Ugh, why me?
I’d already paid for what I did five years ago many times over. Did he really have to draw this out? We were adults. We could just let this go, couldn’t we?
Grayson pushed into the elevator, taking it over like he did every room he walked into. He was a sight to behold. A sight I had done without for the past five years and drank in now as if it held the answers to the universe.
The door closed, this time uninterrupted, and we traveled up. Grayson leaned against the side of the elevator, studying me. “Since we’ll have to work together for the next few weeks, we should establish some ground rules.”
“How about you stay away from me, and I’ll do the same? I think that’s the only rule we need, don’t you?” My heart gave a brief pang at the thought that I wouldn’t see him again after tonight.
“You know that’s going to be impossible. I’m the lawyer assigned to the show.”
“Great. So unless I do something wrong, I doubt we’ll run into each other.”
He sighed, and I narrowed my eyes at him. I wasn’t the one who let things get personal at the bar, so I didn’t know what he was so annoyed about.
“I have an office downtown, but I’ll still be around a lot,” he explained.
The elevator doors opened, and I rushed out. Grayson followed, stopping me with a hand on my arm. He was too close for comfort, and I’d never be ready for him to touch me with the clinical detachment he currently displayed. Not when his touch had once meant so much more.
I took a deep breath and faced him. “I recallyoumentioning our former friendship, not me. It also wasn’t me who mentioned we had a past or who talked trash about Willa. That was low and you know it.”
He cringed. “I apologize for that comment.”
I took a deep breath in and caught a whiff of his familiar cologne.Nope. No. Don’t go there, Rayna. He doesn’t want you that way. Especially not after what you’ve done.
“Apology accepted. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an early start tomorrow and need to get some sleep.”
He stopped me from walking away with his next words. “You know there’s a clause in your contract about not hooking up with any of the other contestants, right?”
“Why are you bringing this up? I’ve broken no rules.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “You seemed awfully cozy with that guy you were sitting next to. Just making sure you remember the rules.”
It was going to be hard to stay professional when all I wanted to do was kick him in his baby maker.
Knowing I couldn’t give in to the urge, I turned around. “Grayson?”
Dammit, why can’t I let him get the last word?
“Rayna?”
I was still facing away from him, not wanting him to see the lonely tear running down my cheek. “Go to hell.”
I stalked to my room, not sure how I’d stand being around him for twelve weeks.
No less angry by the time I entered, I slammed the door behind me. My phone was still on the nightstand where I’d left it this morning, and I charged for it.
I needed to hear a friendly voice. Not hesitating, I dialed Willa.
“My favorite aunt,” she greeted me with more cheer in her voice than any person should feel at ten at night on a weekday.
“I told you not to call me that. It makes me feel old.”
She huffed. “But that’s what you are. My aunt. Not old, of course. So how’s the show? Anyone have a breakdown yet? Throw cake? Cry? Please tell me someone at least cried.”
I instantly felt better. I’d only been in LA for a few days, but it was the longest we’d ever been separated, and I missed her. “You know I can’t talk about the show.”
“Fine. But that doesn’t mean I won’t keep asking.”
