Um, did you know you’re on a celebrity site with Liam Hamilton? Also, hope you passed on the thong. Not your color.
Crap. The news was spreading fast. And how was she supposed to keep her deal with Liam a secret from her best friend? Was there any scenario in which she’d get away with that?
She sent Liam a text.I know we were planning to meet in the morning, but that article hasleakedand people are asking me about it. Help!
She was shoving her phone back into her purse when it rang. Liam’s number appeared on the screen. She answered.
“Hey,” he replied. “Yeah, it’s gone viral.”
She’d never noticed the low, sexy timbre of his voice before. “I’m kind of freaking out here. My mom, brother, and best friend already know about the article.”
“Relax, it’ll be fine. Why don’t I come over after you get off work?”
“That won’t be till almost ten. Sorry, I probably should’ve just waited till morning at this point.”
“No worries, I’m still on Pacific time. Unless you’re too tired.”
She snorted. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep at all.”
“Nothing’s changed. People were going to find out—they’resupposedto find out. That was the plan.”
“I know, I just...” She hadn’t expected things to escalate so quickly.
“It’s all new to you—I get it. We’ll walk through it together. Everything’s gonna be fine.”
Right. Everything would be fine. “I’ll see you around ten.”
“See you then.”
Chapter7
Chloe had a cat.
Liam didn’t see the feline as Chloe ushered him inside the two-story Cape Cod. He didn’t hear the cat or smell the cat. But his eyes had started itching the second he entered the house.
He followed Chloe into the living room. She wore a pair of leggings and a loose olive T-shirt that read,I closed my book to be here. She’d twisted her brown hair, still damp from a shower, into a messy bun.
“Sorry if I was freaking out on the phone earlier. This is just moving faster than I expected. I was just on Twitter.” She winced.
“Rule number one: don’t go digging around social media.” He rubbed his itchy eyes.
“But don’t we need to know what people are saying?”
“That’s what my manager and Patty are for. They’ll stay on top of all that. If we need to know anything, they’ll pass it along.”
“Have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Well, I’d like something. Be right back.”
He sat on one end of a black leather sofa and took in Chloe’s home. The floor plan was open, with the dining room and kitchen just off the living room. The wood-plank floors appeared to be original and were stained a rich brown. The low ceilings, whitewashed brick, and snug area rugs gave the place a homey feel while the sleek black countertops and stainless-steel appliances lent a more modern vibe.
A minute later she returned with her glass and curled up in the recliner across from him. He didn’t know much about her, and that would have to change if they were going to pull off this fake relationship. “Where exactly do you work? I assumed the author gig was working out pretty well.”
“I’ve only written one book so far. My family owns a restaurant—Docksiders, down on one of the piers by the marina.”
“I’ve seen it. Great location.”
