CHAPTER8
MICHAEL
A monthafter moving in with Adam, I’d successfully annoyed the shit out of him with my endless list of suspects. He kept insisting the notes were from his mom, but what he didn’t know was two more notes demanding money had arrived at the office, mixed in with Fallen Angel’s fan mail. Both envelopes were addressed to him.
When we stopped by the office to check in, Jesse and Aidan presented us with a new plan. “Since the notes aren’t being left on the door, maybe Phantom has scared them off. We need to catch them on surveillance. The street cameras have been adjusted toward the walkway up to your apartment.”
“Okay,” Adam said. “What does that have to do with us?”
Jesse gave us a serious look. “We need to take away the bodyguard mystique. You two are going to need to act more like boyfriends than rockstar and bodyguard,” he said.
Adam’s eyes widened, and I felt my pulse quicken. Had I heard him correctly?
“You’re gonna have to say that again, because I know you didn’t just tell me to get involved with my client.”
All kinds of images filtered through my brain as my mind filled with thoughts of what it would be like to date Adam.
GQ smiled and nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you, Phantom. I know it might take some acting for you to think about Adam that way, but you’re both natural flirts. You’re almost as bad as me and Dom.”
“Wait,” Adam said shakily, then got to his feet. “What do you mean it would take some acting for him to be my boyfriend?”
I hadn’t told him I was demiromantic, but of course Jesse knew. He glanced at me, and I gave a subtle nod for him to get the message. I ran a hand over my mouth, attempting to suppress the smile stretching across my face.
Jesse tried to clarify what he meant. “What I mean is, you’re a client, so Phantom would never get involved with you. It would mess with his brain.”
Adam stared at me, then furrowed his brow. I could see his thoughts clear as day. The ‘I’m not good enough’ thought was clearly ringing in his head. I’d have to fix that later.
He straightened and looked at the floor. “Good. I don’t do that anymore.”
“Adam,” Aidan said calmly. “It’s all about optics. We need to create an impression that you and Michael are a couple in front of the media and everyone else. That he’s not just your bodyguard. For that to happen, it has to be pretty public. I’d be surprised if they weren’t following you in the media.”
He looked over at me, then ran his fingers through his hair. “Won’t they just assume he’s my bodyguard? We’ve been living together for weeks.”
GQ looked at him. “Maybe, but we need the notes to show up on your door again. It’s about changing the perception. It looks like he’s your bodyguard, but things have changed. It’s a performance. That’s all.”
I looked over at Adam and smiled. “You don’t want to be my boyfriend, Rockstar?”
He closed his eyes and scrubbed his hands over his face. I’d caught him ogling me a couple of times. He wasn’t immune to me. “Why would I want that when you annoy the shit out of me?”
I grinned and turned on my southern charm. “Come on now,darlin’, don’t do me that way.”
Adam rolled his head to the side to glare at me.
I laughed and put my hand on his thigh, making him jump. “You can do this, Rockstar. You might even enjoy it.”
He took in a deep breath, then exhaled roughly. “Fine. Howboyfriend-yto we have to look?”
“Just enough to get the idea across. You need to give the illusion of a relationship,” Aidan said. “Holding hands when you’re out, goodbye kisses, sweet things—nothing too over-the-top. But for it to appear convincing. It shouldn’t look like it’s painful to be near him. No full on PDA or anything is necessary. But to sell it, you’re gonna need to move some of your things into Adam’s apartment. Like furniture. Something tangible that people would notice,” he replied, looking between us.
I didn’t understand what the issue was for Adam… then again, maybe I did. One thing was certain: we liked each other enough to pull this off, but maybe he needed me to goad him into it to make it okay for him.
“Come on, Rockstar! It will be fun. And don’t worry—I know for a fact that I’ll be a better boyfriend than you.”
Adam huffed. “You have no clue how great of a boyfriend I can truly be.”
Jesse snickered. “Damn. Do you two make everything a competition?”
That observation got me thinking.
