Rogue Beast (The Rourkes #12) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,12

family surrounding her. She’ll never feel worthless or unlovable. Fantasies. Who knows if I’ll even be married before my fertility window passes? But if it’s meant to be, I’ll do it the right way.

I exhale sharply and pick up my phone to read my text. Not Garrett. I deflate and tell myself I’m relieved it’s my manager.

Saw the press. Did you know Garrett Rourke is from the royal Rourke family in Villroy? Congrats on snagging a royal! Good PR.

I hadn’t put that together. I try not to read gossip sites, not wanting to read anything bad about myself. That’s why I hired a publicist as a buffer. So a guy from Brooklyn is a prince or a duke or something. Is that common knowledge? I’m about to do a search on his name when I stop myself. That would only bring up the latest trashy talk about me and Colton, where I mentioned Garrett. I shouldn’t have done that. It’s just he made a good impression on me, so his name just popped out. And my adrenaline was through the roof when that reporter showed up just as I was entering my apartment building. I don’t like men staking me out where I live.

I swear the next guy I date will have zero ties to the industry. A writer would be nice. He’d probably be quiet and have lots of books. We’d spend our Sundays reading in a quaint cottage on the water. In the meantime…

I send a quick response to my manager and get back to dinner. Joe moved in next door, so I feel safe here alone. After dinner, I’m going to have a relaxing Saturday night in and read my go-to comfort book The Scoundrel and the Governess by Alice Segal. See how I’m already preparing for my role as wife to a writer by reading so much? It’s not being antisocial, it’s called rehearsing for my future dream life.

Just as I settle into the cushy corner of my sofa with my e-reader, I get a call. I check the screen and immediately tense—Dana, my bulldog publicist. I hired her mostly so she could spin press away from me unless I’m obligated to promote something. I’m not a good public speaker. Which is to say I completely freak out for days ahead of time and get through it in a sweaty, heart-pounding race to the end, after which I collapse. It’s not pretty. I much prefer saying lines written for me as a character than facing the public as myself.

I answer the phone, immediately taking control of the conversation. “Hi, Dana, were you able to make any headway tamping down the Garrett part of the story?”

“I’ve been following it closely, and, truth is, I’m loving this royal guy you threw into the mix,” she says. “Completely topped Colton’s newest sweet young thing. Sorry. I know you cared for him, and you guys looked great together, but everyone said he was not the kind to stick. If it helps, I’m sure he’ll cheat on Taylor too.”

“It doesn’t.” I grip the phone tighter. “You said you’d help get Garrett out of the story.”

“It exploded with the royal angle. No way I can contain it. I say we roll with it. Now that Colton’s out for the gala next Saturday, might I suggest you invite this royal? You need a gorgeous hunk of a man in a tux at your side. Colton’s absence will be too conspicuous. You’ll spend the whole night fielding questions about him, and neither of us wants that.”

I stiffen. I forgot Colton was set to fly in for the event. No way I’m roping Garrett into it. The poor man! First I accost him and drag him into my trailer, assuming he’s my guard, and then I blurt his name to a nosy, well-connected reporter. He’s been through enough because of me. The gala is a black-tie fundraiser dinner for an organization close to my heart—Best Friends Care. They train service dogs and match them to people who are disabled physically and/or psychologically. A lot of veterans with PTSD benefit from a therapy dog. My uncle suffered from PTSD and never got the help he needed. He suffered greatly before he committed suicide. A therapy dog might’ve saved him.

“Dana,” I say firmly, “I’m not going to ask Garrett to what will likely be a boring event for him.” I don’t want him to feel used either. It’s a terrible feeling when you realize someone you thought