Page 20 of Flirtatious

Her assistant and that person they hired to pretend to be me on social media don’t believe any what Ainsley just said. They’re like everyone else. They do what they have to in order to keep the world loving me, but they don’t feel that way.

Liam doesn’t think that way either. I know it. Every time he talks to me, I hear the disdain in his voice. I can tell even before my crew showed up that he regrets taking this assignment, as if protecting me is a chore and not something he truly wants to do.

“Honey, what’s brought all of this on? Is it because we’ve all been away these past few weeks? You should have called me. I could have talked you down from this ledge so you didn’t have to feel this way.”

I push my hair off my face and wipe my tear-soaked cheeks for a third time. “I don’t know, Ains. I just feel like in the past couple weeks everything I do is wrong. I don’t want to feel this way, you know?”

Her pale green eyes fill with sympathy. My life coach has helped me weather all sorts of bouts of insecurity like this, and one of the most important parts of that is showing me she cares. Ainsley has no idea how much it means to see that in her eyes right now.

“Mia, I know you don’t want to feel that way. Who would? We all want to feel like we’re an important part of the world for ourselves and not for what we can do for other people. You’re no different. What did I tell you the first day I met you? Do you remember?”

I nod and feel my mouth turn up into a smile like it always does when I think of that day. Ainsley had been referred to me by my ex-business manager, but by the time she got back from a vacation to see her family out in Colorado, George was gone, replaced by my mother, who didn’t think I needed anything like a life coach. She tried to turn her away at the front gates, but Ains insisted, telling her that she wanted to meet me because she was a huge fan and could help my career. An hour later, I felt like I’d met my best friend in the world when she said those words to me I’ll never forget.

“Everyone wants to be loved, Mia. Just because you look like you’re loved more than other people doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to want to be loved when you’re not in the limelight.”

Those words come out like they’re a mantra, something tattooed on my brain so I never forget that I deserve love like everyone else in the world. She smiles and nods as each syllable comes out loud and clear, just as she told me to say them that day.

“Exactly. You have every right to want to be loved in the way that makes you happy. Don’t ever forget that.”

And just as quickly as the good feelings come, they leave again when my fear that it will never happen surges inside me. “But what if no matter how much I want it, the love never happens?”

With a gentle smile, she shakes her head. “Impossible. You want it badly enough, it can’t help but happen. Anyway, you’re going to find someone who loves you in all the right ways. I know it. I knew it the first time I talked to you. You have such a great energy that people can’t help but fall in love with you. Trust me. The man who’s right for you is out there. You’ll meet him. I have no doubt at all.”

“Thank you, Ains. I needed to hear that tonight.”

“That’s what I’m here for, honey. It’s literally my job to help you see how wonderful you are. Talk about a sweet gig,” she says with a giggle.

“Well, thank you. Oh, by the way, I hate this pink in this room. It makes me feel like I’m in the middle of that medicine commercial.”

Ainsley looks around at the ugly pink walls and lets out a heavy sigh. “It does sort of look like Pepto Bismol but with a dash of something gray. Maybe when we’re gone the guys can paint it a nice pink.”

“Exactly what I thought.” Standing from the bed, I smile down at her. “I’ll let you get back to your evening stretches. Thanks for helping me to see things clearly.”

“Anytime, Mia.”

When I get back to my side of the house, I wonder which room Liam took. I couldn’t tell Ainsley how I’m starting to feel about him, and not just because she likely wouldn’t approve, even if she does think I’m worthy of the kind of love I want.

I couldn’t tell her because I’m not sure what I’m feeling. All I know is that when I saw him sitting by the pool tonight in those shorts and ratty old T-shirt, he looked like a different person and offering him a room near me on this side of the house seemed like the most natural thing to do.

Even if I’ve never once before with anyone who works for me even thought that for a second.

With one last glance down the hallway before I walk into my bedroom, I guess he’s in the room farthest away from mine. It’s a good choice since it has a fireplace that the other bedrooms don’t. I can see him liking that, even though we rarely get weather cold enough to need that kind of heat here in Tampa.

Or maybe he chose that room because that’s the farthest he can get away from me without being on the other side of the house where all the noise is.

CHAPTEREIGHT

Liam

When I wakeup at five to get my workout in, I’m thankful to hear nothing but silence. Never before in my life have I been so grateful to hear not a single noise. I know it won’t last for long, so I hurry and get dressed so I can at least get something accomplished before the circus wakes up.

Then again, if they’re like Mia, they might stay in bed until noon. I can only hope that’s the case.

An hour later, my day has started out better than I could have expected after the arrival of the entourage. Nobody interrupted me while I was in the gym, and as I stroll around the pool area considering a swim before I get down to work, I see not a single soul.

This might just be okay. Sure, they were loud and obnoxious last night, but that doesn’t mean they act like wild animals all the time. Maybe I was too hasty in my impression of them.

I enjoy some laps in the pool and then a good, hot shower afterward, regretting how easily I jumped to conclusions with Mia’s crew. Toweling off, I gaze out my window and remind myself not to think so negatively. It’s a habit I got into living with Wilder recently, but I need to break it now. Just because he’s who he’s always been doesn’t mean everyone else is simply because I judge them on first impressions.

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