Page 69 of Nothing to Win

“Hey, Gia,” Roxie said like the circus wasn’t in town, calling over the clowns and acrobats.“You need me?”

“No, I’m good.”

In the front far corner, only the city glowed behind her friend.There were other non-Roxiverse bodies out there, loitering behind the crew, out of shot.Some watched on, others tried to edge into the light.Roxie wasn’t alone, but she didn’t recognize the people with her.That didn’t mean they’d never met; partying at Crimson meant various faces and names passed through.Introductions didn’t always stick.

“Eagle’s landed.If everyone could stay quiet, we’d appreciate it,” Struan said.They’d met at Crimson.Guy was huge and an absolute sweetheart, especially around his girl.“Want to be in the shot?”

Oh, that was for her?

“No.No,” she said and quickly shuffled out of the terrace doorway to make space.

“We’re supposed to be revisiting that code name,” Roxie called as the camera was set.

And just like that, Zairn appeared in her previous spot.Roxie’s surprise was Oscar-worthy.

“You’re…” Roxie said in a gasp.“What are you doing here?”

“Couldn’t stay away, LoLo.”

“You’re supposed to be working,” Roxie said as Zairn went toward her, cool in every step.“You’re supposed to be on a plane.”

“Only thing I’m flying tonight is you, baby.”

“Smooth, Casanova,” Roxie said as the couple’s arms went around each other.“Real smooth.”

The couple’s kiss might’ve garnered applause if it wasn’t for the request for silence.Her eye caught on something through the window to inside: Brogan.

Leaving these spouses to their intimacy, fake intimacy, she supposed.They lived in the public eye but didn’t go around making out in front of—oh, no, wait, she took that back.Even without the camera, they often got cozy in Crimson.

Putting herself in front of him, she joined the lone Brogan.

“We had dinner with them last night,” she said.“They’ve barely been apart but…”

“That’s the nature of reality TV.”

That things had to be hammed up?

“I get that.But camera or not, they love each other, they feel whole together.They’ve been together for…” She didn’t know how long.“They’re the proof.”

“Proof of what?”

“It does exist.”

Could be saying that to Brogan was a bad idea.She wasn’t implying anything about them.Yet, she did feel better.Brogan was an incredible guy but wasn’t interested in anything long term.Maybe one day she’d find someone to rescue her from the proverbial tower at her parents’ house.

Gazing up into him, stupid or not, she couldn’t see herself enjoying intimacy with anyone except Brogan.

“This is our party and…”

He opened his hand.“It wouldn’t be inappropriate,” he said, reading her mind.“For putting this together, you deserve a token of my appreciation.”

As he guided her, hurriedly, across the room toward the stairs to their bedrooms, she put her glass aside unable to hide her grin.They were sneaking away, from their guests.This would put her high on the Sear Naughty List.Turned out she wasn’t too averse to breaking their rules.Her mother was right, Brogan was a bad influence, except she left out the part that it would be in the most incredible way.

TWENTY-TWO

BROGAN WAS A LOT OF THINGS, Prince Charming he was not.Yes, he was a gentleman.He was generous and attentive.He was not patient, not always gracious, and quite often infuriated her.

If there was one thing they’d both become pros at over the last few weeks, it was pasting on their public face and duping the crowds.They were, by all accounts, in every social circle, a fully committed, and believable, established couple.