“I called your former employer at Seattle Magazine.”
Fuck.
“Yes?”
“I’ve known Bob for quite some time. As you know, the world of journalism is a small one.” He smiles kindly, but I feel my stomach clench.
“That it is.” I nod. Get to the point.
“Bob wasn’t terribly complimentary.” He begins and I feel my cheeks heat. That sonofabitch! “But I know, being in the business we are, that there are always two sides to a story.” He raises an eyebrow.
“Mr. Foss.” I begin and clear my throat. “I love what I do. I think you’ll see from my resume and other references that I’m dedicated and that I’m good at my job. But I’m fiercely loyal to my family, and I would hope that any employer who takes me on would respect that.”
He watches me for a moment, leaned back in his chair, his fingers laced over his round belly. Finally, he purses his lips and nods. “Fair enough.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Why am I going to this again?” I ask Leo as he drives up the freeway the next morning.
“Why not?” He asks.
“I could have just stayed at your place and sent out resumes until you got home.”
“That’s boring.” He grins over at me. “Besides, I thought I’d take you over to the pier in Santa Monica on the way back home.”
“Sight seeing?” I ask with a grin.
“Sure.” He shrugs. “I’ll take you on the Ferris wheel.”
“I’m afraid of heights.”
“I’ll keep you safe.” He kisses my hand and pulls into a parking lot.
“We’re at Arista records.” I tilt my head back and stare at the tall building.
“Oh good, ‘cause that’s where I wanted to go.” He laughs at me as he climbs out of the car.
“You’re a smart ass.” I smack his arm and then laugh when he swings me back into a deep dip and kisses me silly.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, his eyes happy.
“You’re forgiven,” I whisper back.
“You’re easy.” He laughs and hugs me to him as we enter the building and he leads me to the bank of elevators.
“What are we doing here?” I ask.
“The other guys are already here.”
“Nash is here? Why?”
“We’re doing an interview and some photos for a spread in People for when the next album releases. It’s not for a few months, but this way we don’t have to do it later.”
“Okay, so again, why am I here?”
“I thought it would be fun.” He frowns down at me. “Are you seriously uncomfortable with this?”
“I don’t know.”
“We won’t be long.” He kisses my forehead as the doors open to a lobby that wraps around to a photo studio already set up with lights and a white backdrop.
“Hey, man.” A shorter guy with a tall Mohawk grips Leo in a hug. “How you been?”
“Good, man. Hey, this is Sam.” Leo turns to me with a grin. “Sam, this is DJ, our bassist. You’ve met Eric and Jake. That over there is Gary.”
Everyone smiles and waves.
“Good to see you again.” Eric smiles, his voice friendly and void of the flirtation from before.
“Were you testing me when I met you back in Seattle?” I ask him and plant my hands on my hips.
“You passed.” He shrugs and grins widely. Jesus, no wonder the women throw their underwear at him.
“You’re too cute for your own good.” I offer him a mock glare. “Don’t flirt with me or I’ll have to hurt you.”
“I like her.” Gary calls out from where he’s sitting in a director’s chair having his makeup done.
“Gee, you look pretty.” Leo taunts him.
“Shut up.”
“Mr. Nash, if you’ll sit here, we’ll get you ready. Everyone else is good to go.”
“You are not touching me with makeup,” Leo growls and I slap my hand over my mouth before I laugh out loud.
“But, the lights…” The pour gay-as-can-be makeup artist stops talking when Leo raises his hand at him.
“It’s called Photoshop.”
“You’re an ass.” Jake smirks and scrolls through his phone.
“But I’m makeup-free,” Leo agrees. “Where’s Lori?” He asks Gary.
“Right here!” We all turn as a very pregnant, very tall brunette woman glides into the room.
Good God, she’s gorgeous.
“Hey, pretty face.” Leo grins and hugs Lori gently, lays his hand on her belly and kisses her cheek.
I might have to kill her.
“How are you feeling?” He asks her.
“Fat, tired and pregnant.” She laughs. “But Gary’s taking care of me.”
“Get your hands off my wife, asshole.” Gary calls out, his eyes closed. This must be usual behavior.
“I want you to meet someone.” Leo backs away and gestures toward me. “This is Sam.”
Lori’s mouth drops in surprise and her wide eyes meet Leo’s. “You’re introducing me to a woman?”
“Shut up,” he mutters and laughs.
“Holy shit. Hi.” She moves as quickly as she can toward me and instead of shaking my hand, she pulls me into a tight hug. “It’s so great to meet you.”
“Hi.” I smile and pull out of her embrace. “Shouldn’t I know you from somewhere?”
“Oh.” She waves me off and rubs her belly. “I used to do some modeling back in the day, but these days I’m a stay at home mom.”
And then it hits me. “You’re Lori Fitzgerald!”
“Yeah.” She smiles shyly.
“’Some modeling, huh?” I ask with my tongue in my cheek. “That’s like saying I do ‘some breathing’.”
Lori laughs. “Well, I guess that’s true.”
“Hey, guys.” Another woman enters the room, consulting an iPad gripped in her arm, not looking up. She’s clearly used to being around famous people.
Thank God.
“I’m glad you’re all here.” She scowls at Leo, but he just stares her down, unflinching.
Leo Nash doesn’t apologize for being late.
A photographer joins her and begins snapping photos of the guys where they are, getting ready for the shoot, talking to each other.
Me, standing next to Leo and Lori.
“Why is that man taking my picture?” I ask, my bitch voice on full-throttle.