But I’m not finished. “Do you seriously think he’s dumb as rocks just because he’s a professional athlete?” I say to Mike. “You’re the stupid one.”
“I think that would be you, sweetheart.” Mike gathers up his stuff and puts it safely away in his bag.
“What do you mean by that?” I say.
Dylan shakes his head at Mike. “You just made a big mistake. I might have let the things you said to me slide, but you don’t talk to her that way. Tell your editor to expect a call later.”
Shit. I messed this whole thing up. My stomach churns as I follow Dylan and Tim out of the room.
As soon as we get into the hallway, Tim spins on me. “That was really fucking stupid; you know that?” he shouts in my face.
“Tim!” Dylan steps in between us. “Get yourself under control. It’s not her fault the guy’s a prick!”
“It’s her fault that she cares,” Tim says. “Dylan, you’ve got trouble on your hands. You know you can’t have crazy things written about you because of a dumb chick.”
“I’ve got a this-close-to-being-fired agent on my hands is what I have,” Dylan snaps. “I mean it, Tim. Apologize to Jasalie now, and then go cool off.”
“I’m sorry, Jasalie,” Tim says, his flat expression telling me he doesn’t mean it at all.
I nod at him and look down.
Then he sighs. “The thing is you could be good for Dylan’s image. Real good. But if you don’t learn to keep your temper in check…”
“I apologize,” I say quickly. “I understand my behavior can negatively affect Dylan’s brand. I don’t want to jeopardize his charity or business.”
“You’re not, Jasalie,” Dylan says quickly. “Don’t blame yourself. Please.”
Tim looks between Dylan and me. “You know what? You two work together. In fact, I think a quick kiss could sweep what happened last night and today under the carpet…what do you say?”
“Absolutely not.” Dylan’s eyes are daggers as he directs his angry gaze at Tim. “Jasalie didn’t agree to a public kiss. For Christ’s sake, Tim, this isn’t some reality show.”
But Tim doesn’t appear to be listening. “I’ll call the media, let them know where you’ll be. It will be a public place, somewhere in the middle of Tucson. All you need to do is kiss each other quickly but on the lips. Okay? Jasalie, what do you say?”
“Um…” I tap my foot on the floor. “How far away will the cameramen be?”
“Too far away to speak to you at all,” Tim promises. “They won’t be allowed to approach you. You’ll step out of a car, kiss on the sidewalk, step back into the car, and drive off. It will help cement the idea that your behavior last night was you being protective of Dylan.”
“Thatwasme being protective of Dylan!” I say. “I wasn’t acting.”
“People are stupid,” Tim says with a broad-based sweep of his arm as if including the entire world. “They need proof. A kiss…that’s the proof.”
I throw up my hands. “Sure. One kiss. Why not?”
Tim smiles. “I’ll set it up.”
“Jasalie, no.” Dylan shakes his head firmly. “This wasn’t part of our deal. You know that as well as I do.”
“Dylan, you know why I’m suggesting this.” Tim turns to leave. “And, Jasalie, no more outbursts in public.” He waves good-bye and walks off.
Once Tim’s gone, Dylan grips the short strands of his hair with both hands and turns his back to me. “Freaking Tim,” he mutters. I stare at his muscled back moving as he takes three deep breaths. When he turns around to face me again, his eyes are warm. “We’re not doing the kiss. I’m vetoing it. I’ll call Tim later.”
“But your charity…”
“Isn’t worth that,” he says firmly. “That’s taking it too far. I won’t change my mind on this.” He steps into my space and with his nose nearly touching mine, says hotly, “Jasalie, I promise you—if I kiss you, it will be because I want to, not because my damn agent thought he could get some good PR mileage out of it.”
I catch my breath and stare into his dark eyes.
“Okay.” I nod. “I understand. And you’re right. It’s a slippery slope once you start doing things like that.”
