fist into Ramon La Pearl’s face but knew it wouldn’t be worth the consequences.
Instead, he turned and walked away. He had to get home and see Cassie.
As he walked through the airport, his cell rang.
“Are you nuts?” Becky Bloss screamed at him. “What’s going on, Rhett? You couldn’t mention this at lunch two hours ago? Do you know what it’s been like to be blindsided by every media outlet?”
“I just was, Becky.”
“Where are you? I want to see you now, in person. We’ve got to fix this mess.” She paused. “And I’ve got to know if it’s true or not.”
Rhett sighed. “I’m leaving LAX now. I was headed to see Randi in person. I have no idea how this got out.”
“It doesn’t matter, Rhett. We’ve got to do some damage control. This is a PR nightmare. At least it’ll probably mean bigger box office for Fireball’s opening. Beyond that, we’ve got to spin this fast. If not, you’ll be crucified from Entertainment Weekly to Access Hollywood.”
“Meet me at my house. I’m headed there now, Becky.”
Rhett hung up and dialed Cassie’s number. Her voice mail came on.
“It’s Rhett. I’m headed back to the house. It’s a little after two. I really need to talk to you. Call me when you get this.”
He left the terminal and began jogging to his car. A sense of urgency drove him. He reached the car and pulled out of the parking lot and decided to try Cassie at the gatehouse. When she didn’t answer, he left a second message.
“Cassie, it’s Rhett. We have a situation that I need to talk to you about. Pick up if you’re there.”
He waited a minute, his insides twisting. Rhett was about to hang up when he heard the phone click.
“Rhett Corrigan, you better get back here.”
“Jolene?”
“You bet your sweet ass it’s Jolene. I’ve fucked up royally. Cassie’s ended our friendship and she’s already packed her bags and moved out. No forwarding address.
“Get over here now before the whole damned ship sinks.”
His gut churning, Rhett raced home, screeching up the drive and leaping from the car. He ran to the guesthouse and threw open the door, finding a weeping Jolene leaning into Breck, her face buried against his chest.
His friend smoothed Jolene’s hair. “Rhett’s here, baby.”
She pushed away, sitting up, and Rhett saw the comedian was a total mess. Her red, swollen eyes were filled with tears. Streaks of dark mascara ran down her cheeks. She looked like a nightmare.
“It’s all my fault,” she said. “Everything. Cassie tried to do damage control but it was too late.”
Rhett took a seat in the club chair next to the sofa where Breck and Jolene sat. “Tell me. Everything.”
“Cassie and I met Melanie Cameron at Vanity. So she could find something to wear to the premiere. We were in the dressing room. She was trying on stuff. And I opened my big, fat mouth.”
“How did you know about Randi?” he demanded, trying to keep his anger reined in. “Did Cassie tell you?”
“No,” Jolene denied, pushing her fingers through her hair. “I overheard Cassie on the phone with Carreen. That’s when I figured out you were breaking up with Randi.” She eyed him sullenly. “About time.”
Suddenly, she pushed to her feet and began pacing the room. Then she wheeled and faced Rhett.
“I’m the one who broke the NDA. Not Cassie. I’m stupid and thoughtless and have no filter. Cassie just looked so damned hot in that dress and I told her how she’d turn your head.” Jolene swallowed hard. “Then I let slip that you planned to dump Randi. Someone in the dressing room overheard what I said. By the time Cassie changed back into her clothes and we left the dressing room, the entire shop knew. People snapped her picture. One bitch gave her the evil eye.”
Rhett could see it all. Women turned on one another quickly. He imagined it had been a feeding frenzy, with Cassie the main course.
“I take full responsibility,” Jolene continued. “You can sue my ass but not hers. I’m the idiot. I’ve already told Breck I’m moving out.”
She went and plopped next to him on the sofa. He placed a comforting arm about her shoulders.
Jolene’s eyes, still brimming with tears, tore at his gut. She was a good person. A little raw but never deliberately thoughtless.
“I am sorry, Rhett,” she said softly. “More than I could ever convey to you. You’ve been nothing but generous to me and Cassie. I blew it.” She brushed away her spilling tears.