“I met him after one of your first shows. We stayed in touch through the years, and while,yes, I may have given him access to your house as a favor, I didn’t have a clue what he was planning?—”
“Bullshit.” My accusation flies through the night, sounding like the crack of a whip, and Beckham straightens enough to hold my gaze. “I pored over every single Yardley employee details. The ones subcontracted for the event, too, and Dave Palmer was nowhere to be found. He needed someone on the inside to put him in the right place at the right time.”
Emmy’s body stiffens before she grinds through clenched teeth. “And that inside man wasyou, Beck.”
Her agent fidgets with his tie, loosening it as he takes a step backward with his eyes fixed firmly on me. “I—I wouldn’t have let him harm her. You need to believe me.”
When I narrow my eyes, he shifts his pleading gaze to Emerson, the pitch of his voice escalating desperately, knowing his misdeeds have found their way into the light. “He wouldn’t have harmed you. I had a plan in place to have him seized outside the Yardley in front of the paparazzi. It would have been money in the bank. It would have taken you to a whole new level, don’t you see?”
His eyes are glassy and unfocused as he whispers almost frantically, “I only ever did whatshewanted me to. It was all for her.”
A shiver ripples up my spine, but before he can elaborate, Thom steps out onto the balcony, his training instantly kicking in.
Knowing where this is headed, Beck tries one last time to appeal to Emmy, turning to her with pleading eyes. “I made you what you are, Emerson Hart. All those awards and designer clothes, all those sponsorship deals and promotional opportunities, the roof over your head, and even the food in your belly…Idid that?—”
“I don’t want it!”
Emmy cuts him off with a bellow so inherently unlike her that all present freeze on the spot. Then her voice drops to a whisper so threadbare that I strain to hear it. “I only wanted to be like my mother. I never wanted all…all ofthis.”
Kyle appears at Thom’s side, and each man grips one of Beckham’s elbows. Then they exit the balcony space with the rest of us hot on their heels. Emmy’s eyes stay fixed determinedly on her agent’s departing back, Hayley’s hand in hers, and her free one wrapped around my waist.
The crowd parts, several cameras flashing as we pass, and a low murmur begins, building to a cacophony until we reach the elevator, where Emmy pivots to face the gathering.
I note several news station cameras directed at us, microphones outstretched to ensure the capture of each precious word America’s Sweetheart is about to utter. Then, in a low, self-assured voice, she addresses all present, my surprise evident on my face as she pops an eyebrow and emphasizes her declaration succinctly.
“I.Quit.”
The elevator doors open as though timed, and we depart as the din at our backs rises to new heights and Emmy looks up at me with a tired smile. “Take me home, Cowboy.”
CHAPTER 36
EMERSON
Three Days Later
Butterflies eruptin my stomach as I rewatch Ford’s “Lose Control”performance at Rebels for the umpteenth time online. The husky timbre of his beautiful singing voice turns my bones to mush, and I hug my cell to my chest, still in disbelief that this is it.
The beginning of the life I’ve always dreamed of.
I lock the screen when the crowd begins to cheer and look up to find Ford striding out of the ensuite with a white towel wrapped around his toned abs as he dries his wet, dark hair.
Water trails down the tattoo of my name across his broad chest, streaking over the valleys of his taut abdomen to land on the fluffy towel. The sight makes me nibble my bottom lip as all manner of lewd thoughts flicker through my mind.
His eyes lift to find mine watching him appreciatively, and he quirks an eyebrow. “If you keep lookin’ at me with those come-fuck-me eyes, you’ll get a whole lot more’n you bargained for.”
I kick my feet as I giggle, my face overtaken in a bright smile that’s all for him as I inform him, “You know your accent givesyou away when you’re angry or horny…and I’m thinking right now, it’s the latter.”
He booms a laugh, but even so begins to dress for the day, much to my disappointment. Seeing my smile drop, he walks closer, cupping my cheek. “I won’t be long, baby. Just have to make a statement regarding the gala and Beckham’s admission. Vaughn got the whole thing on his cell, so it’s merely a formality at this point.”
My shoulders droop, though I have plans myself, and he quickly reminds me.
“Aren’t you meeting your stepmom and Hayley for brunch at Fern?”
“Yes! But morning sex is my favorite.” He chuckles, seating himself on the bed beside me, and I shamelessly allow the sheet to fall, showcasing my breasts. “You’re always so hungry for me at that time of day. It’s like you’ll never get enough?—”
Before I can finish my sentence, he yanks the sheet from the bed and pulls my legs apart, reaching out his thumb to circle my clit over the material of my simple cotton panties. I look up at him, panting already as I feel a flood of arousal rush to my core, and he lifts his desire-laden eyes to mine with a smirk.
“I don’t need to leave for another five minutes.” His voice drops to a husky timbre that sends a shiver of lust rippling through me. “Enough time to show you just how hungry I am for you.”
