you were getting me coffee,” said Jack as I retook my seat.
“Nope,” I said. “You can help yourself. Though I am a fan of your father’s music.”
“He’s an asshole, but his music is good.” Jack set his ankle on the opposite knee. “Cole said I’d like you. He was right.”
And all the while, Patrick watched me with interest. In all honesty, I had no idea what the hell was going on with him. But it didn’t matter. This was a business arrangement. Nothing more. So long as I kept telling myself that, everything would be fine.
While I’d been in some strange and ridiculous situations over the course of my life, standing in the middle of the pool in the water in evening wear with Patrick Walsh was a clear winner. The photographer stood at the edge, discussing lighting and whatever with his crew. And we waited. Turned out there was a lot of waiting involved with this sort of thing. Bringing an aesthetic and artistic vision to life did not happen fast. Now and then a stylist would call one of us over to touch up our hair or makeup. But that was about as exciting as it got.
“Are you okay?” asked Patrick, looking particularly dapper with his hair slicked back. That he could go from roadkill to hottie in a couple of hours was completely unfair.
“Just a little cold. And bored.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Over the years I’ve gotten used to it. Acting for the screen is one percent magic and ninety-nine percent waiting around, usually on uncomfortable sets in ridiculous costumes.”
“I think this qualifies as both.”
“Hopefully it won’t be much longer.”
I forced a smile. A positive attitude in the workplace being a good thing and all. “Is that suit ruined?”
“I’d say so. It’s a wool Brioni. Probably cost about fifteen grand.”
“Jesus.”
“Come here,” he said, floating me in his general direction with a hand on my lower back. Then my hands were on his shoulders and his arms were around me, our bodies pressed together. “You’re all gooseflesh.”
“The water is warm; it’s just the breeze.”
Movement was limited due to my Hervé Léger black column gown. Sleeveless with a square neckline, it had straps crisscrossing down my back. And the borrowed diamond necklace, earrings, and bracelet set came with its own security guard keeping watch. So much for the whole girl-next-door thing. Despite being drenched, we were high glamour.
“What message do you think they’re trying to send with this picture?” I asked.
“I honestly have no idea.” His expression grew thoughtful. “That we’re in deep water, maybe?”
I smiled. “How’s your hangover?”
His smile was sheepish. “I’ve been better. The Advil helped, thanks.”
“Sure.”
One of his hands rested low on my back above the curve of my ass while the other rubbed at my bare arm, trying to warm me up. If I had to be stuck in a pool wearing high fashion, then at least I had decent company. Now that he wasn’t ignoring me.
“About last night,” he started, stopping to take a breath. “There’s something I need to tell you, just in case it comes up in the future.”
“Okay.”
“One of the dancers sat on my lap to take a selfie. I, ah . . . I moved her as soon as I realized. But I was pretty drunk. It took me a minute to figure out what was going on.”
“Right,” I said, keeping my voice quiet just in case.
“Are you mad?”
“About that? No.”
“But if that picture gets out it could embarrass you.”
“It would certainly undo our good work.”
He blinked. His wet eyelashes were so dark and long. “You should be mad at me.”
“Is that why you were avoiding me to the best of your abilities this morning?”
And there was that deer-caught-in-the-headlights expression again.
“You know, when you were evading all eye contact and grunting at me instead of talking half the damn time.”
“I wasn’t feeling the best,” he said, tone distinctly disgruntled. Like a spoiled child. “Maybe you could cut me some slack.”
“Try again, Paddy.”
He sighed. “Shit. I was doing that, wasn’t I?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “You really were. It seems to be a habit with you when things aren’t going well. Which is disappointing, because I thought we were friends.”
He just looked at me.
“But at the end of the day, this is a business arrangement. You didn’t do anything that would constitute breaking the contract and I am just an employee. So I don’t really have the right to be angry at you.” Despite my fine words, I was kind of fucking furious. Just