“Close,” I say.
“Really?”
“No. Not even a little,” I say, and he laughs. “My parents and I talk every Sunday on the phone. They live in Tucson near my grandmother and I usually go there for Thanksgiving or Christmas every year. I have no negative childhood memories, and the only reason I like carousels is because of a tacky little Christmas decoration I found at a yard sale. I keep on a bookshelf year-round because something about it has always made me happy.”
Zane laughs, a real laugh that comes from somewhere deep inside him. “Well, for what it’s worth, I love that you love them,” he says. Then, with no second guessing, we both lean in and kiss, not caring if cameras are flashing or anything else.
After we get off, I look at the time. “I think we should probably head out soon if we want to get Bentley home before his timer runs out.”
“Good lord, I think one of his timers already did run out,” Zane says. “The one in his drawers.”
“Uh oh,” I say, reaching for him. “Does someone need a new diaper?”
“I can do it,” Zane says, and I let my arms drop to my sides. Then he grabs the diaper bag and heads off toward the bathroom.
“I don’t know what you did to my boy,” Cal says, watching Zane disappear into one of the family bathrooms. “But it looks good on him.”
“What looks good on him?” I ask.
“Happy,” he says.
Suddenly my phone starts to ring, and I answer it, still grinning. But the smile fades when I answer it.
“Too busy having fun to answer your phone, I see,” Deborah’s voice comes through the speaker. At first, I’m in so much shock, I don’t even know how to answer. Deborah has never called me directly before. That’s what she hired Prudy for.
“No, Deborah, I uh–”
“Stop stuttering and let’s get to the point. The media are exploding right now with photos of you, Calloway, and the baby,” she says cooly.
“Oh. Is that bad?” I ask.
“Of course not. Any publicity is good publicity as far as Sigma is concerned. But it’s not enough. Have you managed to take any photos inside? Like we talked about?” she asks. I press the phone closer to my ear and step off to the side while Demi and Cal joke back and forth.
“I did. I turned in photos of him posing in his room, remember?” I ask. I sent her the black and white bedroom shoot.
“A couple of pictures of Zane Calloway sitting on the edge of his bed aren’t exactly going to make waves considering that’s what every photoshoot he’s ever done looks like,” she says.
“Those were the best I could get,” I say.
“You live in his home, Ashlyn. I have a hard time believing that was your best. But if it was, I think you had better start looking for a different job. Failing an easy assignment won’t be tolerated.”
The phone goes dead, and I swallow hard before turning back around just as Zane walks up.
“Well, I think it’s safe to say you were right about that timer,” he says as Bentley starts to fuss. “You ready to go home?”
“Yeah. Yes,” I stutter.
“You alright?” he asks.
“Of course,” I answer. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Zane studies me for a moment, but all I offer him is a smile. And as we pack up to leave, I think I have him fooled. But Demi is also watching me, and considering how long we have been best friends, I think she knows better.
Chapter 31
Zane
“So when areyou going to tie the knot?” Cal asks as we head out of the office for the day.
