Page 29 of Reckless
Sue me.
I knock on her door.
“Come in!” Her voice hits me like a shot of good whiskey after a long day.
Pushing it open, I see her bent over her computer desk, her strawberry blond hair up in a loose knot secured with a pencil on the top of her head. Her fingers move rapidly over the keyboard.
Phoebe finishes typing and looks up, her mouth going a little slack for a second at the sight of me in her doorway. Then she’s straightening, and I have to wonder if I imagined it. “Hey!” she says, a bit too bright. “How can I help you?”
I take a step in and close the door behind me. I like how small her office is. I like being closed up in such a small space with her, surrounded by her fruity, tangy scent.
“Nothing, I mean, nothing work-related. I wanted to check on you.”
She smiles, this time a little more normally. “You sure you didn’t want me to set you up with another interview? Now that we’re in the thick of production, I have more content to go on. I thought it would be interesting if we did a piece with you and Mr. Oswald.”
“You think he’ll go for it?” I ask as I sit in my usual seat. “He didn’t exactly seem super stoked the first time it happened.”
“I think he will once he realizes there’s no point in making a movie if no one knows what it’s about or even that it’s going to be released. He likes you. I think if you’re into it, it’ll make him more interested.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“If I get him on board, you’ll do it?”
I want to say no because I hate the public aspect of this job. Despise it, actually. It isn’t why I got into the business in the first place, but I’m starting to realize it’s a necessary part. Probably because of conversations like this with Phoebe.
“Fine, whatever,” I say.
It’s almost worth it to see her smile. “Excellent. I’ll set things up. I’m guessing this isn’t why you stopped by, though.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Well, spit it out. You have me worried it’s bad news.”
“I thought we should talk.”
She bites her lip. I have a sudden flashback to the flavor of those lips. I clench my fists on my thighs to keep from pulling her over the desk for another taste. “Talk? About what?” Her breathy voice strokes over my skin like a caress.
“Us.”
“W-what about us?”
“More specifically, the second date you owe me.”
Her eyes widen. “Date? Griffin. We can’t. I thought we agreed that going on another date wasn’t a good idea.”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and I can think of three reasons why it’s the best fucking idea I’ve had in years.”
“I bet I can think of three reasons why it’s a terrible idea.”
I gesture for her to go on.
“Well, first of all, we work together. CJJ has a strict no-fraternization policy. It could be a career killer for me. And let’s be honest, you’ve had enough bad publicity to last a lifetime. The last thing you want is for rumors to go around that you’re sleeping with your publicist.”
“What else?” I ask.
“This whole stalker situation aside, we barely know each other.” At my look, she says, “I mean, I know what I’ve read about you, what’s been reported in the tabloids, or what’s on your Wiki page, but I don’tknowyou.” When I don’t say anything, she continues. “And there’s Paul. I’ve known what great love is like. I had it with him. I’ve watched my parents have it my whole life. I don’t think I can settle for anything less thaneverything. I believe if that’s not something you’re willing to give or to fight for, then it’s not worth it.”
I shift in the chair. “What do you want to know?”