“You love her. That much is obvious.”
He straightened to his full height. “Is it now?”
“Of course.” Skye sighed, leaning on the edge of the desk. “I noticed at the lake house. Hell, I noticedbeforethe lake house. I think it’s great. I hope you two will be happy together. Eventually. Not today.”
“It’s an interview,” he argued. “I’m her agent. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that I would show up.”
“You’re also the agent that everyone thinks she’s having a long-term affair with.”
“We didn’t have an affair.”
“I know that,” Skye said. “That’s not the point.”
Andrew wasn’t going to apologize for being there for Paige, not when she needed him. “We didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I never said you were wrong, Andrew. That’s not why we’re doing this. If you were thinking with your brain and not your heart, you would know I’m right. It’s not a good idea for you to go to the studio. Especially, after that article.”
“Shit,” he grumbled.
“We’ve known each other a long time. I’m inviting you to my wedding. Do you know what that means?”
He raised a questioning brow, not certain how her wedding guest list had anything to do with this. “No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“It means that I consider you a friend. I’m not trying to piss you off. But right now I’m Paige’s publicist. Her well-being is number one for me. You trust me to do my job, right?”
Is this a trick question?Because as annoying as Skye was, she was a damn good publicist—so good that Jax had invested in her private firm when she left Pure Talent.
“Yes,” he answered. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“If you trust me, let me do my damn job. You know it’s not a good look for you to come. Tanya will be there. I will be there.Youdon’t need to be there. You can see her when it’s over.”
Andrew hated when Skye was right. Unfortunately for him, the publicist was often rightandextremely annoying about it. But . . . “I promised her I’d be there, Skye.” He dropped his head, ran a hand over the back of his neck. “She asked me to come.”
“After this?” She held up the crumpled piece of paper again. “You need to stay away.”
Placing his palms flat against his desk, he leaned forward, dropping his head. “Tell me something?” He shot her a sideways glance. “If this was Garrett, and he asked you to be there for him, wouldn’t you be there?”
Skye’s eyes softened. “Hell. Yeah.”
“So tell me again why I shouldn’t be there.”
“The difference is that even though I’d try my damnedest to show up for him, I have friends who will lock my ass in a room if they thought my presence would hurt him.”
Skye didn’t need to say anything else to convince him he shouldn’t go to Paige, because he knew it was a bad idea. At the same time, he was willing to risk it to make sure she knew he was there for her.
“We both work to protect Paige’s career,” he said. “But I need to protect Paige. She’s already anxious. She even told me she wanted to cancel the damn interview. Add in the fact that I don’t have a good feeling about Wendell.” It was no secret that Wendell had ties to Julius. The two had worked together years ago in radio.
“That’s why I’ll be there,” Skye said. “And I promise you, if he pulls a fast one, I will skewer him over hot coals.”
A heaviness settled in his chest as he contemplated his next move. He had a sinking feeling that this would not end well for him. Still, he found himself agreeing. “I won’t go. But I want to send Vonda.”
Skye shrugged. “Okay.”
“Make sure you tell Paige why I’m not there,” he told her.
“I promise to tell her—when the interview is over.” He opened his mouth to argue, but she rushed on, “Because if I tell her beforehand, she’ll be upset. I need her on her game.”
Andrew picked up his phone. “I’ll call her myself,” he grumbled.
