“Yes and no.” She gave me a tight smile. “It’s kind of a long story.”
“I’ve got time.”
She exhaled slowly. “Long story short, it’s another mess. My ex leaked some private texts—twisted things I said to make me look like I don’t care about anyone. Called me cold, selfish, and fake. It’s everywhere now. Rachel says the headlines are a mess.”
“Shit. I’m so sorry. That’s awful. Is there anything I can do?”
She hesitated, then glanced up at me through her lashes. “Are you still okay with the story about us…dating going live? It would help shift the focus. I try not to care about bad press, but with everything else going on, I don’t want him thinking he still has any kind of power over me.”
I didn’t even blink. “Of course. I told you, I’m in.”
Ellie huffed out a breath, brushing her hair off her face as if she needed a second to reboot. “You really don’t have to do this. I don’t want you to think I’m using you.”
“I know I don’t have to.” I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the table. “And this is mutually beneficial, remember?”
She watched me, blue eyes glassy with something I couldn’t quite read. Doubt, maybe. The kind that made me want to reach across and smooth it away with my thumb.
“Okay,” she said slowly. “Let’s say we do this. The story goes live, we’re officially a couple, the internet explodes. Then what?”
I grinned. “Then we go to Woodstone. You come to dinner with my family. My niece will probably cry, and my sister will flip out, but it will still be a good time. My dad might even try to gift you a cow to get in your good graces.”
She blinked. “I’m sorry—a cow?”
“It’s a small town. People show affection with livestock. Accept it and move on.”
She laughed, head tipping back as the tension slipped from her shoulders.
That sound. I’d bottle it if I could. I’d take it, hide it, keep it somewhere only I could find it, bring it out on the days I needed it most, and take my own personal hit of Ellie.
“You make this sound so easy,” she whispered. Her smile melted into something softer.
“That’s because I don’t care about the media. I care about you.”
She peered down at the table, running her finger along the rim of her water glass. “Don’t be crazy. You barely know me.”
“True,” I said gently. “But I’d definitely like to get to know you more.”
Her eyes flicked up to mine, and something cracked open between us—small, but real. Then, she nodded once. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
My heart kicked like I’d just scored in overtime.
“Yeah?” I asked, just to be sure.
“Yeah. Let’s go to Woodstone.”
“Hell yeah.” I pushed my chair back. “I’d recommend packing a flannel. It’s kind of the town uniform. I’ll get you on my flight.”
“I’ll see if we can get my jet ready by tonight.”
“Oh, a private jet. Very fancy.”
Ellie rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“True.” I grinned. “But now I’myourridiculous, Miles.”
Her smile widened. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Ellie Miles pretending to be in love with me?” I whispered, leaning in. “Yeah, I’m living the dream.”
