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“If I was going to order anything, it would be New York cheesecake.”
“Consider it noted,” he murmured before Chad came around the side of the car and ushered Rhett into the building. I followed at a safe distance, behind Adalyn and Bridget, who were deep in conversation—likely about Karina Bier—and Jax, who was sweeping the rooms before Rhett stepped into them.
By the time we were all in our rooms for the night, I’d double-checked my cases to make sure everything was in order, and Adalyn had propped open the adjoining door between our room and Bridget’s so they could chat about what a date with Karina would mean for Rhett’s image.
Since I didn’t know exactly what image he was trying to put out into the world, I couldn’t give an opinion, but listening to them talk in circles felt like hovering on a Ferris wheel that never stopped.
Adalyn frowned. “If he is seen to be in a good place with her, it could replace the bad publicity their breakup had.”
“Bad publicity Karina planted so she’d have a wider reach in the media. Rhett never sent those texts.”
Adalyn rolled her eyes. “It’s way too easy to fake a screenshot these days.”
They went on a little longer, saying the same few points in numerous different ways. I sat on the edge of the bed painting my toenails a deep mauve and going dizzy from all the back-and-forth. “Have you considered asking Rhett what he thinks?” I asked, unable to curb my tongue any longer.
They both blinked at me from where they lounged on the couch. Bridget recovered her surprise quicker. “He doesn’t pay me so he can do whatever feels better to him.”
“No, of course not. I do understand that. I only meant, because it seems like the pros and cons are pretty equally weighed, that maybe he would have some insight into the situation.” They stared at me a little longer, so I kept talking. “He was the one who dated her. He might know things you don’t.”
Bridget gave me an indulgent smile. I was a pretty independent woman—being raised by a single mom who was gone a lot on flights sort of forced me into it—but this publicist still had the ability to make me feel small, which wasn’t an easy feat. “Rhett doesn’t have secrets from me,” she said confidently.
“Surely, in his personal life—”
“His personal life is literally my business. It is what my business is supported on.” She spoke slowly and then paused for emphasis. “I’m responsible for his image.”
There was a yucky edge to what Bridget was saying, and while I understood that Rhett lived in the public eye, it didn’t sit well with me that he would have nothing that was entirely his own, especially when it came to his relationships.
“Don’t approve Karina yet,” Bridget said to Adalyn. “I’ll decide by the morning.”
“The auction begins at ten.”
“I’ll have an answer to you by six.”
I looked at the clock on my phone. Six was only five hours away. It was time to hit the sheets. I didn’t realize how exhausting this campaign would be. We were only on our second city out of ten, and already I felt like I was running on fumes.
***
Bridget ran the date auctions without Rhett in attendance, always in the ballroom or conference room of a different hotel than the one we were staying in, and usually with either Chad or Jax at her side. Maybe the show of strength was to remind the mere mortals in the audience that while Rhett Myers had deigned to date ten different women across America, he was not without protection.
I hung back at the hotel with Adalyn and looked out the window at old brick buildings amid modern architecture. I was dying to get my hands on a slice of Boston cream pie, but I had to wait and do Rhett’s hair before I could slip away.
Currently he had requested not to be disturbed until it was time to prepare for his date.
Adalyn looked down at her phone and cringed. “You’ll never believe who won the date.”
Based on the fact that I didn’t know anyone who was bidding today except Karina, I was pretty sure I would believe it. But for the sake of wishful thinking, I said, “Not Karina Bier?”
She shook her head. “Karina took it. She paid almost double what Miss Chicago paid.”
“That’s good for the charity, at least.”
“Hopefully Rhett won’t be too angry,” Adalyn mumbled.
“He’s probably had enough time by now to come to terms with it,” I said.
Adalyn’s eyebrows shot up on her forehead, and my stomach sank.
“He’s been informed about the possibility of Karina being his date, right?” I asked.
