Caught(23)

Spending time with media and marketing people was fine, but how the hell was she supposed to be that close to Jarod? And for the next two months? This was a disaster waiting to happen.

“It’s not up for negotiation, Vivian. So make all the necessary arrangements you must to make this work.”

“What about my other clients?”

“You can Skype with the team here on your downtime and pass things off as you need to.”

“But—” Viv began forming her arguments.

“We’re done here.” Miranda cut her off and went back to her computer while Viv sulked in private.

PR Rule Number 11: Know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em.

The decision had been made, and there was nothing she could do about it.





Chapter Five

Viv worked late into the evening, not only on Jarod’s case, but also to get everything in order so she could go on the road with him. For the next few months, she’d only be home a few days each week, so that meant getting organized. She paid a few bills in advance, stopped her magazine subscriptions, and sent a note to her landlord asking him to help keep an eye on the place.

By the next morning, she was back in the office to finalize the details for the press conference. Her head was still spinning. She was going to be traveling all over the country with the man who gave her the best orgasm of her life—with his fingers. She could only imagine what he could do with the rest of his body. That thought made her tingle in some very inconvenient places, especially when she was on the phone with her mom.

“This is all so exciting, Vivi,” her mom said. “You must’ve really blown them away during the meeting.”

“Not at all.” She laughed, even though the memory was anything but funny. “I almost blew it. More than once. I’m afraid I might be over my head with this one. And if I don’t do this right, I might blow my chance for New York. Not to mention how I could mess this up for Jarod. His career is on the line here.”

“Jarod, is it?” her mother’s voice sang. Viv could practically see the smirk on her face. “You sound awfully passionate about your, what did you call him earlier? Oh yes, redneck client.”

“That was before I met him,” she said. “He’s not so bad. Anyway, enough about work. I was calling to see how your Fourth of July plans are coming along. Are you and Dad expecting a lot of people today?”

“A nice group,” she said. “About five couples. Jenny and Rick are coming, too.”

“Really?” Viv was shocked. Normally, the holiday was reserved for Dad’s colleagues. Plus her father never liked her mom’s friend Jenny. It was hard to believe they were going to mix company. “That’s great. I hope Dad is helping you with the food and everything.”

Viv hated how her father was so demanding of her mother. At least when she lived with them, she could voice her opinion when her mother wouldn’t. She worried that once she left, he’d trample all over her. But lately, Corrine Blake had surprised her.

“We’re going very casual this year,” her mom said, no trace of anxiety that usually came with these gatherings. “Dad’s grilling the burgers and brats, so all I have to do is make a few salads and dessert. Still, I wish you were here, honey.”

What on earth was going on at the Blake household? Viv wanted to hear more, but the clock was ticking and she still had a million things to do.

“I do, too,” she told her mom. And she did; holidays made being away from home even more difficult than normal. “But it sounds like you’re going to have a great time. I’ll call you before I head out on the circuit. Love you.”

Viv went back to finalize everything for the press conference. They would hold it at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, trying to steer clear of the Charlotte Circus, as Jarod called it. This way, it would be a more controlled, smaller crowd. And it was a perfect lead-in to the charity event she had planned for later. She had to pull quite a few strings and enlist Henry’s help, but she was able to arrange a special day for the Kids of Valor, an organization that helped children of fallen or injured soldiers. They had over a dozen children ready to come out to spend time with Jarod and do a few ride-alongs.

What she hadn’t known was that he did this kind of thing all the time, especially for his local chapter in South Carolina. Why someone hadn’t been playing up his role with the kids was beyond her.

Viv felt Miranda’s eyes burn a hole through the top of her head before the Ice Queen even entered the room. She really needed to put some kind of GPS system on that woman. Miranda was always catching her off guard.