Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
West felt his eyes go wide and his blood pressure tick up as he realized what he was looking at. It was a picture of himself and Ally on the hiking trail, her hand in his. Another picture followed, and it was of the passionate kiss they’d shared, the one he’d initiated.
“It’s from a gossip website.” Charlotte was the only one who didn’t seem angry about the situation. “They posted those pictures about an hour ago along with an article that is not flattering to Ally.”
He took the tablet from Big Tag. “I didn’t see anyone following us. There was no one on that trail who recognized us.”
“Her,” Big Tag insisted. “They wouldn’t care to recognize you.”
“Give him a break,” Wade said with a sigh.
Big Tag’s head shook. “Nope. Language is important, and the fact that he used the word we means he’s more invested than he’s going to try to tell me. We and us are words you use when you’re a couple. She’s a client. No one recognized the client.”
Big Tag was obviously going to be a pain in his ass about this. “No one recognized the client. I don’t think anyone followed her.”
“You don’t think?” Now Wade was standing by Big Tag.
“I checked, but I didn’t see any car following us. I don’t know, man. It’s a big fucking city.” Had he not done his job? Had he been too concerned with Ally that he wasn’t properly protecting her?
No.
“Screw this,” West said, handing back the tablet. “I did exactly what I was trained to do. No one followed us. I didn’t even talk to her on the ride out. I was very aware of everything around me. Those pictures were taken with a telephoto lens. They never got close to us…to the client. I need to figure out if Ally told anyone where we were going. She was texting on the way to the nature preserve. I don’t think anyone could have overheard our conversation.”
There was another possibility.
“I need someone to check my SUV for a tracker.” He hadn’t thought about it because the studio had security. “It was parked in the studio’s lot. The lot has full time guards, but it could have been someone on set.”
“You think someone tipped off the photographers?” Charlotte asked.
“It’s the only thing that makes sense. I assure you I would have noticed if assholes with cameras were hanging around…the client.” He really was using the us and we words a lot. “I almost hope there’s a tracker and it’s someone from the studio who’s making some side money. I would hate for it to be someone Ally trusts.”
She trusted so few people.
“Jamal is already downstairs checking your truck.” Big Tag sighed and stared at him like he was trying to figure out how to deal with him. “I think we should reconsider having you take lead on this project.”
“Then I’ll quit and she’ll hire me privately.” Now that he was standing here having to defend himself, all his damn doubts had washed away.
Ally needed him. It might not work out, but who the fuck knew? He would never have said a few years back that he would be living in Dallas getting ready for his brother to marry the man of his dreams. Life threw curveballs, and learning to catch them or avoid them was the measure of how successful a person could be.
Ally was a big old curve ball that could knock him into the dirt. Or she might be the best thing that ever happened to him. All he knew in that moment was that Big Tag and his brother weren’t going to make the choice for him.
“I’ve got a signed contract,” Big Tag argued.
Charlotte stayed on the couch, watching the argument like it was the best tennis match she’d ever seen. “That contract is with her stepdad. She is her own actual person and of an age that legally we can’t treat her like medieval property. I know. I’m no fun.”
“He didn’t mean it that way.” Wade seemed determined to treat him a lot like the stepdad treated Ally.
They were whole-ass adults who’d been facing adult choices and situations long before they should have been. They weren’t dumbass kids who followed their hormones and thought of nothing but pleasure. Ally tied herself up in knots over every decision, and he was a careful planner. “I meant exactly what I said. Ian, I’ve done nothing wrong on this job. I’ll find out who tipped off the gossip rags, and we’ll be more careful in the future. Now I should get back to Ally and no, I’m not going to call her the client because it’s obvious I like her.”
Tag pointed to the tablet. “Yes, your tongue likes her throat. And don’t say you haven’t done anything wrong. Do you not remember the don’t fuck the fucking client clause?”