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“Well, if it helps,” he said, leaning down closer to her once again, “I think Vance is an idiot.”
An unbidden smile formed on her lips. She mouthed her thanks to him as Angela grabbed her arm and tugged her deeper into the club. Red lights flashed overhead on the exposed wooden beams and corrugated steel ceiling. The darkened room opened up into a massive space with a dark wooden dance floor and glass tables sporadically placed around the outer perimeter. A dark stained curved bar stood on one side of the room and a stage with a DJ on the other. The room pulsated with bodies and a heavy beat.
“Come on, let’s dance,” Angela squealed in her ear. “The boys can watch.”
All at once, Georgia felt overwhelmed. She was used to dealing with crowds and loud music, but this was too much.
“I think I need a water,” she said, slipping her arm out of Angela’s grip. “I’ll join you in a minute.”
“Suit yourself.”
Already, Angela had migrated toward the massive crowd, her blonde head bobbing to the beat. She had no problem integrating herself with strangers. She’d probably make five new best friends by the time the night was out.
Georgia admired that about her. Despite the confidence tutor and how far she’d come since high school, she still wasn’t someone who could pull something like that off. She blamed it on her simple Midwestern roots.
“Want to find a table?” Alaric asked, standing slightly behind her.
She nodded. Maybe, she could just sit this one out.
“I think I see one there.”
He pointed to the other side of the room where a round glass table had just been vacated. Placing a hand on her lower back, he confidently guided her through the crowd. His warm touch through her thin blouse unnerved her. Georgia slipped into the curved booth seats with black leather upholstery and sighed in relief at the space she’d put between them.
Alaric was taking his job seriously. Every move, every touch, was exactly what the paparazzi would expect of someone in a new relationship. She wasn’t sure how he kept so calm. She felt like a bundle of nerves, ready to explode at any minute. And just as she was beginning to calm down, he slid into the booth next to her until not an inch divided them.
“Are you okay?” he asked. She could feel him gazing at the side of her face and her pink cheeks. “Are we moving too fast? Because I can pull back a bit, if that’ll make you more comfortable.”
It was as if he’d read her mind. She licked her lips and stared off into the crowd, willing her silly head to get a grip. This was a million times better than dating some stranger off the internet. She and Alaric had a deal. An end date. If she didn’t pull herself together, she’d give up the game. No fan would believe this romance was real.
“No, I’m fine.” She gave him a quick smile and ran her eyes appreciatively over his suit. He’d unbuttoned the top few buttons on his shirt in the town car, but hadn’t given up the rest of the business attire. It was kind of endearing. “I’m just nervous.”
“Me, too.” He sat back and rested an arm behind her on the top of the bench.
She arched an eyebrow at him, not believing that lie for a second.
“What?” Alaric’s dark eyes opened wide, his jaw flexing. “I am.”
“Sure, whatever you say, Mister Confident.”
A glint of flashing light from the crowd stole her attention. A man stood about twenty feet away, cradling a fancy black camera with a large lens. He was painfully thin, with hollow cheeks and a long dark ponytail pulled over one shoulder. There was a steely look in his eyes as he pretended to innocently survey the room.
He was a paparazzi if she’d ever seen one and he had his lens pointed straight at them. Technically, they weren’t allowed in the club, but that didn’t mean one or two didn’t sneak by undetected occasionally.
If she wanted this relationship to be believable, she needed to give it her all. No more holding back.
It was showtime.
Chapter Six
“Are you ready?” Georgia mumbled out of the corner of her mouth. She climbed onto her knees on the bench and turned toward Alaric. Time to impress the public.
Confusion clouded his face. “What do you mean?”
“We’ve got an audience.” She tilted her head slightly in the camera’s direction.
He flicked his gaze over and back, understanding filling his eyes. “Oh, yes, I see what you mean.”
“Just follow my lead,” she said, her heart thumping painfully.
