Baby Daddies - Tara Brown

1

Bros before hoes

Saturday, July 8

Jenny

“What the hell?” I pace the hotel room and stare at the pictures on the internet of Liam and me. In one, his hand is on my lower back and another shows me smiling at him over dinner. If I hadn’t been there, I’d almost believe, by the angle and expression on my face, I was about to lean in and kiss him. Which is entirely what the drama sites are suggesting with headlines asking how long we’ve been dating.

My insides are on fire as my phone vibrates with a call. It’s Sukii Facetiming me.

I press “accept” and cry out, “Did you see?”

“Oh, girl, I am not the only one who saw.” Her wide-eyed stare is worrisome.

“Did Stan see?” I whisper, battling an instant onset of nausea.

“No. Lori.”

“Oh my God.” I cover my face. “He must think I’m such an asshole. I sleep with him, avoid him for two weeks after he was so nice to me, and then tell him that ridiculous Ben story. And now this. I’ve officially become one of those head-game playing women men fear.”

“Nothing happened, right—?”

“How can you even ask that?” I snap. “Liam is either a disgusting womanizing douchebag or a psychopath, and maybe a bit of both. If the cameras and phones could have recorded the conversation we were having, it would have shown me, smiling politely all the while telling him that he would lose his job if he didn’t stop being so difficult to work with. He all but admitted he made up the pervert claims against the director. I hate him and see why Laura was so aggressive to be rid of him.”

“Oh, Jenny. I’m so sorry.”

“He’s a handsy jerk who’s been touching me nonstop for the cameras, and beyond murdering him, I don’t see how I can tell him off without losing my job.” My voice cracks. “And I think he knows that too.”

“I’m sure Laura had nothing but problems with him.” Sukii grimaces. “When the headline broke, Stan laughed and said Liam was at it again. I asked what he meant and he explained that Liam’s divorce was because he couldn’t keep it in his pants, regardless of how much he’s played the victim over it. He said it was difficult for Laura to handle him, but he was sure you had this.”

“Oh great. Well, clearly I don’t have it.” I press my eyes shut for a moment before sighing. “I’ll call Lawrence after this junket and explain. Which might be awkward since we skipped getting to know each other before sleeping together.”

“You guys have an obvious thing and this Liam nonsense is bad for it. So as soon as you can, call.”

“I will after this dinner. Chat soon.” I tap the phone off, hating the uneasiness in my stomach. All day the junket has been a nightmare. Liam has been a pain in the ass. Not only is he handsy, but he’s bitter about admitting he was being a diva. I’m convinced he wants my head for the Natasha story.

A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts.

“Coming!” I hurry to the door to open it, expecting anyone but him. Liam. But here he is.

He grins and roams my body with his stare before saying, “We eating in or out?”

“Out!” I push him back and walk out, closing the door a bit roughly.

Before I can walk away, he steps back into my personal bubble and stares down on me, our chests almost touching. “You’re so beautiful.”

The words make me cringe. Partially because it’s him saying them but also because it was what Ben would always say.

“You don’t like me saying that?”

“I don’t like anyone saying that.” I move to the side, sliding away and walking to the elevator while avoiding the eyes of the people in the hallway who pretend not to watch us.

“Is there a story to go along with the response, or are you just one of those bitter women who hates all men?” he asks with a snooty tone as we round the corner and are alone.

“There’s a story.” He’s baiting me. In fact, I think this entire act of him being attracted to me is punishment for making up the Natasha Wentworth spin. Any minute he’ll admit he’s messing with me and gloat.

The moment we step into the elevator, he chuckles as if he knows a joke I don’t.

“What?”

He stares at me, smirking.

God, I hate him. But he moves fast and pins me against the wall, running his hands