I winced, knowing it was true. But still, the characterization hurt. “Ellie and I started seeing each other months ago in secret,” I improvised, “but when it started getting serious, she wanted to come clean to her family. So we, um, staged that whole date thing just to get them thinking about the possibility. We didn’t want Connor to flip out.” I stepped forward, warming to my theme. “You saw him at the barbecue. He was furious, and that was just about a date. Without any kissing.”
“Except she was in your bedroom last night—”
I shrugged. “Um, yeah. That was a mistake.”
“You think?”
I sighed. “Look, Ellie didn’t seduce me—”
“That’s the one thing I’m sure of.” Her voice was clipped and angry. “But that’s what happens when you date celebrities. The woman always gets trashed.”
“That’s not true!”
“Really?” she drawled. “You’re the media darling. I’ve worked damn hard to make you a golden boy. So where does that leave her? She has no choice but to be the bad girl. The dirty secret—”
“But she’s not! We’re…we’re…”
“What? Engaged? Bullshit. She’s the only one for you? Ha ha. Remember, I busted up that party in Miami.”
I flushed. And that, right there, was the reason I never drank tequila. Ever.
“She is the one for me. You’ll see. We’re serious. Notengaged yetserious, but you know, serious.”
She didn’t respond. She just stared at me with her eyes narrowed and her mouth tight. And then she exhaled slowly. “I can sell that, Jake, but only if it’s true. She has to be the one on your arm for the rest of the season. That’s four more months. No one else, and no more Miami parties.”
“Never. I told you that back then, and I meant it.”
She nodded, because it was true. “But what about this? What about Ellie?”
I lifted my chin. “We’re dating. Like considering buying rings dating and have been for a while. I was just, you know, trying to find a way to break it to Connor.”
“And Ellie will support that story? Or at least, not contradict it?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
“And she’ll be on your arm all season? No one else?”
“No one else,” I echoed.
She waited a breath. Then another. But in the end, she nodded. “Good. Then we have a game plan.” She straightened to her full moderate height and headed toward the door. “Come on. Can’t keep the press waiting.”
“Sure,” I said. “Right after I call Ellie.”
Chapter Ten
Ellie
I slept like the dead. If the dead were horny and constantly reliving the feeling of being snatched from death by strong arms pulling me close. I finally gave up late in the morning. I had been working nights at the hospital, so my nights and days were messed up anyway. By the time I’d showered and thrown on some clothes, I hoped my parents would be gone. Golf game, maybe? Mom’s mah-jongg club? Hell, Dad often met with his friends at McDonald’s for coffee. I just didn’t want to face anyone until I’d had some time to process everything that had happened the night before.
No such luck.
Mom met me as I came down the stairs. She smiled warmly at me, but there was a look in her eyes that I didn’t understand.
“Mom?”
“I just started a new pot of coffee. It’s that French vanilla kind you like.”
“Thanks—”
