“That might be a little tense.”
“I’m sure Emma wouldn’t be too crazy about the idea either. Not that I blame her.”
“They say there’s no such thing as bad publicity.”
“The production company can sort it out. But my reputation has taken a hit. And if people believe what Jax is saying now, it’s only going to get worse.”
“Will that affect your career?”
She gave him a wan smile. “Well, it’s not going to help. Jax and Emma are a force to be reckoned with. They’ve been in this business a long time, and they have loads of fans. I’m just a newcomer. The media has already weighed in, and apparently I’m the bad guy.”
“Maybe you should give an interview and tell your side of it.”
“That came up. Problem is, he never sent inappropriate texts or anything, so I have no proof to back it up.”
“Neither does he.”
“No, it’s a ‘he said, she said’ situation.”
A text came in from Molly. It was just a photo of a shirt she thought he’d like, but it made him squirm a little. He felt like she’d caught him consorting with a guest in the kitchen. And after all the times he’d gotten after her for much the same thing, he felt a pinch of guilt.
“I’m really sorry you’re going through this.” He gave Mia a polite smile and straightened from the counter. “I should get back to work. But I hope you’ll let us know if we can do anything to help.”
She blinked, caught off guard, no doubt, by his sudden slide into professionalism. Maybe that was how it felt when you crossed a line. He’d have to ask Molly. Not.
twelve
Mia set her laptop aside and blinked against the tears. She shouldn’t have done it. She knew better. People could be brutal, especially when they hid behind a screen. But she just had to know what everyone had thought of her press release.
And now she did.
She got up from her bed, the walls of the honeymoon suite pressing in on her. It was late, almost midnight, but she slipped on the white terry robe with the inn’s logo and left her room. The inn was so quiet she was surprised when she met Molly on the stairs.
“Hey, Mia. You’re up late. Is there anything you need?”
Sweet of her to offer, since she was obviously heading to bed. Thankfully Molly had settled down since they’d first been introduced. Mia had become used to a certain amount of fangirling, but here in this tiny town it felt different somehow.
“No thanks. I just wanted to get out of my room for a while.”
“I don’t blame you. Help yourself to the TV in the living room. Or there’s a beautiful full moon tonight right over the lake. I saw a falling star out back the other night.”
“Sounds great. Thanks, Molly.” She passed the innkeeper.
“Mia?”
She turned, looking up at Molly.
“I just wanted to reiterate that you’re in good hands here. We’ll do everything we can to keep your whereabouts under wraps.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” Mia gave her a smile and continued on.
“And Mia?”
She turned again.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to be a pest. But I want to say that I think you’re getting a really crappy deal in all this. I’m thoroughly ticked at Jax Jordan, and I’ll never watch another one of his films. Except the one you’re in, of course,” she added hurriedly. “I’m sure you’ve got a million people in your corner—I just wanted you to know I’m one of them.”
It felt good to be so easily accepted. Mia gave her a warm smile. “Thanks, Molly. That means a lot to me.”
