He wraps his arm around her casually, and she settles against him, the perfect couple.
Will Alexis and I ever get that comfortable together? Will people think we look like the perfect couple? That’s how the press refers to Jonathan and Gabby. Sure, they tore into her for a while, and she still gets digs from time to time, but that’s just life in the public eye. Mostly, they’re America’s sweethearts.
But no. Realistically, Alexis and I won’t ever be that comfortable with each other. Ours is a business arrangement. Sure, we have chemistry. But I’ve had chemistry with plenty of women in the past. And where are they now? Doing their own thing, somewhere else.
I clear my throat and nod. “Yes, actually. It does.”
Gabby squeals and bounces in her seat. “I knew it! The minute I heard you coming in, I knew you were here to talk about this. How could you not be? It’s all over the internet. You’d know we’d be full of questions.”
Jonathan gives her an indulgent look. “At least he’d know you are full of questions.”
She pushes on his chest. “Please. Like you’re not dying to know too.”
Lifting one shoulder in a noncommittal shrug, he neither agrees nor disagrees. But he does turn his attention back to me. “How exactly will this new development affect things here?”
“Well …” I’m hesitating. Why am I hesitating? Jonathan won’t be mad at me. He had to know this day was coming sooner or later. Right? Right.
I close my mouth and clear my throat again. “Things between Alexis and me are getting serious. Serious enough that I won’t be able to tour with you anymore. I’ll stay with you through the show in Chicago, and then I’ll be joining Alexis permanently.”
Gabby gasps, one hand covering her mouth. Jonathan gives me a long look, full of speculation.
“Wow,” Gabby breathes, her hand dropping to her chest. “I had no idea you were even seeing anyone. When did this happen? How did you meet? How come none of us knew about this?” She looks at Jonathan, her brows furrowing. “Wait. Did you know about this?”
He shakes his head slowly, his eyes never leaving me. “No. I had no idea Colt even knew Alexis Lovell.”
I offer a careless shrug. “I meet people in all kinds of places.”
“Yes, yes.” Gabby waves away my non answer. “But when did you meet her? Where? When did it turn into a relationship?” She puts her hand over her heart again, the picture of a hopeless romantic. “Was it love at first sight? Did you know she was the one right away?”
I can’t help laughing, partly because who actually believes in love at first sight anyway? And partly because, in a way, it did happen that quickly. But I can’t tell them that I just met her last night for the first time, or that this whole thing is a ploy, a stepping stone into my own solo career.
Even if we do end up getting married, once we’re both established, we can divorce. It happens all the time. No one will even bat an eye by then. A year, two, five tops. I’ve survived being Jonathan’s PA for that long. Somehow I think working with Alexis will be a lot more enjoyable.
For one thing, in addition to going to parties and events with her, which I always enjoy, I’ll be working on music. Hers. My own. Stuff we can do together.
Surely Brendan will help with getting me some good hits to work with, especially if I’m attached to Alexis. She was the lead vocalist for Golden Enigma. They already had a strong presence. As a solo artist, she can make it big if she gets the right songs. Works with the right producers. Brendan would be silly to turn that down.
Hell, as in love with the idea of Alexis and me Gabby is, she’d probably help out too. Even if Brendan won’t, my romantic sister-in-law is already on my side. She’ll definitely help me out. But I’ll have to work that angle later.
“We’ll be sorry to lose you, man,” Jonathan says at last. “You’re what keeps everything running smoothly around here.”
I duck my head in acknowledgment. “I know. I’ll help you find and train a replacement before I leave. I won’t leave you hanging, I promise.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” Standing, he holds out a hand for me to shake. When I take his hand, he pulls me in close, giving me a hug and a pat on the back. “I appreciate all you’ve done for me over the years. This won’t be the same without you.”
Unexpected tears prick my eyes, echoing the emotion in my brother’s voice. Have I been wrong all along to think he was just trying to hold me back?
“Be careful out there, alright? And if you need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”
When he releases me, I look him in the eye. “I’ll hold you to that.”
He laughs, clapping me on the shoulder again. “I wouldn’t expect anything less of you, man.”
Relief loosens the knot in my chest I hadn’t realized was there. That went smoother than I could’ve hoped. And while staging a relationship in order to advance my own career sounds admittedly bat shit and mercenary, this decision feels like the best one I’ve made in a long time.
Chapter Six
Alexis
Nerves flutter in my belly as I fasten my necklace around my neck and move the clasp to the back. It’s a simple wrapped crystal pendant—an amethyst to go with my deep purple dress—that dangles just above my breasts in another low cut V-neck dress. Not as low as the red one I wore the last time I saw Colt. This one doesn’t need to be taped in place, but it’s low enough that paired with my push up bra, it makes the most of what the tit fairy saw fit to bless me with. I saw the way Colt enjoyed that dress, so I figured this would be a good choice. Crimson lips, light eye makeup, artfully mussed hair. The only thing left is my shoes, but I’ll wait until he gets here to step into those. No need to torture my feet any longer than necessary.
Smoothing my hands down my dress, I study my reflection, cataloguing the tiny pooch low on my belly that I still can’t get rid of now matter how much I diet. Turning to the side, I examine my reflection in profile. The dress skims over my torso, so it’s not obvious unless I pull the fabric taught. It’ll do.
“You look fabulous,” I tell my reflection, willing myself to believe it. No matter how many times I get dressed up, no matter how many of my friends tell me I’m hot, I still feel like a kid playing dress up.
This is my first public date with Colt. And the first time I’m seeing him since we met last month at that party. Since we decided to be a couple to further our careers.
My agent decided we needed to be seen dating before announcing our engagement, and I still don’t think she’s decided if a public spectacle of a proposal would be better, or if just making an announcement after she’s decided we should make it official is a better plan.
This isn’t how I expected to think of my future engagement—a business deal negotiated between me, the guy, and my agent. Not that I spent a ton of time envisioning myself engaged. Not like those girls in the movies that spent their girlhoods marrying their Barbies to each other and planning weddings and receptions. I didn’t really go for that. But some part of me just assumed I’d eventually find a guy and get married. Someday. If I found the right person. Because that’s what people did. At least that’s what all the adults I knew had done, at least at some point. Not that it always ended happily. My own parents got divorced when I was in sixth grade. But my dad’s remarried now, and seems happier than I’ve seen him in a long time. He told me he’s planning on doing it right this time. Learning from the mistakes he made when I was a kid.