Page 33 of Overexposed

Opening the door, I waited as she parked in front. The car was a beauty and a hell of a classic. It looked even better in person. As much as I wanted to admire it, I made myself track her as she climbed out from the driver’s side.

She was dressed exactly as she had been earlier, down to the wrinkles in her shirt. So she left with the cops and didn’t even have time to change before she came back. Each new detail just added another layer to my suspicions.

“Is Gem here?” she asked as she approached. I gave it a moment, letting my gaze linger over her form. She gripped a bag that was over her shoulder, but there was no phone or camera in her hands.

“No,” I told her. “If you came here looking for a story, you won’t find it.”

“Not why I’m here. I’m a photographer, not a journalist,” she retorted. The tartness in her voice was as sharp as her smile. “Like I said, I’m here to do you a favor.”

I braced a hand on the open door, not letting her in. Not yet. “You said you were here to sign the NDA.”

Her smirk was downright provocative. “No, you asked me for a good reason to let me up. I responded that I wouldletyou persuade me to sign the NDA.”

The splitting of hairs was so fine, she should have been an attorney. Instead of backing down or changing her tune as we locked eyes, she just smiled and waited with seemingly endless amounts of patience.

What the hell did Gem see in her? Beyond the gorgeous curves, sensual mouth, and hair meant to be fisted—the list popped up so easily, I shook my head. Most of the time, Gem and I did not have the same taste in women. He thought Clara Belle was downright repulsive.

This would not be a good time to break the pattern.

“So what’s it going to be, Spawn? You going to try and persuade me, or am I heading back out?” Her husky voice reminded me we were still standing there staring at each other.

A part of me wanted to call her bluff. It had to be one. She was out, free and clear, so why come back? Unless she needed or wanted something from us. The NDA was just an excuse to get in the door.

With how certain I was that she was up to no good, I couldn’t afford to let her walk without signing the NDA. It was morethan just my future riding on it. That deal with Carriage Pictures could really set us all up for the long haul.

With a sigh, I backed up a step and cleared the door so she could come in.

“Thank you,” she said with a too-bright smile. Already regretting the agreement, I shut the door and caught her elbow before she could head deeper into the house.

“Library,” I told her, and escorted her to where I’d set up shop. Fortunately, the paperwork was right there on the sideboard, just inside the door. She didn’t pull away until we were inside the room. I closed the doors behind us and leaned back against them. “Contract is right there,” I told her with a nod.

She gave the room a slow perusal, spending almost no time on the stack of scripts as she turned. Then she looked at the contract before she glanced at me. “You know, I’d have thought that you could be more persuasive, what with being an actor and all.”

“I’m not acting at the moment.” Rather than cross the room and drag her bodily over to the contract, I folded my arms. “This is real life, Stray. My life. Gem’s life. Ollie’s life.”

With a huff, she lowered her bag to rest on the chair nearest her. “You want to negotiate rather than persuade?”

“That would be preferable.” Clearly she wantedsomething. I needed to know what that something was.

“All right, let’s deal. I’ll sign your NDA for a price.”

Thereit was. She came back for a payday. I wish I could say I was shocked but I wasn’t. Just kind of disappointed. “How much?”

She raised her eyebrows. “No outrage or accusations?”

I snorted. “Everyone and everything can be bought. I want your silence and to make sure you don’t sell any more storiesabout my brother, especially after last night. You want money. Equitable exchange. How much is it going to cost me?”

She pursed her lips, then shrugged. “Twenty-five thousand.”

“That’s it?” Now I had some questions. She had that sum right there. Very specific.

“We can make it fifty,” she countered, deadpan. The woman had no tells. “In fact, yes, great idea. Let’s make it fifty.”

“Fifty thousand dollars for your cooperation.” It seemed a bargain at half the price, but I was more than capable of paying ten times as much.

“For me to sign your NDA,” she clarified. “I have no intention of selling any pieces about Gem or photos of him. Like I said this morning, I’m a photographer—not a pervert.”

As if I believed her innocent act. “You expect me to just take your word?”

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