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The effect that tone has on my body is immediate and intense. Inexplicable heat coils in my gut. I ignore it.
Despite my current frustration, Cooper’s been surprisingly compliant the last few days. The audience absolutely adores him. Doesn’t matter what nonsense he spews, they eat it up.
“What’s got your panties in a bunch, anyway?” Cooper asks. I’m checking my watch again when he asks, trying to get my body back under control and answer him without thinking it through.
“I saw you leave with Bailey last night,” I say. Cooper’s eyebrows shoot up and I swear under my breath.
We really don’t have time for this. This whole competition has been my pet project for months, entrusted to me because Tyler thinks I might be ready to take on more work as a producer. If something goes wrong because I’m distracted by some dark, hot, hipster smartass, there’s going to be hell to pay.
Hell for him to pay.
“Jealous, huh? Can’t say I blame you,” says Cooper. His sneer melts into a cocky grin. “If I had a girl like Bailey—”
“Well, you don’t,” I snap. Which is total bullshit, since for all I know, he might have Bailey. Especially if she told him the truth about our nonexistent relationship.
“There he is!” a chirpy female voice exclaims. Cooper and I turn to see an intern heading straight for the stairs where Cooper and I’ve been arguing for the last five minutes. Trailing in her wake is my brother Alan. The intern takes off without another word.
“Pretty nice setup you’ve got here, Andy,” he says.
“Thanks,” I say through my teeth. “What are you doing here, Alan?”
“Since you’re not answering my calls or messages, figured I’d track you down.”
“We have to be on stage in five minutes.”
“This won’t take long,” says my brother. He eyes Cooper openly. “Who’s this?”
Cooper extends a hand, a flirtatious smile on his face. Why that smile gets under my skin, I couldn’t say. Smarmy bastard.
“I’m Cooper Lawson,” he says. “I’m hosting the competition. You must be Alan.” Cooper doesn’t meet my startled gaze, his attention completely focused on my brother. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
My brother looks puzzled, and I can’t blame him. How the hell… Oh. Bailey.
I choked down the resentment that thought brings.
“What did you want to talk to me about, Alan?” I ask.
“Mom told me you’d be down here all weekend. She and Dad wanted to make sure you’re bringing your new girlfriend to their anniversary party. It’s only a few weeks away, you know.”
“I know. What do you mean, girlfriend?” Out of the corner of my eye I see Cooper tense.
“Well, they said date, but that intern mentioned you brought your girlfriend to a company party last week. Apparently she made quite the impression.”
I don’t dare look over at Cooper right now.
“Hey,” says Alan, looking over my shoulder. “Is that…? Bailey!”
Well, shit.
Bailey stops, her eyes going wide. She says something to the tall red-haired woman I saw her with yesterday, presumably sending her on her way because Bailey comes toward us alone.
“Hey Drew. Cooper,” says Bailey. She swallows. “Hello, Alan.”
Bailey doesn’t meet my eyes as my brother leans over to kiss her cheek. Help comes from where I least expect it, in the form of Cooper waving us up the stairs to head backstage.
“I appreciate a good reunion scene as much as anybody,” he says. “But maybe we should take this conversation somewhere else.”
Backstage is mercifully free of onlookers, at least in the alcove we find just past the top of stairs. That won’t last long. Cooper and I are expected out front any minute now, and Bailey’s due on the competition floor.
