“The paparazzi?” Grace deadpanned.
“Unheard of,” Molly added.
He gave them both a look. “Anyway... Since then there’s been some speculation about our relationship, and that scrutiny has kind of changed the subject, if you will, in regard to Mia’s situation with Jax Jordan. Her agent thinks that if we— No phones during our meetings, Grace.”
Grace’s eyes remained glued to her screen. “Relax, brother dear, just looking up those photos you— Oh. My. Gosh.”
“What?” Molly leaned over. “What is it?”
“Look at these. Look at this one.”
Molly cut a look at Levi. “Levi... you dirty dog. You’re totally in love with Mia Emerson.”
Heat rushed through his body, shooting down his limbs and up his neck. He wiped his palms on his legs. “She’s our guest, Molly.”
Grace gave a wry laugh. “You are such a goner.”
They were not making this easy. “Anyway... As I was saying, her agent thinks it would be good for her career if we continued the narrative a bit. So I just wanted you to know we’ll likely be seen out and about town the remainder of her stay.”
“Otherwise known as ‘dating,’” Grace said, still staring at her phone. “Look at this one—look at his face.”
“So fierce!”
Levi snatched the phone. “All right already. Can you guys just listen for a change? We’re not actually going to be dating. I’m simply helping a guest with a...” He searched for the right word.
“Project?” Molly asked, a gleam in her eyes. “Would you say this is a project, Levi?”
He gave her a withering look. He’d been all over Molly for getting into that love letter project with Adam when he’d been their guest.
“I’m pretty sure projects with guests are discouraged,” Molly said.
“Frowned upon,” Grace added.
“Forbidden, even,” Molly said.
Levi glowered. “This isherproject, not mine. There’s a difference. This isn’t—”
Grace and Molly traded looks, chuckling.
He clenched his teeth and tossed Grace’s phone back to her. “Know what? If you two could just continue saying ‘no comment’ as you come and go that would be great. Thanks for your support.”
He got up and left the room, their laughter following him all the way to the lobby.
twenty-six
The next Tuesday Mia followed Levi down the marina dock. The gaggle of reporters that had followed them from the inn was shooting from the parking lot with their telephoto lenses.
“This is really weird,” he said.
“You’re doing great.” She smiled her thanks as Levi helped her on board the beautiful wooden boat bearing the nameMystique.“Just keep smiling. Good news is, we’re about to make our getaway.” She took the beach bag from him and stowed it on a bench seat.
Levi untied the boat and hopped inside. He’d been busy working over the weekend, so Mia had just hung around the inn. She’d worked on her lines, Skyped Ana Maria, and caught up on emails.
Meanwhile the media had figured out who Levi was, and the speculation that he was a significant other had waned. Nolan suggested that being seen together on an actual “date” would help their cause.
Levi’s marina friend had loaned him the boat for the afternoon, and the rest was history. Or soon would be, when the pictures were published. Mia wore her red shorts with a white gauzy top, and Levi wore a pair of navy blue trunks with a white T-shirt. They looked like they were on a nautical dream date.
She settled close to him on the bench seat as he started up the boat, his masculine scent carrying over on a breeze.
