Page 121 of Scandal
She visibly relaxes. “Then what? We are photographed all the time. What could be so bad?”
“These were photos of us at the cottage. Someplace that was supposed to be private.”
I watch her process the information, then she asks, “Are you sure it’s not an overzealous reporter who just followed us?”
“Maybe. But these weren’t your typical paparazzi photos. These were…closer. The kind you could take with a camera phone.”
“The person who was spying on us was that close?” Her face looks ashen.
“Yes, but Merc, that’s not the part I’m worried about.”
“What could be worse than someone spying on us?”
I take her hand in mine. “They made threats. About you.”
“Me?”
“Whoever this person is,” I explain. “They seem to have a personal vendetta against me, and the way they want to exact their revenge is by taking the one thing that means the most to me.”
Her face softens slightly. “And that’s me?”
Christ, I’ve made a mess of this. “Yes, Merc.” I cup her face with my palm. “I’m sorry I ever caused any doubt. I’ve just been so damn scared. And to think you believed I was pulling away because I was getting tired of you? When in truth, the thoughtof living without you seems impossible. My heart nearly stopped when I saw those suitcases by the door.”
“I’m sorry. I panicked. The things Isobel said…” Her voice trails off as she nervously licks her lips. “All those old insecurities I used to have came rushing back, and suddenly everything she said made a little sense. I was just that scared little girl from the red carpet again, and you were this world-famous rock star. Why in the world would you ever want to be with someone like me?
“So I made an excuse about having a headache and needing to end the night early, then I ran back here, cried, and started packing. I don’t even know why.”
“Because I made you feel isolated and alone this week. Because I let my own insecurities get the best of me, and rather than talking to you, I tried to handle it on my own, thinking I was being noble and protecting you,” I confess. “But really, I was just terrified you’d decide I wasn’t worth the hassle and run scared the second you found out.”
“So I was worried you wouldn’t want me to stay, and you were scared I would leave?”
“It seems so.”
She smiles, and it’s sweet and full of promise. “We are quite the pair, aren’t we?”
“I think we are both new to this,” I tell her, gripping her hand again. “Neither of us has been in a relationship, and our situation is, to say the least, unique. Not every relationship begins as a PR stunt and then turns into something real before the whole world. But there is no one I’d rather take this journey with than you.”
“I love you, Asher,” she says, kissing me.
“I love you too. More than you know.” And when I kiss her back, I don’t stop.
Not until hours later, when we’ve spent hours reminding each other just how real and possible a love like ours can be.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
MERCURY
“So life is back to normal?” Evie asks, giving me half her attention as the rest is focused on the calendar in front of her. I make a note to ask her later where she got her earrings. They’re super cute.
Shrugging, I answer, “Normal-ish, I guess? And is life ever really normal around here?” I glance around the posh sitting room with its slew of priceless antiques and paintings that could fill a small museum.
“Touché.”
“The sheriff said?—”
“Chief constable,” she corrects. “This isn’t the Wild West.”
Snorting, I say. “Right. My mistake. The constable said the US authorities are bringing in Meg, Asher’s former agent, for questioning, but that all the evidence they have at this point is circumstantial. Mostly just a lot of ranting on the internet. Nothing specific that would tie her to the texts.”
