Page 32 of That Fake Feeling

Sterlingtaps his fingertips together and gives me aBondvillain smirk. “Andyou know what the crucial part of that is?”

NeitherRosenorIsay anything, so he answers his own question again. “Thefact that you, someone who despises that magazine and couldn’t give a flying crapola about celebrity gossip, know they’ve bought the rights to that birth.Suchis the power of their reach.”

Allthe blood drains fromRose’sface.Shegrips the arm of the nearest chair and eases herself into it. “Oh,God.”

Istep toward her. “Areyou all right?”

Sterlingtalks over me. “Youcan bemoan it all you like,Rose.Butif you guys slip up like you did today when you’re left to your own devices, then it’s a damn good jobI’velined up something we can control so much more.”

“It’snot that,”Rosesays. “Myaunt might see that magazine.”Sheleans forward and drops her head into her hands. “Ididn’t want her to knowIwas doing this.Shenever looks at online gossipy stuff, but even she seesAGoodLooksometimes.”

Myheart goes out to her.Ifanyone knows what it feels like for your family to be pissed off that you’re in the tabloids, it’s me.It’sallIcan do to keep my hands by my side and not stroke her back to comfort her.

Sterlinggets to his feet and closes his laptop.

“Well, if you like,Rose, it would be very easy to use today’s photos as a breakup story.Wecould always find someone else forConnorto suddenly fall madly in love with who’d be willing to do a dreamy photoshoot.”Sterlinglooks like he’s reeling in a tiny helpless fish on the end of a line. “Youknow, someone who needs the cash.”

Rose’shead shoots up.

“Oh, no.No.It’sfine.I’lldo it,” she says, obviously terrified by the thought of losing the paycheck.Shecloses her eyes and sighs. “Ijust can’t bear the thought of having to lie to my aunt and tell her this is real.”

Iinstinctively give her bare shoulder a little pat.Iknow for sureI’dhate it ifIhad to tell a whopping lie to my folks.Though,IguessIdo that every day by continuing to runBigBrainlike it’s my life’s work.

“It’sokay,”Itell her quietly. “Idon’t want to do it either.Thisis a step too far for me too.Andyou won’t be fired.”

Iturn back toSterling. “We’renot going to do this one.”

Hestands up. “Andare you going to tellWalkerthat?Becauseit’s his friend at the magazine who’s organized it.Somethingabout a feature on aEuropeanroyal family being canceled so she suddenly has a reporter available.”

Heflaps his hand dismissively. “Anyway,Walker’spal has done him a huge favor and squeezed you in at the last minute for a double-page spread next week.”

“Oh, fuck.”Islump into the chair next toRoseand punch the arm.Idon’t want her to be upset, butIcan’t letWalkerdown.Walkeris the rock,Roseis the hard place, andI’mthe pathetic sap stuck between them. “Fuck.”

Sterlingtucks his laptop under his arm, thrusts his shoulders back, and moves toward the door. “I’lltake that as a yes from you both then.”

Hedisappears.

Roseturns toward me, her big brown eyes filling up. “I’mso sorryIfucked it up today.”

Ireach across the gap between our chairs and place my hand on her forearm.There’ssomething in her that brings out an instinct to comfort and reassure thatI’venever felt before.Andit’s an excuse to touch her, somethingIcrave more and more as we spend time together.

“Youdidn’t,”Itell her. “Itwas me.Ifucked it all up.JustlikeIfuck up everything.”

Rosecracks a smile. “Clearlythat’s not true.”Shegestures to the room. “Youare incredibly successful.”

Ilet a snort sneak out of my nose. “Yeah, but…”Iclose my eyes and shake my head. “Nevermind.”

Myhand slides offRose’sarm as she stands up, andIinstantly miss the contact.

“Well,” she says. “Incase you hadn’t noticed yet, whenI’mgiven a task,I’mlike aRottweilerwith a bone untilI’vesucceeded at it.”Sheruns a finger under each eye, sniffs, and smiles. “I’llmake sure this works out.I’mnot going to let you be voted off the board of your own business.Imean, that would be the biggest kick in the gut.”

Nowthe tables are turned, and she’s reassuring me.Sheobviously thinks being fired would be the end of my world rather than a freeing release from a heavy burden.

“Anyway,Iguess you’re busy and have to get back to the office.”Sheturns and walks away, revealing a red line from the edge of the chair across the back of each thigh.Thosecut-off denim shorts really do hug her pert backside perfectly.

Asshe reaches the door, she leans on the frame and turns back with a sad smile. “Havea good rest of your day.”

Thenshe disappears.