“Oh. Okay. Sure thing.”
“I saw Endo playing corn hole a few minutes ago,” Aloha says.
“I’ll wander over there now,” Zasu says.
“Great idea.” When she leaves, I turn to Aloha. “Nail something down with Georgina. I want her to get the best interviews.”
She bats her eyelashes. “Aw, Reed. Is someone a smitten kitten?”
“Just do it, Aloha.”
I head back to the main room to look for Henn, and spot Georgina talking to Isabel across the room in a corner. Of course, I stop and watch for a moment. It’s something I’ve been doing all night—secretly watching Georgina as she charms my artists and friends. I’ve loved seeing how seamlessly Georgina fits into my world. How she lights up everyone who encounters her, the same way she lights up my house when she walks through the front door.
But, also, I’ve been watching Georgina from afar all night because I’ve been guarding her. Making sure nobody hits on her.
Georgina wants my artists to think my relationship with her is purely professional—so I’ve respected her wishes and kept my distance tonight. But the downside of me keeping my distance is that none of my artists knows the hot-as-fuck reporter fromRock ‘n’ Rollis taken. Indeed, they think she’s fair game. Frankly, it’s been a crazy-making situation for me, not being able to kiss her in front of everyone to make it abundantly clear she’s all mine.
As I watch Georgina and Isabel talk, it seems to me things are going well. They’re smiling and looking friendly. After a bit, the women hug, which tells me Georgina has landed an in-depth interview, and then Isabel heads off into the party.
I take two steps toward Georgina, intending to head over to her, when Savage from Fugitive Summer swoops in on his mark. Motherfucker. The pair high-fives enthusiastically, which tells me this isn’t their first meeting of the night. Fuck. They chat enthusiastically, their body language familiar and highly friendly. But I keep my distance, out of respect for Georgina’s wishes. I let her do her job. But when Savage putshis hand on Georgina’s shoulder—and then nonchalantly moves a lock of Georgina’s hair off her shoulder—all bets are off.
My heart thundering, I march through the crowd, and straight to the pair.
“I need to speak with you,” I bark to Savage.
“Can it wait? Georgina and I?—”
“It can’t wait. Follow me.”
I grab his sleeve and pull him with me, leaving Georgina standing in shocked stillness, her mouth in the shape of a perfect “O.”
“Reed, come on, man. You’re cock-blocking me.”
Damn straight, I am.
I lead him around a corner and into an empty hallway and whirl around.
“Donothit on theRock ‘n’ Rollreporter.”
He shakes me off him. “She’s hot as hell.”
“She’s hands-off.”
“Who says?”
I pause.Fuck. I promised Georgie. “She’s here to do a job. Not to get hit on. I promised her boss nobody would hit on her.”
He scoffs. “I think we should let her decide if she wants to get hit on or not.”
“Go find the other writer. Her name is Zasu. She’s been assigned to do your interview.”
“Georgie and I have great chemistry. And we already have the whole thing figured out.”
“You’re doing an interview with Zasu. It’s not a request.”
He leans his shoulder against the wall of the hallway. “You want Georgina for yourself, don’t you?”
“My motivations don’t matter. The only thing you need to know is the owner of your label is telling you she’s off-limits. Now, go find Zasu.”
