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“You were out here sketching. Of course. I can see the appeal. If I looked through those sketches, how many would be of that man? I don’t blame you, Brynn. Like I said, I see the appeal. He has a very nice body.”
Apparently a whole lot of people had seen the appeal. The thought made her gut knot. “How bad is it?”
“Oh, it’s quite good. Those shorts of his don’t hide much. Do you think Ally could get a couple of pictures of him out of his shirt for your website? And also, could we get him to smile? He’s so frowny in the video.”
“He thought he was going to die.”
“So he’s very dramatic. Well, that’s disappointing. I thought he would be stoic given his living circumstances and his job. I don’t know that a police officer should have a dramatic streak.”
“He could have actually died. There are snakes and stuff in the water. Look, none of this matters. I’m not going on a talk show. Major isn’t going to like the attention.”
“Then he shouldn’t be escorting you around.” Her mom said the words gently, as though this was where she’d been leading her to all along. “Attention is part of who you are. It’s part of your career. I did come out here because I think you should use this. It’s excellent publicity. You look good on that video. You don’t look like some pampered Hollywood princess. You look calm and cool and competent. You look like you.”
It was something they talked about all the time. Brynn hated the stereotype she often faced. She was nothing more than a pretty face with no real talent, that she was richer than she truly was, that she didn’t work for any of it. She was blond, so many people thought she didn’t have a brain in her head. When she did pressers, her male costars got asked thoughtful questions about what the film had to say or how their characters changed them. She was asked about her costumes and if she was in a romance with the male costar. Even when said male costar was the closest thing to a father she’d ever had. “Can I think about it?”
“You know if you want to change the narrative, you have to be willing to do what it takes,” her mother said sagely. “And I don’t understand why the major wouldn’t want some publicity. He could get something out of it.”
“It’s not the major. It’s Major. It’s his name.”
Her mom nodded like she’d made an important point. “And the sheriff’s name is Armie. I’m sensing a theme here. Does everyone have military names? I’ve heard the rurals can be very patriotic.”
“The sheriff’s name is Armand. It’s a Cajun name. Armie is his nickname. And I don’t think Major’s going to be happy his nearly bare backside is all over the Internet.”
“All right. That’s not ideal, but we can work with it,” her mom allowed. “You’re the important one here. You know, when you think about it, you really saved the dog. Do you think he would let the dog be in the spot?”
“Mom, I just found out that Brynn was on a date with Tighty-Whitie last night, but only because his actual date turned him down.” Ally strode up, a smug look on her face. And a familiar skirt on her body.
Brynn gasped at her sister’s entitlement. Especially since she had only bought that skirt last week and hadn’t even worn it yet. “Hey, that’s mine.”
Ally twirled around. “Looks better on me. Can you get TW to pose with you? I want to do a whole post on how you’re getting comfy in the sticks with the man you saved from certain death by quicksand.”
“It wasn’t quicksand, and don’t call him that.” She shouldn’t have left her sister anywhere close to Major. Ally was known for being able to offend even the most laid-back of people. “You already did, didn’t you?”
Ally shrugged. “It’s better than his real name. Oh, and you should know there are already some reporters coming out here because the rumors about you and Gavin are starting up again. You should have known that would happen when you agreed to do a movie with him.”
“I’m playing his daughter,” she said between clenched teeth. She could feel herself flushing with the old embarrassment. The rumors about her and the man who’d been like a father to her could always bring her low.
Would Major hear the rumors? Would he believe them?
“That only makes it more interesting to the tabloids.” Her mother sighed, a long-suffering sound. “Darling, you know everyone loves a good scandal.”
“There is no scandal. He’s always been kind to me, nothing more,” Brynn insisted. She felt tears pulse behind her eyes and her fists were clenched at her sides. All the relaxation of the day was gone in a rush of anxiety.
