Page 60 of Just for the Cameras
“I’m not ignoring you. I’m trying to take care of the flamingos,” I say as I prepare vitamins for some of our birds.
He moves in right next to me. “You’re ignoring me.”
Seeing that he’s not going to quit with this badgering, I turn to him, one hand on the counter, the other holding a vial of supplements. “I’m not going to talk to you about this in my place of work. We have things to do. I’d like to take a picture of you looking at the flamingos today, and then you can be on your way.”
“We need to talk about this.”
“Text me later,” I say, turning back to the vitamins, only for my shoulder to be pulled back so I have to face his dark gaze again.
“This is not a later conversation,” he snarls. “This is a now conversation.”
Just then, Harriot walks into the building and pauses when she sees me and Graydon staring each other down.
Slapping on a smile, I ask, “Harriot, do you mind finishing the vitamins? I need to speak with Graydon.”
“Certainly,” she answers as she comes up next to me and starts taking over the duties.
“Thank you.”
I wash my hands quickly, dry them, and then take Graydon by his gigantic arm and move him toward the back of the flamingo building, out the door, and off to a corner surrounded by foliage.
Speaking quietly, I ask, “What do you need to talk about?”
His nostrils flare as he leans in close. “We’re not pretending to be in a public relationship.”
“Doesn’t seem like we have much of a choice, now does it?”
“You do,” he whisper-shouts. “You have a choice. They can’t force you to do anything. You don’t have a contract with them, so you don’t have any attachment whatsoever. Tell them no and end this misery for us.”
“For us, or for you?” I ask, shifting on my feet. Just as the comments have said on repeat, Graydon St. John is hot…to look at. Personality? Not so hot. But people don’t know that. And me? Well, I’m definitely not in the same league. The only other stupidly handsome man I’ve dated was Hardy. So even I can see why Graydon’s molars are grinding with distaste. “I know you wouldn’t typically be seen with someone like me, but I can…I can get new pants if you’re worried about the high-waters. If that’s what’s going to eat away at you.”
He drags his hand down his face. “That’s not what I’m fucking worried about. This isn’t a smart move, Maple.”
“It seems like it is. You’re already looking favorable to the public. Gretchen believes this will change people’s perception about the Foghorns and offer some good press. Isn’t that what you want? Isn’t that what you’re looking for? Why are you so against it? Is it because it’s me?”
“No,” he snaps.
“Then what is it? I can’t seem to figure out any other reason as to why this would be such a horrible attachment when it benefits you greatly.”
His clenched jaw ticks just below his ear as he studies me, mulling over his answer. After a few seconds, he says, “You know what? Fine. If you want this, then you can have it.”
“I don’t want this,” I say, wanting to make sure he understands he’s notdoing me any favors. “This is one of the last things I want, but I’m also desperate not to lose my job, not to lose a home for these flamingos. I will do anything to keep them around, which means saying yes to a plan that could grant me money to keep them around.”
“It’s not just a plan. It’s an invasion of privacy.”
I shrug. “I don’t have much of a life. People can search, but they’re not going to find anything.”
He pulls on his neck, standing taller, actually seeming distressed about this. “They’re going to eat you alive, Maple.”
“That’s a risk I’m willing to take,” I answer, even though fear starts to prickle along my skin.
He slowly nods, then blows out a heavy breath. “Fine, but don’t fucking say I didn’t warn you.”
“I’ve been warned,” I say, not wanting to talk about it anymore. “Now, if we can get on with what we’re here for, I’d appreciate it. I’d like to educate you about our flamingos before the event this Saturday.”
He scrubs his hand over the back of his head. “Yeah, sure.”
With those two words, I make my way back into the flamingo building, Graydon coming with me. I grab some pellets for enrichment and then say, “This way.”
