“Impossible. I do not have that kind of money. I barely have— This is all I can afford right now.”
She scoffed. A part of her was really loving this cold rage. It was a nice change from her usual flailing anger. “Your family is obscenely wealthy.”
“I no longer share in my family’s wealth. Everything I own is from my own sources.”
She might have found that admirable, if it weren’t for the fact that he wouldn’t have any of those sources without his family name to begin with. “Too bad. Everyone has their price, and a million is mine.”
“A million is an outrageous sum for—”
“For hush money?”
“It is not anything as sordid as that. The money is merely my way of apologizing on behalf of my family,” he said coolly.
“And in return I don’t do anything, like, say . . . leak the texts, right?”
“If that was my concern, I wouldn’t need money for that. Leaking the texts would hurt you as well.”
Her temper fired hotter, partially because he was right. If any of this ever came to light, she’d get made fun of mercilessly. It took a second for the internet to turn against someone. Not to mention how her family would react when they found out she’d been catfished. Shamed and cowed, the heroine returns to her family’s home, because she cannot be trusted to be on her own. “That sounds like a threat.”
“It’s not.” He leaned forward and spoke, and every calm word only made her madder. “I am trying to be as nice as possible. Please accept the gesture.”
Be reasonable, Jia.
Stop being so emotional.
Why do you cry so much? It’s not rational.
Don’t be hasty, Jia.
It hurt her a little to do this, given what she knew of her declining revenue, but Jia picked up the check and ripped it in two, and then two again and then again. “I don’t want your bribe.”
“It’s not a bribe.” He stared at the confetti she’d made. “Do you know how long I had to hunt for a paper check in my moving boxes? Everything is electronic now.”
“Thanks for hunting. To be honest, I never thought I’d get to rip up a check in indignation in this day and age.”
Dev closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Jia . . .”
Do not get all flutter tummied over your damn name. “I think I should leave.”
“Please,” he said, his voice low. “I understand how much this must have hurt. Please, let me make it up to you somehow. What can I do for you?”
She shook her head and shoved her chair back. “There’s nothing you can do that can make up for this.”
His eyes darkened. “I can’t accept that. I must make amends. I—” A small commotion near the front of the bar caught their attention, along with that of others in the bar.
“What’s going on?” He craned his neck to look around her.
“It’s paparazzi. Someone superfamous must be coming or going.” A few people around them were hastily donning their jackets, eager to capitalize on the free publicity outside.
Internet-famous celebrities didn’t appeal to most paps, but for once she didn’t want any attention. She waved the waiter over. “Is there a back way out of here?” Jia asked the waiter.
“Yes, of course,” the man said calmly, used to sneaking people out.
“Wait for me, please,” Dev said.
Jia cursed the innate politeness that froze her feet at Dev’s request. Dev was a bigger fish than her for sure, and as annoyed as she was at him—and his family—he’d personally done nothing to her to justify throwing him to the publicity wolves.
Dev handed over his credit card, and the waiter pulled out a handheld machine and swiped it right there, while she texted Gerald where to pick her up.
She and Dev followed the waiter through the kitchen and to a back door. “Goes into the side alley,” the waiter said.
“Got it, thanks,” Jia murmured. The cooler air hit her face as they stepped out.
“What is that smell?”
Jia sniffed. “Pot,” she said curtly. She’d gotten used to the scent of it here.
“Oh.”
“It’s legal, don’t sound so scandalized.”
“I’m not scandalized.” He was silent as they walked through the alleyway. “Jia—”
They stepped out onto the sidewalk. “I don’t want to hear anything—” She gasped when he placed his hand on her arm, whirled her around, and stepped in front of her. The smooth move crowded her back against the building. His arm slipped between her and the brick, though it didn’t touch her. His other hand came to rest on the wall next to her face, locking her in the cage of his body. If she took a step back, she’d hit his strong arm. If she took a step forward, she’d hit his strong chest.
“What the hell are you doing?” she whispered furiously. Or she tried to sound furious. Yes, it was definitely fury that had sent her heartbeat racing and her breath into her throat.
His chest moved quicker, like maybe his heart was racing too. His forehead almost rested against hers. “I’m sorry to startle you. Give it one moment,” he said softly. “There’s a man running up the street. He has a camera. He’ll be past us in a second. You seemed eager to avoid the press, I’m trying to keep him from seeing you.”
Oh. If she listened carefully, over the pulse in her ears, she could make out a pounding on the pavement coming from the other direction. “I see.”
His head dipped low, silky black strands of hair falling into his eyes. “If you’re uncomfortable, I can create a distraction, and you can run.”
“No. It’s fine.”
His hand fisted on the wall next to her head, and her breathing grew deeper, to match his. With the way his body was positioned, it probably did look like they were just a couple kissing or intimately embracing. Only they knew they weren’t touching at all.
Except for where their breath intermingled. He smelled so good. Expensive and woodsy. Like a fancy forest.
The cage grew warm, and so did she.
She moved slightly. Not to force a touch! That would be wrong. As wrong as the little tingles that raced over her skin. They stood there like that for a few seconds, or maybe minutes, she didn’t know, until Dev risked a glance to the side. “I think they’re gone.”
Who? “Oh. Good.”
His breath puffed against her skin. “Do you have a ride home?”
“Yes.” She looked up at him. “He’ll pick me up on Almont. What about you?”
“I’ll call a car. I don’t care if I get photographed by myself.”
She nodded, unable to think clearly. He smelled so good, expensive and soothing. “Okay.” Her phone vibrated. Gerald. “My ride’s here.”
He looked around more carefully, his dark eyebrows meeting over his eyes. Big and protective. Like a sexy bodyguard.
No! Her body wasn’t being anything-ed by this famous virtual stranger, let alone guarded. “Coast seems clear.”
He took a large step back, and she immediately had to bury the yearning she felt for his warmth. They stared at each other for a moment. It wasn’t often that she felt shy. “Okay. Goodbye.” That’s right. It was a goodbye, not a see you later.