Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 87522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
“What are you talking about?”
“You. And Braden.” She shakes her head. “He’s just using you, you know.”
A spear slices into my heart. Her words hurt, but I won’t show her that. “We just met.”
“He’s using you. Trust me. He knows I’m getting older. He’s trying to make you into a bigger influencer than I am. Put me out of business.”
“What?” I cock my head, incredulous. “You can’t be serious. First of all, Braden has his own business. Why would he have any interest in taking down yours?”
“This has his stench all over it.”
“Second,” I continue, “I’m a nobody.”
“For God’s sake, Skye, you’re Braden Black’s girlfriend. You stopped being a nobody the minute he posted that first photo and tagged you in it.”
The thought warms me but at the same time sends icy chills over my neck.
Is she right? Is Braden using me?
We got hot and heavy quickly. Too quickly, really, and he doesn’t want a relationship.
Self-doubt washes over me. No. No, no, no. He likes me. He can’t stop thinking about me. He wants only me.
“Call Eugenie,” Addie says. “Do the post. Make a few bucks. But you’ll never be me, Skye. You’ll never be as big as Addison Ames.” She marches back to her office and slams the door, leaving her dog still ricocheting wall to wall.
I don’t want to be you, I say silently. I never wanted to be you.
Still, her words have carved out a piece of my heart.
I don’t care about Eugenie or Susanne Cosmetics. I don’t care about Addison’s anger at the moment. I don’t even care about her accusations that Braden is using me, though they’re most likely true.
I care only about my heart.
And I may be losing it to Braden Black.
Chapter Thirty-Six
I coax Baby into her kennel and set her next to my desk. Then I gather the scattered items, including the Cherry Russet lip stain, and refill my purse.
I’m angry with Addie. Big-time. But I’m more befuddled than anything. Knowing full well it may cost me my job, I walk to her door and knock.
“What is it?” she yells angrily.
“I need to talk to you.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“Maybe not. But I have something to say to you.”
“Nothing I want to hear.”
“Please. It’s important.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “Come in.”
Addison doesn’t look me in the eye. Instead, she stares at her laptop screen while sitting at her desk. She doesn’t stand, so I take a seat on one of the leather chairs facing her.
“You need to tell me,” I say, “what happened between you and Braden.”
“I don’t need to tell you anything.”
“How else will I know if I’m making a huge mistake?”
“You can take my word for it.” She still hasn’t looked up from her laptop.
“I didn’t even know you knew Braden until last week,” I say. “Can’t you just tell me?”
She closes her laptop and finally looks me in the eye. “He’s bad news. The worst.”
“You’ve already said that. What you haven’t said is why.”
“I’ve told you—I don’t talk about it.”
I raise my eyebrows. Addie is never one to mince words. She says what she thinks and doesn’t usually give a damn about the consequences. “You don’t talk about it? Or you can’t talk about it?”
She stands. “Doesn’t really matter which, does it? Our car should be here. Let’s get this shoot over with.”
…
To my surprise, we get the shoot done in minimal takes. Baby is abnormally subdued after the ride. Maybe Addie gave her a sedative. Betsy gives both Addie and me gift baskets of her dog treats as a thank-you for the shoot. This is new. Normally she only gives one to Addie. Addie regards me expectantly. Does she want me to give her my basket?
“Thank you so much,” I tell Betsy. “I don’t have a dog, but my friend does. She’ll love this.”
No, Tessa doesn’t have a dog, but Braden does. This basket is for Sasha, which also gives me an excuse to go over to Braden’s place while he’s in New York. If only to smell his scent again—that perfect mélange of pine, spice, and leather that has grown as necessary to me as air.
Tessa meets me at the Bark Boutique as planned.
Addie left, thank God, so I introduce Tessa to Betsy.
“This is an adorable place,” Tessa says. “Do you do a good business?”
“Pretty good. The posts from Addison help a lot.” She smiles.
“It was great meeting you,” Tessa says. “You ready for lunch, Skye?”
“Yup. All set. Want to join us, Betsy?”
“I wish I could. But maybe…”
“What?” Tessa asks.
“Would you like to have a drink later? After six, when I close?”
Surprising. I’ve been doing shoots for Betsy since I began working with Addie. She’s never wanted to get together before.
“I wish, but I can’t,” I say. After all, I’m going to Braden’s to deliver Sasha’s basket.
“I can,” Tessa says. “I never turn down a chance for a drink after work. I’ll meet you here, okay?”