The Ex Factor - Erin McCarthy Page 0,24

bra and shirt for this because she had a feeling Chance was going to lose his shit when he saw. If she had to listen to him rant and rave, she wanted the girls locked down when she stomped off and slammed her bedroom door shut. There was nothing to take the sting out of a flounce like nudity.

“What is this?” Chance asked as he looked down at her phone. “They’re saying we’re back together?”

“Looks that way.” It didn’t bother her, exactly. It would be good for the new album, and it was a hell of a lot better than having unflattering pictures leak. But at the same time, it felt deflating because while she didn’t want to be back with Chance, she still wanted to be with Chance. Which made no sense but she had long ago accepted that her feelings toward him were not in any way shape or form rational.

Retreating into the bedroom she got dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. If they were going to the store, she wanted to keep it simple. She was going for another round with the hairdryer so she could at least pull her hair back into a simple ponytail when Chance appeared in the doorway of the bedroom.

“How do you think they found us?” he asked. Dolly was standing next to him and he petted her head absently.

“The usual way, I guess. They probably followed us.” Puzzled, Jolene lowered her hairdryer in her hand and stared at him. He didn’t look angry. “What are you thinking?”

“Do you think we’d still be together if it wasn’t for the paparazzi?”

Oh, Lord, that was a loaded question. “I don’t think we can blame everything on the paparazzi. Our communication was shit, let’s be honest. Besides, what difference it make? The media exists in our world, always will.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, abruptly. “I really am. For everything. For being an ass.”

“Which time?” she asked, and she meant that most sincerely.

His jaw dropped. Then he laughed, and it was a welcome sound. “All of them.”

Damn it. He sounded sincere. She’d be wrong not to acknowledge he was trying. “Apology accepted.” She really didn’t want to fight with Chance. She might want to whop him upside the head with the hairdryer half the time, but she really didn’t want to spend two weeks going at it like cats and dogs.

“So what do we do?” he asked. “Let it ride, or issue a denial, or what?”

“We were in our underwear kissing by the pond. I think that’s kind of hard to deny, especially if they had photos. Which I sincerely hope they don’t because that would not be a flattering image of me.” The thought made her shudder.

“What, kissing me?” He asked, and she was surprised that he looked amused, not pissed.

She gave a short laugh. “No. Being in my skivvies when I’ve spent five months ignoring my personal trainer’s calls and texts.”

He waved his hand in dismissal. “You look amazing. You don’t have to worry about that.”

Typical man. Zero clue what women in the spotlight actually went through in terms of body shaming.

“Just because you love being shirtless doesn’t mean I do,” she said.

His gaze dropped to her breasts. “Could’ve fooled me, Hart. You’re just worried that everyone is going to know you can’t resist me.” He gave her a wink.

She knew he was teasing and surprisingly, the remark didn’t irritate her. They had turned some kind of corner and she was relieved.

“I’d like to point out that you kissed me, not the other way around, buddy.” She strolled past him.

“You always complained I rewrite history, so I’m choosing to believe you kissed me.” He gave her a smirk.

Jolene laughed. “You are an infuriating man.”

“That’s why you love me.”

The minute he said it, they both froze. For a split-second the teasing easy vibe evaporated and tension sprang up. Not anger. But a sexual tension, that chemistry that had always burned between them.

Jolene’s mouth went dry as she realized she couldn’t think of a single thing to say that wouldn’t sound wrong. She had loved him. Hell, maybe she still did and that’s why all this had been so dang hard. But neither of them had ever spoken those words out loud and now it was the very definition of awkward.

As the moment drew out Chance cleared his throat. “I’m going to the store.”

Jolene suddenly wanted to laugh.

This was why people always said don’t mix business with pleasure. Doing so was about as helpful to her career