Bad Boy Brody(70)

Jen followed at a slower pace, the landline phone in her hand. She waved it in the air. “I just called the cops, assholes. And we do have a sign posted. No trespassing!” She walked down the steps, still shouting.

“Get off our lands!” Abby put her two cents in as she and Jen both stepped in front of me.

When the reporters and camera guy didn’t have their shot anymore, they grumbled but got back into the van and left.

Finn walked after them, literally escorting them off the land.

Once they were out of eyesight, both Jen and Abby dissolved into uneasy laughter.

“Man.” Abby was shaking her head. “You have no idea the crazy shit we’ve had lately.”

“Stuff like that?”

What did they mean about Brody? He was having an affair?

I knew it wasn’t true, or it probably wasn’t true, but the words burned in my memory.

Finn rejoined us, brushing his hands down his pants like he’d gotten dirt on them. “This has been happening regularly since the movie crew left, but that was the worst so far.”

“They’ve never driven up the driveway before,” Jen added.

“I thought there was a sign down there.”

Finn grunted, eyeing Abby. “I didn’t walk it, but I bet you anything they moved it.”

Jen frowned. “They wouldn’t.’”

He nodded. “Bet you twenty bucks.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Should we walk down and see?”

“No way.” Abby wrinkled her nose and then remembered I was there. “Oh, Morgan!”

They all stopped and turned to me.

I pointed at the driveway. “What was that about?”

Finn slid his arm around my shoulders, drawing me against his side so he could walk me to the house. “That, my little sister, was the cost of being in a relationship with your celebrity.”

“What?”

Abby, who was walking with Jen behind us, laughed. “Some bikers spotted you a week ago, and it’s been insane ever since. They weren’t looking for you, but with the tabloids and everything, they guessed who you were.”

Finn led the way to the kitchen, taking his arm from my shoulders and pulling out a bottle of wine. He went to the cupboard and pulled out four wine glasses. “It wouldn’t be a big deal, but some of those bikers hang out locally. They got to blabbing at a few bars.”

Jen took the corkscrew from Finn and began to open the bottle. “The press started showing up a few days after the movie crew left. It’s mostly just the gossip sites.”

Finn nodded to me, pulling out a second bottle. “You’re becoming big news. They all want a shot of you.”

“And they just got some.” Abby’s lips pressed into a disapproving line.

“We have people coming tomorrow.” Finn switched to me. “I figured you would be okay with it, but I ordered a big gate to be built at the end of the driveway. No fence will go up, but the gate will be big, and we’ll have cameras installed and more signs posted. If they trespass again, we’ll have proof. We can prosecute.”

Gates.

Signs.

Trespassers.

I swallowed a hard knot, feeling it travel to my stomach.

This was what Brody had been talking about.

He said things would change. He said they would come to me. I laughed him off, thinking no one could find me. I’d been wrong.

They quieted, watching me.

Finn asked quietly, “You okay, Morgan?”

Fear pooled in my chest. “That was it? I mean, no one else will come on our land. Right?”

No one answered, and they all shared a look.

It was worse than I thought.

I shook my head, murmuring to myself, “But why? I don’t get this. Why do they care?”

“Because of Brody.”

I looked up at Jen.

Her eyes were so solemn. “You haven’t been to the outside, but they’re insane about him. It was starting up before Kyle died. Brody had a major movie coming out, and it all hit at the same time. His brother died the night of the movie premiere. That movie hit number one at the box office for six weeks in a row. To be fair, I don’t think Brody even realizes how insane his celebrity status is. He really did become tabloid gold after that. He was sleeping with all these different people. Partying every night. He was getting into fights. When he came here for the movie, it did stop. That was why Gayle got him to do the movie, or part of the reason. She got him out of L.A., but now? After the leaks?” She frowned, looking to Finn, who nodded as if encouraging her. She added, “I’m assuming Shanna leaked everything. There are pictures of you on websites and in gossip magazines. You and Brody are the next it couple.”

I wanted to run.

“No.” I raked my hands through my hair. “This makes no sense. At all.”

“Well.” Jen bypassed her wineglass and picked up the bottle.

“No, no.”

She ignored Abby, taking a long drag from the bottle. “Get used to it. As long Brody is crazy about you, you’re the next big thing.”

Finn took the bottle from his fiancée, shooting her a look. “She’s the next big thing until this movie is done.”

“Finn.”

He handed the bottle to Abby, and she capped off her glass. There were two glasses left on the counter, both filled to the top.