Holden doesn’t seem to notice, clearly fixated on the question I asked a moment ago.
“You are honest.” he says while pacing in front of me with his head down and his hands in his pockets.
“Okay. Great. Now be honest with me.”
“Of course, Char.”
He hasn’t looked up once, only staring at the patch of grass we are in. The thrashing sounds of cars zooming past our car parked on the side of the overpass. The only light showing on this dark road is coming from the cracked door that is open slightly.
I let out the most consuming thought in my head.
“Why the NDA? Was it your idea?”
Holden makes a loud, exasperated sigh before finally looking up to see my face.
“Sorta? After the photo came out from the party you came to see me at… Chris and Albert asked me what I thought of you. I said you were their best employee. One thing turned to another and Albert joked that we should date. Chris thought that would be exactly what we needed.”
“What did you think?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
His body leans against the car, softening his gaze. Of all the people in the world, he allowed Chris Blackburn and Albert Linderman to puppeteer him. Worst of all, to force him to pair him with me.
“I am sure I am the last person you would want to be paired up with in this scenario,” I say, “but I’ve thought about it and I am on board. I am going to leave Blackburn Press, but I am still willing to do this.
“We can get you back to being fully employed in no time. Dating stories always cause a huge rush in the media outlets. The only condition is I am not signing that paper…”
“Charlotte.” He furrows his brows and remains unmoved while I continue to pace in the weeds we are standing in.
“Have a little faith in me.” I say as my smile grows wider.
Holden scoffs while puffing out his chest. We stay in the same standing position, only inches apart. So close, I can hear his breathing.
Any closer and I’ll hear his heartbeat. I should feel guilty about the space between us closing in again.
“You don’t have to sign.”
“Holden, despite what you think, I want you to be successful. You don’t need a signed document from me to make that happen.”
“What do you get out of it if you quit Blackburn?”
Holden moves a step forward, making me unable to breathe my own air.
“I am not really sure yet. But we can call this an ‘I owe you one.’”
His head is tilting downward toward me. It takes all my strength to pull the designer shoe out from under the dirt and create distance between us. My face is no longer flushed as I trudge back to the car, knowing deep down that we can never happen.
Chapter twenty-two
A Marble Bathtub
“Should we lay another smooch for the crowd?” He murmurs low enough that only I can hear. The rasp in his voice sends heat waves down my thighs. All the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up. I’ve almost forgotten every camera is aimed perfectly at our faces.
They must’ve been tailing our car, because the same crowd is here, waiting for us as we pull up to the entrance to the hotel.
A man in a red vest opens the car door first on the driver’s side. Holden tosses the keys in midair to him before running to the passenger side door where I am seated.
This is completely normal, I remind myself as I lean in to lay a gentle kiss on his cheek. I have no bags. The key to our room is given to us as soon as we enter the building. Inside the king suite, I open the door to find one big king-sized bed. The muscles in my feet and face become paralyzed.
