The Game (Wagered Hearts Series, #3)(58)

The fallout was just starting to die down. Especially now with the news of the prostitution ring drawing attention away. I'd just gotten my first taste of freedom and normalcy, and I didn't want to give that up. Would getting back together just invite more rumors and stories to be written about us? I hesitated, not sure what to say. Rob looked nervous as he sat there staring at me.

"I...don't know," I finally said. "It's complicated," I added lamely.

He cast his eyes down, then looked up and smiled at me ruefully. "I see," he said. "What can I do to change your mind?"

"I just need time," I said. I opened my mouth to say more, but a sudden flash out of the corner of my eye caught my attention.

The man who was seated a couple tables away was aiming his cell phone in our direction and taking pictures. I felt the color drain from my face as I realized who he was. Were these people everywhere? Could I not have one f**king moment where they didn't trail my every last step? The shock soon turned to anger, and I was half way up and out of my seat to confront him when he reached into his bag and pulled out his SLR camera. I guess he figured that now his jig was up, he was going to go all out.

Rob got up from the table as well, looking thunderous. More so than me, and I was slightly alarmed that he was going to kill the man. My own anger took a back seat and I tried to hold Rob back as he went to confront the paparazzo.

"Wait," I said, grabbing his arm. "He's not worth it." But Rob was already halfway there, his hands clenched in fists at his side.

"What the hell is your problem, man?" I heard Rob say.

"Nothing man, just doing my job," the paparazzo replied.

"You're a parasite. Give me your camera," Rob said, his voice low and threatening.

"No way."

"I'm only going to ask you nicely one more time before I beat the shit out of you and take the camera anyway," Rob said.

The paparazzo backed up a few more steps until he was pushed against the wall, snapping away non-stop. Rob looked like he was about to get physical with the man and I knew I had to step in.

"Come on, Rob, let's go. He's not worth it and you're causing a scene," I said, tugging on his arm. I waved my free hand in front of us at the table with the three teens who were now all pointing their cell phone cameras in our direction, probably recording everything.

Rob relaxed his body and stepped back. He looked like he still wanted to deck the guy, but knew better than to invite a lawsuit from one of these blood suckers. We high tailed it out of the diner while the paparazzo continued to pursue us. Now that he wasn't in threat of physical assault, he snapped away freely. Rob hesitated as I got into my car and started up the engine. He walked over to my driver side window and I rolled it down.

"We didn't finish our conversation," he said.

"Now's not really the time, Rob," I said glancing back at the paparazzo, and now three teens who were all making their way toward us.

"Meet me again," he said.

"Yes, all right, whatever," I said, before peeling off and driving away. I glanced back in my rearview mirror once I was on the road and saw Rob hop into his own car and pull out of the parking lot.

I headed straight home, the trip to the salon long forgotten. The meeting with Rob had been a surprise. Rob wanted another chance, but I wasn't sure what I wanted. The one thing I was sure about was that the news of our little impromptu meeting would be posted everywhere before the day was over. Charlotte and Arnie would probably kill me after warning me to stay away.

It was all so complicated. If I were just going to follow my heart, then I would jump at the chance to be with Rob for real. During the months we'd spent together, I had fallen for him. The fact that he felt the same was what I'd longed to hear, but maybe it was all too little too late.





Chapter 24: Rob



Tonight was the night of the Golden Globes. It was also two weeks since I'd last seen Emilia. Our exit from that diner had been more rushed than I hoped. I could have cursed when that damn photographer showed up and started snapping away with his camera. I came very close to losing my temper and striking him. It was only Emilia's intervention that stopped me.

Our talk had been less satisfying than I would have wished for. She seemed hesitant and a little distant around me. She felt like she couldn't trust me yet. I could understand that. I hadn't given her any reason to believe me other than my word. My actions toward her before that had been downright callous. I cringed every time I thought about it.

She hadn't contacted me since the day at the diner and I was getting impatient. Each day that went by felt like an eternity. I was sick of waiting by the phone. Sick of being passive. I needed to do something--something grand and daring that would leave her in no doubt about my feelings. I had to put myself out there.




The problem was I didn't know how to do that. All attempts to get together were rebuffed. I tried to give her time, but I figured it couldn't hurt to try to sway her opinion my way. I called up Mel to get her advice, since I knew she'd be dressing Emilia for the big day. Luckily she was already in LA and had agreed to meet with me.

I arrived at her hotel and was shown to Mel's suite. She had clothes, shoes, and all kinds of other accessories strewn everywhere, with assistants and interns around her running back and forth like chickens with their heads cut off. I stepped into this chaos and looked around me in fascination. Mel was busy on the phone with her back turned toward me.