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I instantly knew she was cooler than me. And while she appeared only a few years younger, she was so at ease in her retro eyeglasses and onyx nail polish, that I subconsciously blamed her for why women in their thirties were now called ma’am.
She held no notecards but glanced at a computer screen embedded in the table. The angle of the teleprompter was set so that Hale and I couldn’t read whatever was on the screen.
“Ready when you are,” Hale said, taking my hand.
Her gaze caught the gesture and she smiled. “Great. Rayne, I don’t believe we met. I’m Frankie London.”
Of course, she had a badass name to match her persona. This chick was aging me by the minute.
I shook her hand when it was offered and the moment she let go I dropped my hands onto my lap. Why were my hands always so awkward whenever cameras were around? Hale’s looked completely natural folded together on the table.
Several red lights glowed from the equipment that the crew pointed our way. I reached for my mug, only to find it empty. Great. I was overheating and parched.
“Let’s start with how you two met.”
Hale glanced at me, but I had nothing to say. “Rayne was hired to help my father last summer after he suffered a fall.”
“Are you a nurse?”
I shook my head. “I was hired as Remington’s personal assistant.”
“Remington, not Mr. Davenport? Are you two close?”
“He’s still my boss.”
“And, Hale, how do you feel about your fiancée working for your father?”
Did this woman know that this was a touchy subject? “Rayne and my father have a very special relationship.”
“So, would you say he approves of the marriage?”
I frowned. Was this a Remington interview or a Hale and Rayne interview? As far as I was concerned, the world wasn’t aware of Hale’s rivalry with his dad, and I was one hundred percent sure he preferred it that way.
My protectiveness came out. “Remington is like a father to me.”
Frankie grinned. “And soon he’ll be your father-in-law. How does your biological dad feel about your relationship?”
I froze. There were very few things that triggered me, but my father was one topic I avoided like a minefield.
“Next subject,” Hale said with the authority of a military leader.
“We’ll move on.” Frankie glanced at her teleprompter. “So was it love at first sight?”
Hale fielded the next few questions. I heard reminiscent mentions of The Lady Parr, Remington’s yacht, hurricanes, ducklings, and many other bits and pieces from those earlier days of our relationship, but I wasn’t fully listening until I heard him mention paprika.
No! My eyes widened as I watched in horror, his words coming out in slow motion as he detailed that humiliating night on The Lady Parr. My ears were in denial. He wouldn’t tell that story!
But he was.
“She was adorable,” he said, smiling at me with such innocence. “Half of her face was swollen to twice its usual size and her S’s sounded like T-H’s. I think I fell in love with her that night.”
I was going to murder him.
Frankie smiled. “And Rayne?”
“Huh?”
“When did you fall for Hale? Was it that same night?”
