Page 29 of A Little Bit Engaged
The bell on the door jingled.
Cara’s worried gaze met Brody’s. She faced him, only inches away, close enough to hear her breath, but not to feel it. His temperature rose.
Two bodies in a small space would explain the heat. Physical chemistry would, too.
Voices sounded. A woman and a man. Maybe two men.
Brody listened, but he couldn’t hear what they were saying. He made out one word: police.
The bell on the door jingled, but Opal didn’t open the curtain.
“The door closed,” Cara whispered. “Maybe they left.”
“Or someone else came in.” He’d been through this too many times to take a peek. “Opal said to wait. We’ll wait.”
His cell phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen to see a text from Caitlin.
Caitlin: Where are you? The photographers need pics of you and Cara.
Brody: You know about them?
Caitlin: I tipped them off when you told me where you were having lunch.
Brody: Why?
Caitlin: To make this appear legit.
Brody: We’re planning a wedding. Call off the hounds.
Caitlin: Fine.
Brody: Anything else?
Caitlin: The interview went live.
He wanted to cuss, but Cara had never liked him using certain four-letter words around her.
Brody: You said we had until Thursday.
Caitlin: Out of my control. TTYL.
He blew out a frustrated breath. Caitlin had zero control over the interview airing, but later would have worked out better for everyone. He tucked his phone in his pocket. Caitlin being in touch with the photographers—and the others who’d parked themselves outside the condominium building earlier this morning—pissed him off.
Brody was concerned about Cara. Her worry knotted his gut. He’d spent the past two and a half years living a lie, so he figured there was karma involved for him. But her…
She didn’t deserve this. She’d done nothing but support him and Caitlin over the years. Gave them what extra money she had from her part-time job in college. More after she worked full-time before they made it big. Listened to them complain at all hours of the night. Dropped everything whenever they needed her.
He hated that her smile had disappeared once again. Time to lighten the mood. “Just think how many women would love to be in your place right now.”
“Nothing personal, but I’d change places with one in a heartbeat. Hiding like this—” She glanced around the cramped dressing room. “It’s so not me.”
Her quiet voice shook. Not quite on the verge of panic but close.
She needed a distraction. Turning his cap so the brim faced the back, he asked, “Would this be more to your liking?”
Leaning forward, he kissed her on the lips. Just a light touch.
She stiffened but soon relaxed.
