The Ex Factor - Erin McCarthy Page 0,18

threw his T-shirt over her head so that half of it drooped over her forehead and face. The cotton was warm from the sun and it smelled like him.

Suddenly blind, she instinctively went to push the shirt back then realized why he had done it. Paparazzi. Good lord, she looked like she’d gone a round with the electric chair and lost. But he was right. If they couldn’t see her face, the shot would be useless. A picture of her in nothing but a bra and panties was worth some bucks only if her face was visible. She sighed. “Shit. I guess we should have taken a rental car to get here.”

“I guess so.” He took her hand, his grip firm. His other hand landed on her shoulder. “Just walk with me. I won’t let you fall.”

“Okay.” It was awkward to stumble along with no vision, but she did trust Chance not to let her take a facer. “What about your guitar?”

“I’ll come back for it once you’re in the cabin.” He stayed right up on top of her, guiding her. “Another ten feet then we’re there.”

Jolene gripped the shirt so it didn’t slip. She was used to this intrusiveness in her life, but she didn’t exactly love it. But that was the price of fame and what she’d signed on for. It was part of the gig, plain and simple.

Chance was ranting. “This is bullshit. Don’t they have anything better to do? Who makes their living harassing people? They should be ashamed of themselves.”

“People are curious,” she told him through his shirt. “There’s money in it for the photographers.”

“Well, I know that, Jolene,” he said, and his voice was irritated. “I’m just saying it’s a lame ass way to make a living.”

She had no response to that. She was just trying to make lemonade out of lemons and he had to go all righteous on her. She could offer him some platitudes but he’d just snap at her. “Are we there yet?” she joked.

That did make him give a snort of laughter. “Yes. When I say step up, step up.”

She rolled her eyes behind the shirt. “Thanks for that explanation. Because if you said step up, I was totally going to do something completely different.”

“Should I let you trip instead next time?” He sounded frustrated and this time it wasn’t with the media.

Maybe that had been a touch snarky. The chopper was making a second pass over their heads. She could hear the engine grow louder. “Sorry. You know I react poorly to being out of control of a situation. I don’t enjoy having my face covered.”

He didn’t respond. But a few seconds later he said, “Step up.” His voice was gruff, low, but not angry.

She did but didn’t quite land her foot right. Chance caught her when she stumbled, his arms sliding around her to prevent a fall.

“Easy. Up. Up. Up. And we’re in.” He slammed the door shut behind them.

Jolene lifted the shirt with a sigh of relief. “I seriously hope they didn’t get a shot of me with hair like this. That would be embarrassing. Plus my sister would kill me.”

“I think Elle’s reaction is the least of your worries. The headline is going to be something like “Hart-Rivers on again?” We don’t want that rumor spreading.”

“What difference does it make?” Who cared if people thought they were dating? Apparently he did. That hurt her feelings, and that made her defensive.

Was the idea of being her boyfriend really that hideous? Hell, maybe it was to him. Personally, she could think of a lot worse lies that could be written about her in the media than that she was back together with Chance.

“I just don’t like people having an opinion on my private life.” Then he glanced at her and smiled. “Though you do look cute with my shirt on your head.”

“You’ve lost your mind.” She held it out to him. “I’m taking a shower. Then paparazzi or not, we need to go get some supplies. Like your whiskey and my bait. I still aim to catch a few catfish.” She had intended to go makeup free for the majority of their time there, but it looked like she was going to have to shellac her face as usual in case a picture was snapped.

“Want some company?” Chance teased.

The truth was, she did. Enough of this nonsense. If he was going to throw down challenges about naked songwriting and kiss her and walk around shirtless and sexy,