Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
He rolls off me and reaches over for his phone, turning it on. I don’t have mine, thank God, not that that’s going to stop any of the drama flowing in the second he looks up the news. I wait, suddenly feeling a heavy weight in my chest as he scrolls, looking for a few minutes, reading a few things, and then he finally looks over to me. “It’s pretty bad, babe. You sure you want to see this?”
“Bad for you, or me?”
He shrugs. “I couldn’t give a fuck if it looks bad for me, bikers always get a bad rap, but ... you ...”
“Show me,” I sigh, wanting already to stop the tight feeling in my chest, and the ill feeling in my stomach, as I reach for the phone he hands me.
The first words I see are “Country music’s number one star, Scarlett Belle, sells herself for drugs.”
I blink.
You’re kidding me, right?
I read some of the article, which basically says I’m using drugs, and have now started selling myself to a local Denver biker gang to source my addiction. My heart leaps into my throat and my skin prickles. Dammit. This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all. I blink back the tears and read the next article.
“Scarlett is in danger and has had to turn to a biker gang for protection.”
That one isn’t so bad. The article too scornful.
I move onto the next.
“Scarlett Belle leaves show early, disappointing fans as she runs off with an unknown criminal.”
Good lord. The show was finished.
Who comes up with this stuff?
“No more,” Maverick says, snatching the phone off me. I didn’t realize there were tears running down my face until my hand automatically moves up to swipe them away. “It’s bullshit, Scarlett. It’ll blow over.”
“I know that,” I whisper. “But this is going to have an impact on my career, and Susan is going to flip ... if she hasn’t packed up and left already.”
“Every famous person I know has done something wrong accordin’ to the news. In a few days, they’ll have moved onto somethin’ else. Your fans won’t even remember this in a month. You know that.”
“I know, but the hate is going to roll in, and for a few weeks, that’ll backfire on me,” I take a deep breath, and then let it out. “But it was my choice to go last night, so now I have to live with the consequences.”
Maverick leans over, capturing my face in his hands and forcing me to look at him. “You do not ever have to ‘live’ with the consequences of livin’ your own fuckin’ life. You do not have to explain yourself. You don’t not have to justify yourself. You are a human being, you are allowed to fuckin’ well have some freedom.”
“Not in this industry,” I say and my bottom lip trembles.
“It’ll blow over, baby.”
I hope so.
Fuck. I hope so.
-18-
SCARLETT
Dammit.
The way my stomach is twisting is making me feel unwell. I don’t want to face the disaster I’m going to climb off this bike and dive right into, but I know I don’t have any other choice. Actions have consequences and these are mine. Susan will be inside that hotel, waiting, if she hasn’t quit and left me on my own already. There are going to be reporters surrounding the entrance, waiting, hoping to hear something.
Maverick slows down a few blocks away and comes to a stop. He pulls off the helmet and turns to me. “Can’t take you in, babe. Much as I want to. They’ll crucify me. You’re going to have to face this one on your own. You goin’ to be safe?”
“I’ll go around the back,” I tell him. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
My voice is shaking with nerves. That’s not surprising. I’m practically crapping myself at the very thought of going in there.
“I’m goin’ to watch anyway, just walk down the street a bit until I can see the hotel. I see any sign of a problem and I’m comin’ in. Don’t give a fuck what your manager thinks.”
I nod, swallowing. He reaches for my helmet, sliding it off and placing it on his lap, then he takes my face in his hands and brings me closer, kissing me on the lips, not deep, just soft. Exactly what I need. With a deep sigh, I climb off the bike. “I guess I had better face the music.”
“Call me when you’re out of trouble, okay?” Maverick murmurs, and those eyes, they make me feel secure inside, like if everything goes completely south, he’ll be there to pick me up.
That’s a damned wonderful feeling.
“Okay,” I whisper.
I smile.
He smiles.
Then he raises his hand in a peace symbol.
My heart explodes, and as I back down the street, I give him one, too. Then, with a lot of hesitation, I turn and walk toward the hotel. I slip around the back unnoticed and move through the pool area outside and into the lobby using the back doors. Someone notices me almost immediately and the reporters try to rush in the front doors, yelling and screaming, and everyone currently standing in the hotel lobby stops, looking over to me.