“Vera thinks it would be a good idea to send Sterling with Tanner,” Laird says mildly.
“Over my dead body.” Noah raises his voice again. “Why? So she can face down those asshole photographers? They’re saying she’s pregnant.” Noah punches me in the shoulder. “She’s not pregnant, right?”
I rub my arm. “Jesus, no she’s not pregnant. At least not by me.”
“I’m going to fucking punch your teeth in, Superman.”
“Boys. Stop it.” Laird takes a seat next to me. “Don’t push him. How would you have liked to get that call from Emma?”
I drop my head. I don’t even want to think about Emma and Don right now. Christ what a goat-fuck. “What do you want, Laird? What does Vera want?”
He taps his fingers against the table. “Hear me out. Sterling needs to put together a strategy for the upcoming tour. She can do that from the cabin. Vera thinks it would be great publicity for her to do a segment on you behind the scenes, working, writing.”
I exhale. “I can’t write if someone’s watching me.”
“Well, you’re going to try because nothing else is working and the label is up my ass about when they’ll see some new material.”
“There are five of us in the band.”
“Yeah, and while you guys are amazing together, they want a ballad. Classic Kingmaker and that’s your writing, Superman.”
I tip my head back, feeling my neck crack. “And what about Sterling pretending to be my girlfriend?”
“Vera thinks it might get Natasha off your back, and it makes you look a little more stable.”
“Stable?” I roll my eyes towards him. “What does that even mean?”
“You’ve never had a girlfriend you’ve gone public with so it will generate interest. Sterling’s got a bit of a following of her own and comes across as genuine and sweet. If she believes in you, Natasha’s craziness will become apparent in contrast.”
“This is a stupid idea. First of all, there aren’t going to be any pappos in Sugar Maple Shore. It’s like, the backdrop for all those super-sweet Christmas movies. No one is going to care who I’m there with.”
“That’s why you’ll let Sterling do her job and make sure the whole world – or at least the whole world on your socials – sees you honeymooning it up for the summer.”
“She might not go along with this,” I say.
Laird jumps up, clapping his hands. “Let me take care of that.”
“I haven’t agreed to this,” Noah growls. “It’s a shit idea. What is Sterling going to get out of it?” He paces in front of the table. “Have you guys forgotten about the stalker who broke into my place and tried to take Gordon? What if Natasha steps up her nuttiness and goes after my sister?”
“Noah.”
He stops and turns to me, hostility radiating from every inch of his body.
“If Sterling doesn’t agree to this, I’ll call Vera myself and figure something else out. If she does, I promise I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe.”
Nodding, he crosses his arms. “When this is done, she gets to dump your ass. No one gets to say you left her.”
“Agreed.” This won’t be a problem for me. By the time we’re done in Sugar Maple Shore, Sterling won’t have stars in her eyes anymore. I might be able to make her feel good, but I’m not the kind of guy anyone wants to be around long-term. Too many issues and too much baggage. I’m much better alone.
If Laird can convince Sterling to do this, we will be alone for three whole weeks. Despite Noah standing five feet away, glowering at me, a flare of desire shoots through me.
The only woman I’ve ever wanted. Just the two of us in a cabin in the woods. Everyone who matters will know it’s all pretend, so when she breaks it off at the end, there’ll be no hurt feelings.
If she still wants me, I’d be a fool to turn her down.
After all, we both know it won’t be real.
And maybe, when it’s all over, I can let her go.
