“In elementary school.” She narrowed her eyes as if it was something I should know.
“Now, I’m confused.”
Reaching over, she placed her hand on mine as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Understandable. The father of another student in the musical was a talent agent. He talked to me after the concert and gave me his card. I thought nothing of it and almost threw it away. Suddenly, two men appeared in my classroom door. I hadn’t realized it, but the talent guy had recorded the little duo and had shown it to a buddy of his who turned out to be a music producer. Anyway, one thing led to another and suddenly, I had a record deal. Most of the next few months are a huge blur so don’t try and grill me on specifics.”
She was laughing at herself. Meanwhile, I was still floored. “That is… amazing. Now you’re a superstar.”
Another shrug. Another sip of her wine. Another faraway look, only one with very dark shadows. “Just remember that being rich and famous isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“I agree.”
Her face lit back up. Evidently, I’d said the right thing. “I guess you do. It’s good to talk with something who gets it, at least a little. You start hiding just to keep from being photographed at some of your worst times.”
“I don’t have that problem.”
“No, I guess you wouldn’t, as handsome as you are.”
I wrinkled my nose on purpose, which made her laugh. I did so love the sound. “It’s more about people being terrified of what I can do.”
“Yes, big. Bad. Brute. Man.” Now her voice dipped and shifted to that of a caveman. Still adorable. “I highly doubt you have bad hair days. I do all the time and I can’t tell you how many photographers have caught me with messy hair, announcing to the world that I’d had a rough night. Pick why. Sex. Booze. Drugs. Evidently, I’m fucked up and I didn’t even know it. It’s a shame too because I certainly didn’t get any of the benefits.”
“That bad?”
“That bad. Bad enough you have no idea how many times I wish I was back home in Montana teaching my fourth graders and going home to a cozy cabin where I could feel safe and able to be me.”
How very sad for a woman so beautiful to be dissected at all hours of the day and night. “And Damien? Was he your knight in shining armor at first?”
Now she choked, mostly on purpose. “Hardly. He was a plant by the record company, my public relations team, and his manager conspiring with mine. A match made in heaven and a boost for both our careers. At first, it was fine. A few public dates, an occasional kiss. All very fake and manufactured with various reporters and influencers tipped off. It worked too, but suddenly Damien believed our relationship was real. He wanted more. I didn’t. When I told my manager I wanted to have a very public breakup, I thought Scott was going to have a coronary. I relented and things just got progressively worse. I won’t take his possessiveness or intimidation tactics any longer. If he didn’t just get the message, then I will talk to the police. Especially after…”
She stopped short, looking away again.
My hackles were more than just raised. They were so far on edge they could cut like a knife. I’d sensed there was more to the story.
“I’m sorry about canceling the first residency. I’ve never done anything like that in my life. Very unprofessional.”
“You had a good reason. Didn’t you?”
“Yeah. Call it a battered face that I couldn’t hide with six bottles of makeup.”
I was forced to take a very deep breath. While a huge part of me was ready to track him down no matter what hole he’d likely tried to crawl into after my threat, I knew doing so would make Lainey’s life even more difficult. There was little I could do but listen and try to be a friend.
How in the hell was it possible with the thoughts running through my mind? Not only the full scale need to teach the man a lesson he’d never forget, but also with the desire for the beautiful woman that I had trouble denying.
I placed a finger under her chin, turning her head toward me. “I wish I could promise you that no one will ever hurt you again. If you were mine, I would and I’d make it happen.”
Her eyes were glassy as if she was trying desperately not to become emotional. At least I was rewarded with a smile. “You’re an incredible man, Sasha Dmitriyev.”
No, I was not. I’d done some terrible things in my life. Maybe not as many as the rest of my family, especially my father, but I would never call myself an incredible man.
“No, I am not, Lainey. But I do have principles. You need to protect yourself from predators like Damien Kane.” I’d yet to tell her that Damien had been hired by our production company, something I planned on having changed. I couldn’t care less about the cost of tearing up the contract, although if I knew our attorney, he’d placed moral clauses in the body of the contract. Abuse was certainly relevant.
She opened her soft, voluptuous lips to say something when her phone chirped. The look in her eyes was enough to tell me she wasn’t excited about whoever was calling or texting.
“Let me see who this is,” she said in a dull voice, which was completely unlike her. I didn’t dare take my eyes off her as she pulled her phone from her purse, noting she held it so I wasn’t able to see the screen.
But I could easily read her face, the flash of terror mixing with anger. When she lowered her hand, she instantly chewed on her lower lip.
“Who was that, Lainey?”
