Dex is quiet when he returns from his meeting, and he doesn’t say much about what happened, but he does go straight for the liquor cabinet and pours himself a healthy glass of whiskey before he stands by his window looking out over that gorgeous view. It’s nighttime now, and the lights glitter in the not-so-far distance, casting a glow that makes it look simply magical.
“Jack go down okay?” he asks.
“Yep. He’s starting to like his baths since we gave him those squeaky toys.”
“Not terribly sorry I missed out,” he murmurs, and I laugh.
“I don’t blame you. I can’t say I escaped without a headache.”
He glances over at me. “You okay?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”
“Hey, so my publicist wants me to get more involved with some charity stuff after, uh, a little scandal went down a while back. Would you want to go with me to an event tomorrownight? I know it’s short notice, but he got me in and said I should bring a date.”
Holy. Shit.
Did he just ask me out on a date?
And…he doesn’t have anyone else to ask?
“What about the baby?” I ask.
“We can find a babysitter.” He shrugs.
“I’d love to go.” I really wasn’t expecting this. I figured he’d sort of hide me out here with the baby, but I guess he did tell the mother that I’m his girlfriend, so maybe he wants to push that a step further and be seen in public with me. I decide to ask because I’m nothing if not direct. “Are you just wanting to be seen with me because you told Jack’s mom that I’m your girlfriend?”
I wish I would’ve asked before I agreed to go.
He doesn’t seem affected by my question. He keeps his gaze focused out the window. “Yeah.”
“Oh.” I try to hide the disappointment I feel in that. He wasn’t asking me on a date after all. Not really. “We should probably tell Ivy about what’s going on since presumably the press will be there.”
“I don’t want her to know about the baby yet.” He takes a sip from his glass.
“Then how do we explain why we’re together?”
He sighs as he turns toward me. “Good question. I guess we could just keep it vague. Say we ran into each other and you’re helping me out with some stuff around the house while you lay low after your reality show ordeal.”
I bite my bottom lip as I think it over, and then I nod. “Yeah. That could work.”
I don’t particularly want to call her just yet since she’ll want to know all the details about my appearance on the show. I’m still technically bound by an NDA, which I can conveniently blame for pretty much all of it. But I miss her, and I miss my family. I’m fairly close with my mom, dad, and four younger siblings. Claire is only three years younger than me, and Holly isfive years younger. My two brothers, Carson and Henry, are fourteen and twelve, respectively, and I spent a lot of hours babysitting the two of them when they were little before I started playing volleyball and the sport ate all my after-school hours.
“I’ll just text her,” I say. “My parents, too.”
“Mm,” he murmurs, and he continues his brooding.
“What should I wear tomorrow to the event?”
He clears his throat. “It’s formal, so a gown if you have one.”
“I don’t.”
He nods as if that’s no issue at all. “I’ll have Milton send up a selection of designer gowns in the morning. What’s your dress and shoe size?”
“Stop, Dex. I can’t possibly let you do that.”
“Why not?” he asks, nearly affronted at my rejection.
