Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“StarCall.com,” her sister said as the doors opened. “Gavin is freaking out. I’m out to lunch with Mom and the whole restaurant could hear him yelling over her phone.”
“You look amazing, darling,” her mother said in the background. “And honestly, you haven’t been seen with anyone in a long time. Your lack of a dating life has been remarked upon. I think the blue-collar lover thing will play so well. Can we get him on the show?”
She covered the phone and looked to Matt. “Can you pull up a website called StarCall.com?”
He nodded and started working on it as she pressed the number for the floor of her suite.
“No. Absolutely not. And no one is going to suggest it to him. This was all a huge mistake.” She wasn’t putting West on her mother’s radar. How bad were the photos? She should have known the day had been too good to be true. “West and I are just friends. He’s a nice guy, and I had a rough day. He took me hiking because I had to listen to Channing Lloyd talk about how it’s beneath her to work with me and everyone chimed in.”
“That bitch.” Her mother seemed to have taken her sister’s phone. “Does she think no one knows why her ass is suddenly so flat? It’s because all that fat’s in her face now. How dare she.”
Ally sighed. “Mom, you know why she doesn’t want to work with me. I have to prove myself. It’s fine. I didn’t make a scene, but West figured out I was upset and he took me hiking, that’s all. It was completely innocent.”
“You haven’t seen the pictures, have you, darling?” her mother asked.
Matt cleared his throat and turned the screen of his phone her way.
Oh, wow. Nope. She wasn’t getting out of this one. Someone had captured the moment when West had wrapped his arms around her and tried to close out the world. There were several photos. The two above the fold were of West leading her down the trail and of him with his big hands framing her face as he kissed her.
They looked hot together. Superhot, and not merely in a sexy way. They looked so into each other. She had an expression on her face she’d never seen before. Trust. Peace. Joy.
She didn’t look like the brat princess when she was in West Rycroft’s arms. She looked like a woman who was precious to someone.
He was going to be so upset by those pictures.
“Tell Gavin if he tries to get West fired, I’ll never speak to him again.” That might not be the worst threat. “Forget that. Tell him I’ll move back in and never leave. He’ll die with me in a room down the hall.”
Her mother chuckled. “Don’t worry. I think Mr. Taggart can handle your stepfather. Now tell me what’s going on. Are you okay, darling?”
She wasn’t sure. She was used to having intimate moments plastered on tabloid pages, but it would bother West. She knew she should be more upset, but in her mind, all it did was show the world she liked a guy. She didn’t care if they knew. It was part of her life. It wasn’t part of his. He was used to his privacy, and he wouldn’t get that if he was involved with her even for the short term.
Her heart clenched because this had to be a deal breaker for him.
Even though she’d decided to take it slow, to be careful with him, now the possibility that he would walk away tonight made her infinitely sad.
How much did she have to give up to follow her dreams?
“I’m fine.” She had to suck it up. “It was a moment. Now it’s over. I’m going to concentrate on the movie. I think the read went well.”
“Allyson,” her mother began.
“I can’t.” She couldn’t break down in front of this new guy.
“All right, my love.” Her mother had always been good about giving her space when she needed it. “I was joking about the show, you know. I hope you can talk to him and work this out. Do you want me to try to get the photos taken down?”
For West’s sake she would. “Yes, please. It probably won’t work, but it might make him feel better if we try.”
“I’m on it. Call me later,” her mother said. “And Brynn says good-bye but wants to talk when you’re ready. I could come out there if you want company.”
Her mom meant well, but she would bring her own problems with her. “I’m fine. It will die down if we don’t feed it.”
“All right. And I sent you a little care package,” her mom said. “It’s got the blender you wanted, and the protein shake packs. I love you, Ally.”
“You, too, Mom.” She hung up as the elevator doors opened.