“Can everyone please stay calm?”
There was a loud squeal in the crowd as a scuffle broke out as people pushed and shoved to get closer to the stage. Probably so they could get better shots of her expression. Pictures to accompany the horrible stories that were no doubt going to be written as soon as this disaster of a press conference was over.
Panicked, Raina turned to Sam. He motioned for several of the security guards he’d employed for the night to move forward and hold the crowd back.
Her eyes met a familiar face in the crowd. Nick. Even as her heart leaped, she tamped down the excitement. Just one more person to witness her humiliation. Except he didn’t look as though he was enjoying this at all. He looked upset. When their eyes met, she saw something she hadn’t expected to see.
Sympathy.
Being the center of attention was the key to her success. It had given her security, the chance to travel, and enough money to make sure that Ridley could go to college and study whatever she wanted. She would never complain about her life. But the truth was she hated every second of being in the spotlight. In one night, Nick had seen the truth that she took great pains to hide from everyone in her life. He’d seen it and understood. He’d saved her then and even though she hated being indebted to him, she couldn’t help wishing he was up there with her now.
“There is no truth to any of these rumors. My fiancé is not married and he is not part of the reality show. The show will be a behind-the-scenes look at my life as a model.”
“You’ve been photographed with Steven Silvestre several times in recent months. Were you surprised to find out that he is reconciling with his ex-wife?”
Raina gripped the microphone tighter and looked to Sam for help. He looked just as panicked as she felt.
How had things gotten so out of control?
* * * * *
“I REALLY HOPE she’s okay.”
Nick looked over at Ridley. She was staring up at the stage where Raina was talking to the band leader. She looked like pure seduction in a tight, clingy dress that made his blood boil. Her legs looked like they went on for miles and when she turned to face the crowd, her pert bottom was showcased by the tight material.
“Okay? She looks like she’s in her element up there.”
Ridley looked over at him as if just realizing he was there. “Nothing. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
They both turned up front and listened as Raina made her announcement and the crowd went wild. Nick looked behind him at Matt, who shrugged.
“Raina, is it true that your fiancé will star with you in your new reality show?” someone yelled.
Nick tensed. He knew she was engaged, of course, but usually avoided thinking about it. He had his suspicions that Silvestre had approached her after seeing her on Nick’s arm. Even Murphy’s Law wasn’t foul enough to randomly hook up the only woman he wanted with his number-one rival.
“Hey, watch it!” Ridley cried. The crowd was getting more aggressive, with several people pushing to the front trying to get pictures on their cell phones.
“I wish she’d just called this whole thing off. The last thing she needs right now is questions about that jerk.”
Nick stepped to Ridley’s side, helping to shield her from the jostling crowd.
“Ridley, is something going on? I just want to help. Raina and I have had our issues,” Nick said, ignoring the sarcastic face Jackson made, “but I hope you know that I’d never want to see her hurt. And this crowd is starting to look more and more like a group of sharks that has just scented fresh blood.”
“No, I don’t think you’d ever want to see her hurt,” Ridley whispered, a strangely tender look in her eyes. “I think you feel a lot more for my sister than you want anyone to know.” She narrowed her eyes, then leaned forward and spoke in a hushed tone.
“Her engagement is over. He’s going back to his ex-wife. Which is devastating to her for more than just the obvious reasons.”
Nick leaned closer so that no one else around them could hear. “Does this have anything to do with that brochure?”
“Remember what you offered us when you found it? Well, we’re not the ones that need the offer.”
Nick’s head spun as the implication of what she was saying hit him. Raina needs a sperm donor? He opened his mouth to say something else but Ridley put her hand over his mouth.
“I can’t tell you anything else, Nick. She’ll kill me if she finds out I said this much. But I will say that after all this time of chasing Raina, it looks like you finally have something my sister wants.”
She turned around and was immediately enfolded in Jackson’s arms. His thoughts were spinning in a million different directions. It was almost unbelievable, but it seemed that Ridley was on his side if she was telling him that Raina’s desire to have a baby might be his key to getting through to her. He snorted under his breath. He finally had something she wanted, indeed.
“Is it true, Raina?”
“Who’s the lucky guy?”
“Is there any truth to the rumor that you’re dating a married man? Is that why you won’t discuss your personal life?”
Nick looked up sharply at the question. Raina looked like she was on the verge of running off the stage. He’d only seen her look like that once before. Nick looked back at Ridley.
She nodded at him. He wasn’t sure what she was telling him, but he suddenly knew what he wanted to do. He pushed through the crowd until he got to the stage. The big, beefy guy standing there narrowed his eyes at him.