“Cali,” she answered.
“So why are you FaceTiming me, then? You could’ve just sent a text.”
“I wanted you to see my face when I told you to take that shit down.” The noise that I’d heard faded away. “Okay, I’m in the Sky Club.” She let out a deep breath. “I needed Garrett here to carry my bags.” Skye had recently gotten engaged to Garrett Steele. They both worked to mitigate scandals for their wealthy clients, but he was a crisis management attorney. “Anyway, what’s going on with you? Duke told me to call you. He said you fucked up.”
I laughed. “Tell my brother to mind his.”
“He’s just worried about you,” Skye said.
I nibbled on my thumbnail. “Are you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Nah, girl. You got this. I noticed you cozied up to some mystery man.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Who is he?”
“That’s Preston.”
Frowning, she asked, “Who the hell is that?”
“Cooper’s friend. My friend. I don’t know.” I cracked up. “He’s somebody.”
She lifted a questioning brow. “Somebody you like?”
I didn’t even bother answering that question because it was irrelevant. “Did Duke tell you I’m thinking of running for office?”
“He did,” she replied. “He also told me something about a law organization?”
“Right. My mentor approached me about taking a leadership role in the org. They would then put their resources behind me for an eventual campaign.”
“That’s pretty amazing, Dallas.”
“Thanks. After that Kimball debacle, though, there was some concern that I wasn’t the right pick. Preston agreed to help me out, attending events and such.”
“Great. So, he’s your good publicity. I like that. And since you didn’t answer my question earlier, I’m going to assume you likehim.”
“It’s just business. A favor.”
Skye smirked. “Not sure I believe that, but okay.”
“Why don’t you believe me?”
“Because I know you. And I know that look on you.”
I swallowed. “It’s not that.”
“Whatever you say, sis. I told Duke you didn’t need me, though. You’re already doing what I was going to suggest. A public relationship with someonenotKimball Payne will work. Just no dramatic breakups. Adults can and do end relationships all the time without fanfare.”
“I know. It won’t be like that.”
“Although, I would’ve suggested doing this with someone else.”
“I didn’t want to do it at all,” I told her. “But then someone snapped a picture of us in front of my house, and the rumor mill went crazy.”
“What was he doing at your house? Before you say it was innocent, don’t try it.”
I shot her a mock glare. “I can’t stand you, heffa.”
She laughed. “You love me.”
“You’re lucky I do, because I would’ve cussed your ass out.”
