or maybe that was wishful thinking.
> “She’s my personal assistant.”
Her gaze flicked to mine. “How personal?”
Pausing with a fistful of her T-shirts in my hand, I kept my eyes trained on hers. But she didn’t look away.
“Pretty personal. She handles my appointments and keeps me on track.” I shoved the last of her clothing into the garbage bag. “Never seen her naked, though. If that’s what you’re asking.”
I expected Gelsey to turn red. Maybe stutter a little. Instead, she pushed to her feet and smiled. “Good to know.”
Was she flirting with me? My dick answered with a hopeful “yes,” and all the blood rushed south. But my brain wasn’t as easily convinced. Gelsey was eight years my junior with an innocence that couldn’t be denied.
Not my type at all.
If I were smart, I’d toss all her stuff into Daryl’s Jeep and have him drive her to the Four Seasons. Because I didn’t need these kinds of complications in my life.
You don’t have a life.
I wanted to argue the point. But since it was Rhenn’s voice, I kept quiet.
He was the one who didn’t have a life. Not anymore. And maybe that’s why a piece of him remained, floating around the cosmos. Imparting his dime store wisdom. To remind me that I was still here. Still breathing. Still alive. And maybe it was time for me to move on.
Whatever that meant.
Gelsey
Daryl’s heavy boots echoed behind me like small claps of thunder. It was an odd sound, since these hallways were usually inhabited by dancers in soft soled shoes.
I paused at the door to Ivan’s office and turned to the bodyguard with a tight smile.
“Would you mind waiting out here?”
Daryl took a second to think about it, and that unnerved me. I’d heard the warning Miles had issued from behind his closed bedroom door before we left the house. Don’t let her out of your sight. Obviously, Daryl had taken the order seriously.
But I couldn’t worry about that right now.
The short text from Ivan, summoning me to the dance company, left no doubt that he knew something. How I wasn’t sure. My name hadn’t been leaked in the press. Yet.
“There’s no one here,” I added to set Daryl’s mind at ease. “Just my teacher.”