Page 158 of Tempting Miles
“What the fuck?” I mutter.
“Merlin MacAllister, are the rumors true?” the reporter asks, shoving the microphone in Merlin’s face.
“What rumors?” I ask, completely lost.
Merlin just stares at her silently.
“Wait.” The cameraman tilts his head. “Is that Penny Levine?” he asks.
The reporter’s head whips toward Penny.
“Oh, my gosh,” she breathes. “This is even better news. Do you see her belly?”
The two of them take off toward her.
“Hold on a minute,” I snap as I move after them. “This is a private event.”
They ignore me completely.
I quickly close the distance, needing to get between them and Penny before this turns ugly.
“Penny Levine,” the reporter says brightly, shoving the microphone toward her chest. “What a surprise to find you in this godforsaken town.”
“Do I know you?” Penny asks calmly.
“No, no. We’re Carolina correspondents forShowBiz.”
Fuck, a tabloid?
Why the hell would they care about Penny?
“Well,” Penny says coolly, “then you’re talking to the wrong person. There’s nothing about my life to publicize."
“Oh, I couldn’t disagree more.” The woman smiles sharply. “You were supposed to marry Easton Ryan in what the media dubbed the wedding of the year in Charlotte.”
Penny’s posture stiffens slightly.
“And now,” the reporter continues, her eyes dropping to Penny’s stomach, “you’re visibly pregnant, living in a small town, no ring in sight.” She tilts her head with fake sympathy. “What happened? Were you cheating on Mr. Ryan?”
Venom drips from every word.
Penny's smile falters for a second.
I’m at her side before the expression fully disappears.
“That’s enough,” I say sharply. “This is a private event, and you’re making everyone uncomfortable. Leave before I call the cops.”
The reporter slowly looks me up and down, from head to toe.
“Oh.” Her lips curl. “And who do we have here? Are you the other man?”
She turns the microphone back toward Penny.
“Did you leave Easton Ryan—one of the most wealthy bachelors in the country—forthisguy?”
“That’s it.” Penny steps forward, anger radiating off her in waves. “Get the fuck out of here.”
The sharp click of her heel as she stomps her foot against the concrete echoes through the rink.
