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“What am I not going to believe?” New asks.
“Um.” Gael thrusts the paper toward him.
“The hell?” Shaking his head, New grabbed the paper. His eyes scan from left to right, and his jaw ticks. “I hope you’re ready, little Blume, because the cat’s out of the bag.”
“What?” I step closer to him and gasp at the image of us against the back wall of Pages. “Who. How?” My lungs tighten.
“They are never going to stop, are they?” My voice breaks.Coffee heiress finds love again with mystery man?
“So it’s true. You are together?” Gael asks.
“Did you think I would let her get away a second time?” New rumbles.
Gael smirks. “Not if you were smart.”
“This changes nothing.” New cups my face. “Okay?”
“It does.” I close my eyes. “You don’t know how they can be. I thought coming here would let me start over.”
I can’t stop shaking as images of paparazzi dogging my steps and reporters shouting questions fill my head.
“Enough.” His sharp voice snaps me from my spiral.
“I won’t pretend to know what it was like out there on your own, but you’re here now, and I’m going to protect you, understand?”
I nod. “Good girl. I have an idea about who might’ve taken this shot, and it's not a member of the press.’ His eyes flash with anger.
“Laurel is pushing for a different custody split. Chaz has an opportunity to travel with his job, and she wants the ability to drag Brax with them. If she thinks this will stack the odds in her favor, I won’t put it past her.”
“Oh.” The breath leaves my lungs in a loud rush of air.
“Be on alert, but don’t worry too much yet.”
I lick my dry lips. “You’re right. I just. I wasn’t expecting this here.”
“I know.” He leans in and kisses my forehead.
“I don’t want you to be alone right now.”
“It's fine. I’m used to it.” I shrug, feigning a nonchalance I don’t actually feel.
“Not anymore. You can go to see Fey and hang out with your mom. I know mine would love to have you hang out at Pages. The days of riding things out solo are done, Daphne.” I close my eyes and lean into him. His strong arms wrap around me, and I draw strength from the man who’d always been my protector growing up. It’d be easy to let him take control and go into autopilot.And what happens when this fails, and you’re back on your own?
“I’ve been down this road before. I know how it goes. If I hide, things will get worse while the reporters clamber for more information and photos.”
“I thought we agreed you weren’t going to—.”
“No. You did.” I snap.
The atmosphere grows heavy as Gael looks on, shocked.
“I need to make phone calls and plan for damage control.”
“What damage? Do you think I care about others knowing we’re together?”
Gael inhales loudly.
“This is brand new, and we don’t need the scrutiny.”
