I slide my hand along the bare skin of her back where her gown dips low, pulling her close and leaning near her ear. “No one knows a thing. To the world, you’re just my new girlfriend.”
She pushes past me out of our hiding spot.
She grabs another glass of champagne from a passing waiter and downs it. “Yeah, that kinda makes me nervous.”
I drop a kiss on Lou’s forehead before she climbs into her car. “Hey, I forgot to tell you: the crew’s going down to the French Quarter to get some stock footage and shots of me walking around, having a drink, whatever. I want you to go with us.”
She rolls her eyes, expelling a frustrated sigh. “This gig is getting old, just so you know. We’ve been back from LA for ten days. I’ve spent most of that time running here and there, for this and for that on the show, and most of it they won’t even use. Do I have to?”
I pull a wad of bills from my wallet, shoving them through the window. “These say you do.”
She frowns at the money. “You’re screwed once I get the last few things fixed up at Aunt Delores’s place. You know that, right?”
I lean in and slide my fingers to the back of her neck.
I pull her to me, kissing her hard on the mouth. “Well, I guess I’d better figure out some other reason to keep you coming around to spend time with me. Won’t I?”
She snatches the cash from my hand and stuffs it into her purse. “Whatever. I can’t imagine what would be able to do that. I have other shit to do than dance to your tune.”
“Two o’clock.”
“I’ll meet you down there.”
She takes off out of the hotel parking lot like her ass is on fire.
That is one hot piece of ass. I can’t help but smile.
The sun glints off something at the edge of the tree line, pulling my attention from the tail end of Lou’s car. I squint. A man jumps up from behind the tall grass and thrashes through the greenery.
Fucking photographers.
I don’t even bother chasing them anymore. They’re everywhere. He probably got tipped off by the stupid hotel clerk. People will do anything for an extra dollar in their pocket.
* * *
I pull up at Nan and Pops’ place. A red Corvette is situated across the lawn like someone doesn’t know that you shouldn’t park on people’s grass.
Thug Two steps out of the RV, his shades hovering over the hard line of his mouth. “Boss, we can’t do our jobs when you sneak off like that all the fucking time.”
“Some things a guy wants to do without an escort.”
He tips his hat and takes up his post at the bottom step to the porch.
I grab the front door handle, but it opens before I turn it. Arianne stands inside, dressed like she’s just crawled out of a magazine.
I step back. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, Buck. I’ve missed you so much.” She plunges out the door, throwing herself against me, her lips finding mine before I can dodge her.
I take her shoulders, putting her away from me. “What the fuck are you doing, Arianne?”
She pouts. “I came to see you, Darling. I thought it was about time I met your family.”
“Meet my family? Why the hell would you need to meet my family? We aren’t together anymore, Arianne. Surely you got that from our last few conversations.”
She pokes out her bottom lip, looking up at me through her lashes. “Aw, Buck. Don’t be like that.”
I push past her into the house. Nan stands in the entry, wringing a dishtowel in her hands, her expression distressed.
I close the door, shutting Arianne out as I click the lock into place. “What happened?”
“Tell me that woman is not your fiancé. Please.”
“Is that what she told you?”
Trudi bounds into the entryway from the living room. “So she isn’t your fiancé?”
I rub at the ache forming between my eyebrows. “Fuck no. You did meet Lou, right?”
Trudi pinches her bottom lip, tugging it. “Well, you wouldn’t be the first guy to do that sort of thing.”
“I’m a lot of things, Tru, but not that. Well, not with Lou, anyway.”
Nan hugs me and walks away, mumbling, “Thank God.”
Tru rocks onto the balls of her feet. “This will be great for the show’s ratings. Everyone loves drama. I couldn’t write this shit any better. Ex-girlfriend shows up, faces off with the new girlfriend. It’s going—”
“It’s not going to be anything. I’m sending Arianne packing. I don’t want Lou and her doing anything. Not even meeting.”
Trudi drops her gaze to her blue toenails. “Oh. Well, see—here’s the thing…”