Gage
Isat in the stiff chair, which was definitely not as comfortable as it looked, and fidgeted as the the crew worked on the lights. They kept swinging around and blinding me, and no matter how much I tried to ignore them, I couldn’t help flinching every time they shone in my eyes.
“Ahh, Gage Carson!” I heard a woman shout with excitement.
I turned from the lights, the smile on my face brighter than the lights I’d just been cursing, as I stood and embraced Kiki Wallace, the host ofVegas Tonight. She was the only reason I was looking forward to the press event forHaunted Vegas, the new reality show I was hosting.
My eyes swept around the stage and locked with Trent Williamson, my co-host. He smirked and shot me a wink as one of the girls fussed with his hair.
Okay, maybe not the only thing I had to look forward to tonight.
Not that I could let myself go there. It was just a job. Trent was just another host.
“It’s good to see you again, Kiki,” I said softly as we parted, a frown marring my face as I considered the ramifications of doing this new show with Trent.
“What’s the matter, handsome?” Concern was written all over her face as she stared up at me.
I tried my best to smile and brush it off, but of course that was when Trent came sauntering over. He threw his arm around my shoulders as if it were nothing.
Maybe it was?
“Hey, there, Kiki. How’s it going?” When he gave her a wink, my heart sank. Not that I had suspected he had been flirting with me earlier.
He’s just friendly. And you’re his co-host. He’s just being nice and trying to make sure this show is a success.
But the way his arm flexed while it was draped across me and his hand gripped my shoulder, it seemed almost possessive.
That couldn’t be right though. Because I wasn’t Trent Williamson’s.
I never could be.
Because I couldn’t be someone’s replacement.
“I’m doing great. Thanks for asking.” She beamed up at him, eyebrow quirked up as she glanced between the two of us. “I suppose things are going good on this front?” Her hand waved between the two of us and I froze.
“Couldn’t be better,” Trent said and I found myself frowning even deeper.
While what he said wasn’t a complete lie, it also wasn’t the truth. We got along great and we had a lot in common, but it was strictly professional all the time. I’d yet to be able to crack that hard exterior of his, yet there he was, acting like we were best of friends.
Then again, I knew I couldn’t just blame Trent for the way things were between us. I had my barriers up with him too.
“Places!” a woman whose name I couldn’t remember, shouted from behind one of the cameras.
My stomach dropped as Trent’s arm fell from my shoulder and I scolded myself for acting like a schoolboy with a crush.
As I sat back my seat, I was gladVegas Tonightwasn’t filmed in front of a live audience. The last thing I wanted was for people to get the wrong idea about Trent and me. Though, from the way Kiki was looking between us, it was obvious she might already have the wrong impression.
God, please don’t go there, I plead to the universe.
I zoned out for the next few minutes and focused on my breathing while the final adjustments were made.
“You okay?” Trent leaned over his chair and asked quietly.
When I looked up, I got caught in his caramel colored eyes. Truth was, I wasn’t okay.
Or, I hadn’t been until Trent asked. Coming from a modeling background, I wasn’t used to all this press and interviews. Usually, I showed up, looked pretty, got paid, and went on my way.
I took a deep breath and nodded.
