I remembered then that the Nyberg show was tomorrow and I haven’t done a single thing to pull that together.
“You’re right,” I said. And then I saw something in Jersey Dys’ face I hadn’t expected.
Hope.
Shit.
“Excuse me?” said one of the nurses. “Are you Jersey Dys?”
He flashed a rock star smile at her. “Yes.”
“I knew it! I knew it!” she said excitedly. “Oh my God. My daughter is going to flip when I tell her. Look, can I get a picture with you?” She pulled out her camera.
He shrugged at me apologetically. “Sure. But no posting on social media for a couple of days, okay?”
“Sure. Sure.”
Jersey posed with her, and then her and her friend.
“Can I get one of you and your girlfriend?”
“I’m not—” I started, but Jersey pulled me into his strong arms and squeezed me hard.
“Sure,” he said enthusiastically.
I stood like a deer in the headlights as the woman took the picture. He then whispered in her ear, and her eyes got wide, and she giggled like a teenager.
“Sure,” she said. She then whispered in his ear, and he grinned broadly.
“Thank you very much.”
The doors opened again, and they stepped off, giggling and star-struck. Jersey leaned forward and hit the button for another floor. But I noticed it wasn’t for the first floor. No, we stopped on the fourth floor, and he pulled me along as he stepped out.
“Where are we going?”
“The nurse said there is a conference room here,” he said craning his neck to check out the sign plaques at the doors.
“Why?”
He stopped at one door and pushed it open.
“To take a critical meeting.”
Before I could protest, Jersey pulled me in, shut the door, and crushed me against it. He stared into my eyes like a man possessed.
“I have a confession to make,” he said.
“What?” My throat grew dry, and I could barely croak out the word.
“I’ve had a thing for you for a long, long time.”
“I bet you say that to all the publicists.”
“No,” he said. “Damn it, Jacine. How long have we known each other? How many pool parties with you dancing around in your bikinican a man take? Can you tell me all that time you never noticed me, never wondered what it would be like to be with me?”
Of course, I did. What girl wouldn’t? But like anyone we worked with—off-limits.
“You are my client. I’m supposed to keep a professional distance. I can’t look out for your best interests if—”
