enough away to make her breathe calmly.
“Then why are you doing it if it could jeopardize your job?”
“Because I needed the extra money.” She shook her head. “Please don’t ask why. Just know that I had to sell those photos.”
“Morgan,” he took a lock of her hair between his fingers and caressed it, “if you need money—”
“I don’t want your money, Thomas. I’m not a charity case.”
“Just tell me one thing.”
She narrowed her gaze on him. “One thing? Thomas, I’ve already told you more than I wanted to.”
“I know.” He smiled. “But tell me this and I’ll leave.”
“What?”
“If you hadn’t needed the money, would you have given those degrading pictures to your boss or anyone else to publish?”
Sighing heavily, she frowned and shook her head. “Normally, I wouldn’t have done it. And even after I had done it, I felt guilty. But... well, you had pissed me off by breaking my camera, and part of me did it for revenge, and another part of me did it for the money.”
He stepped back and folded his arms across his chest. It surprised her how empty she felt from the loss of his nearness.
“Well, your revenge worked. I was thoroughly embarrassed, but I’m glad it helped someone out. I’m sure you got paid well for those pictures.”
“Yes, it was a good price.”
He turned and opened his car door. “Let me know if you need any more photos of me. Of course, next time I’d rather you not take pictures of me in my worst moment.”
She shrugged. “Humiliation and sex scandals sell papers.”
“I’m aware of that.” He climbed in his car and turned it on. “I still hope you’ll come to the party on Friday. I’d really like to see you again, and maybe I’ll let you take some pictures to sell.”
Laughing, she moved back to her bike. “Just don’t get drunk, okay?”
“That’s my promise to you.” He winked before putting the car in gear and driving past her.
As she watched him leave, the guilt that had been resting on her chest since that night at the casino was gone. She smiled. Maybe Thomas Powers wasn’t a terrible man after all.
TEN
Thomas didn’t usually plan his own parties, but when he did, he had a great turnout. Tonight was no exception. As people entered the country club, he greeted them, but he mainly watched for one person. Morgan was the only reason he planned this.
That woman was stubborn, and it surprised him that she didn’t want to take advantage of his offer to help her with the extra money she needed. Most women wouldn’t have turned him down. Shoot, even most of his male friends wouldn’t have turned him down.
Morgan didn’t want to be a charity case. He’d never known anyone to think like that but had admired her for wanting to do things herself instead of relying on others. More people should have her determination.
After their conversation the other evening that had left him with continuous thoughts of her, he had figured out a way to help her make money. He found it comical that he’d want to help her this way since he’d never liked it when paparazzi took his pictures and smeared lies all over social media. But that was exactly what he was going to help Morgan do.
Now... he just prayed she’d come to the party so he could tell her about it. He also hoped she’d think it was a great idea.
When a familiar pretty woman entered the room, his excitement lifted. Yet, when Joslyn came toward him, Morgan wasn’t following behind. The reporter looked elegant in her shimmering gray dress and black heels, but she wasn’t the one he wanted to see.
“Hello, Joslyn.” He took her hand and shook it. “I’m very glad you came, and let me say how pretty you look tonight.”
“Well,” she giggled as her cheeks lit up like candles on a birthday cake, “I wasn’t sure what to wear. I’m glad to see I’m not overdressed.”
“You fit right in with everyone here.” He glanced toward the door again, but still didn’t see the one pretty face he’d dreamed of gazing at since he followed her to her apartment. “Is Morgan with you?”
“No.” Joslyn sighed. “I talked to her at work and she said she’d try to make it, but she had to visit her parents.”
“Her parents live in Napa Valley, too?”
“Yes. Just across town, in fact.”
“What was so important about seeing them tonight?” he wondered.
“Well, don’t tell Morgan that I said anything, but she