Page 30 of Sexy Bad Valentine

“Hey, we’re ready for you.” Kelly squeezes my arm. “Come on, let’s get you where you’re meant to be.”

I nod and let her lead me to the mark on the floor.

“I’ll take your jacket.” She holds out her hand, and I make quick work of taking it off. They have the temperature up in the room so that I don’t shiver or goose bump in the little red number we decided I should wear.

“Rolling,” someone calls out and I clasp my hands together in front of me.

I should have prepared speeches these last few days instead of worrying about how I feel about Max. It would have been much more useful now. “Uh. Maloney. Where do I start? Our date was so much fun. I enjoyed playing dress up with you. But I’m sorry, you’re not the one I’m going to choose.”

Maloney barks twice. It’s probably the only trick he knows. Other than how to hump legs.

“King. You’re a little sweetheart.” I squeeze my arms to my side. “But our date was a little crazy. You peed on everything, including that old man. So, unfortunately, I’m not going to pick your owner.”

I lick my lips and clear my throat, glancing at Max before focusing on Shadow. I should have trusted my radar and stayed the hell away from Maxwell Holt. .“Shadow, we had a lot of fun. I tried something new with you. And you were such a gentleman. That’s why I’m going to pick your owner for a date this Valentine’s Day.”

A shadow moves behind the screen, and a man with a dark lumbersexual beard and navy suit steps out from behind it; Shadow’s owner. He smiles as he crosses the floor to me, his gaze friendly. When he gets to me I give him a hug like I was asked to, and he does the same.

“It’s nice to meet you, Evie.” He takes my hand when he steps back. His are clammy, probably from nerves. “I’m Holden.”

“Likewise.” I grin, not because I want to, but because it’s expected. “Your Shadow is such a gorgeous pup.”

“I’m glad you had fun on the date.” He takes my other hand, squeezes my fingers. Smile. Smile. Smile for the camera. “I’m looking forward to our Valentine’s date now that you’ve picked me.”

I catch the door closing out of the corner of my eye, and when I glance over, Max is gone. I want to go after him and ask him why he pretended he was someone else. I want to yell at him for tricking me. Mostly, I just want to go home and hug Abby’s duck. How could I have been so stupid? I don’t know what else I say to Holden. I’m on autopilot until we finish filming.

Deanna comes over to talk to us about the date, and I nod along, as though I have any idea of what she’s saying. “Kelly will be in touch with any last minute details. We’ll see you then.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Kelly tells me a few minutes later as she hands me my coat. “I’m guessing you’re a little frazzled right now.”

“Yes, thank you.” I slip my jacket back on as she leads me to the elevator.

“Do you want to go up? Or do you want to go down?”

“Sorry? Why would I want to go up?”

“Max’s office,” she says.

Do I want to confront him? Do I want to hear his excuses or more lies? I let him get past my defences. I almost breached my contract. He could have cost me everything.

“If it helps, he walked out without a word to anyone when you made your decision.”

“Why would that help?” If he cared at all wouldn’t he have stuck around? I reach in front of her and press the button.

“I don’t think Max took seeing you with someone else too well. This is new territory for him.”

It’s not new to me. He’s one of the worst bad boys I’ve ever met. Was anything he told me real? “I don’t even know the guy.”

We stop in the lobby, and she turns to me as the elevator door slide open.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say. “I just want to go home.”

“Evie, I—”

“Kelly,” Deanna calls out, marching toward us from the reception desk. “I need you to find out where Maxwell has gone. We’re supposed to be in a meeting in ten minutes.”

Kelly races off to help Deanna, leaving without finishing whatever she was going to say. I’m not sure it matters. I don’t have time for men like Maxwell Holt who lie and trick women to get what they want.

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