the party?”
“That woman who tried to molest me? What about her? Did she take this picture?”
“I believe so. I guess, when I sensed a reporter in the house that night, I was looking at the wrong woman.” He dished up a plate of pancakes and bacon and then set it down on the table in front of her. “Shauna sold me out for a few bucks.”
“I thought your parties were discreet.” The panic was setting in. She could hear the urgency in her own voice. “Anyone who sees this—”
“The photo doesn’t show your face.”
But it showed his—which was extremely rare. And with a little research, anyone could figure it out. She knew they were both thinking it.
“My parties have always been discreet.” He slammed the pan in the sink and clenched his fists. “I’ve never allowed reporters in. Shauna is the new wife of an old acquaintance, and I should have had a background check done on her. It’s my own fault this happened.”
“It’s not your fault.”
She’d had no business being at a secret sex party anyways. Her whole motive for going had turned out to be pointless; searching for a brooch that had probably been sold centuries ago.
Get a grip, Renee, maybe it’s not as bad as you think.
“This is small gossip site. Surely not that many people go to it.”
“It’s the only site, it’s also been picked up by several media and gossip sites.”
Crap. Renee pushed the pancakes around on her plate for a minute, unable to even think about eating now.
“This can’t be good for my reputation. No one will want to use my business knowing I’ve gone to one of your parties. That I’m—”
“No.” Devon turned to face her, his expression fierce. “This will not affect you. I give you my word.”
Renee gave a weak smile. “I’m overreacting, I’m sure. Just ignore me. I’ve never been a public figure, never been in the spotlight, and it’s just a pretty big shock.”
He came over and sat on the stool next to her, touching her cheek. “I’ll take care of this, I promise.”
She wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe this would all blow over and no one would figure out it was her. Who she was... God, she felt sick.
All this for nothing. And now her grandparents’ house was likely to be foreclosed on. Maybe she could sell the painting, maybe that would help. Just as quickly as the idea went through her head, she dismissed it. She couldn’t. Parting with the portrait wasn’t going to be an option.
“Will you take me home now?” The request was out before she could stop it.
Devon’s mouth tightened, but he nodded. “Of course, if that’s what you wish.”
“I think so, yes. I’m sorry. I just can’t eat anything right now. I need time to absorb...everything.”
Devon nodded. They stood and headed to the front door.
“Just a moment. Your painting.” He turned suddenly and went upstairs to retrieve it.
She watched him go, her heart heavy. Did she regret it? Knowing the potential shit storm coming her way, it was hard to say no without hesitation.
This morning when she’d arrived things had been kind of perfect. But they’d quickly slipped into massively complicated. Then again, what had she expected? That she could just casually, unobtrusively date—or sleep with—one of the most controversial billionaires out there?
Devon came back down the stairs, the painting in his hand. He was so damn attractive, even in his broody state. Then again, he was often in that state. This morning it was just amped up a little.
“Here you are.” He lifted the painting towards her and she reached to take it, but her fingers didn’t get a good enough grasp.
Devon tried to grab it again, but was too late. The picture slipped from both their hands and crashed to the ground. The frame cracked and the canvas pulled free from its backing.
“Oh my God.” Renee lifted her hand to her mouth in horror at what she’d just done. “I’m so sorry. I lost my grip. Oh my
“That woman who tried to molest me? What about her? Did she take this picture?”
“I believe so. I guess, when I sensed a reporter in the house that night, I was looking at the wrong woman.” He dished up a plate of pancakes and bacon and then set it down on the table in front of her. “Shauna sold me out for a few bucks.”
“I thought your parties were discreet.” The panic was setting in. She could hear the urgency in her own voice. “Anyone who sees this—”
“The photo doesn’t show your face.”
But it showed his—which was extremely rare. And with a little research, anyone could figure it out. She knew they were both thinking it.
“My parties have always been discreet.” He slammed the pan in the sink and clenched his fists. “I’ve never allowed reporters in. Shauna is the new wife of an old acquaintance, and I should have had a background check done on her. It’s my own fault this happened.”
“It’s not your fault.”
She’d had no business being at a secret sex party anyways. Her whole motive for going had turned out to be pointless; searching for a brooch that had probably been sold centuries ago.
Get a grip, Renee, maybe it’s not as bad as you think.
“This is small gossip site. Surely not that many people go to it.”
“It’s the only site, it’s also been picked up by several media and gossip sites.”
Crap. Renee pushed the pancakes around on her plate for a minute, unable to even think about eating now.
“This can’t be good for my reputation. No one will want to use my business knowing I’ve gone to one of your parties. That I’m—”
“No.” Devon turned to face her, his expression fierce. “This will not affect you. I give you my word.”
Renee gave a weak smile. “I’m overreacting, I’m sure. Just ignore me. I’ve never been a public figure, never been in the spotlight, and it’s just a pretty big shock.”
He came over and sat on the stool next to her, touching her cheek. “I’ll take care of this, I promise.”
She wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe this would all blow over and no one would figure out it was her. Who she was... God, she felt sick.
All this for nothing. And now her grandparents’ house was likely to be foreclosed on. Maybe she could sell the painting, maybe that would help. Just as quickly as the idea went through her head, she dismissed it. She couldn’t. Parting with the portrait wasn’t going to be an option.
“Will you take me home now?” The request was out before she could stop it.
Devon’s mouth tightened, but he nodded. “Of course, if that’s what you wish.”
“I think so, yes. I’m sorry. I just can’t eat anything right now. I need time to absorb...everything.”
Devon nodded. They stood and headed to the front door.
“Just a moment. Your painting.” He turned suddenly and went upstairs to retrieve it.
She watched him go, her heart heavy. Did she regret it? Knowing the potential shit storm coming her way, it was hard to say no without hesitation.
This morning when she’d arrived things had been kind of perfect. But they’d quickly slipped into massively complicated. Then again, what had she expected? That she could just casually, unobtrusively date—or sleep with—one of the most controversial billionaires out there?
Devon came back down the stairs, the painting in his hand. He was so damn attractive, even in his broody state. Then again, he was often in that state. This morning it was just amped up a little.
“Here you are.” He lifted the painting towards her and she reached to take it, but her fingers didn’t get a good enough grasp.
Devon tried to grab it again, but was too late. The picture slipped from both their hands and crashed to the ground. The frame cracked and the canvas pulled free from its backing.
“Oh my God.” Renee lifted her hand to her mouth in horror at what she’d just done. “I’m so sorry. I lost my grip. Oh my
Similar Books
