Page 11 of Ignacio

“So you don’t have any reservations about us living together for six whole months?” Ignacio asked.

“None whatsoever,” Edward replied. “If the two of you move in together, it lends credence to the idea that you’re a couple again. I say go for it.”

“I’ll let the two of you finalize any additional details. I’ll be in the car.” Delta stalked out and closed the door none too gently.

Edward watched her leave and then shook his head. “I don’t know what gets into her sometimes. This is an opportunity to revive her career with just a little bit of sacrifice.”

“Thank goodness she has you in her corner.”

“Exactly.”

He had no idea Ignacio was being sarcastic.

“We’ll be in touch.” Edward stopped on his way out. “One more thing. I want to make sure you don’t have any long-term plans for my daughter. She’s focused on selling records and doesn’t need any distractions.”

Fury billowed inside Ignacio as he recalled that day eleven years ago when Edward showed up at the airport to let him know Delta would not be meeting him. That their relationship was truly over and done with, and she was going to focus on her singing career.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten her career is the priority.”

“Good. That way we can all get what we want. You included.”

Edward left then, leaving Ignacio to ruminate on the past. He would do well to remember his previous interactions with the James family, and how at twenty-one, he had been left desolate and broken after Delta decided at the last minute that she would not elope with him.

He snatched a tumbler from a side table and hurled it across the room. It hit the wall and shattered into little pieces.

Chapter Five

Delta slammed the car door and marched ahead of her father into her L.A. home, one of several she had purchased over the years. She also slammed the front door and stomped up the stairs.

“Delta!” Her father’s voice cracked at her from the doorway.

She stopped, closed her eyes, and counted backwards from ten to calm down. Slowly, she faced him, fixing a blank expression on her face, which she had learned to do a long time ago to keep people from knowing her true thoughts. “Yes?”

“You didn’t say a word to me the entire ride back.”

She wanted to point out he hadn’t said a word to her either, but instead asked, “What is there to say?”

He shut the door much more softly than she had and walked over to the staircase. “There’s no need to be disrespectful.”

Normally, she held her tongue and acquiesced to his decision-making because she believed he had her best interests at heart, but this time she was certain he’d made a horrible mistake and couldn’t stay quiet.

“It’s bad enough you agreed we could work with Ignacio without a contract, which goes against everything you’ve ever taught me about business, by the way. You used to be a lawyer,for goodness’ sake! But then you agreed we should move in together without a second thought. It’s a terrible idea! You know it. I know it.”

“Not all deals have to be written down, and he had a valid point about the potential for a leak if we signed a contract. Everything will be fine. You’ll see.”

“Sure,” Delta said with a tight smile.

“Get your head in the game. This is your chance to get back on top of the charts and prove to the record label and the naysayers that you still have what it takes to be a star. The point of this entire ruse is to use the publicity generated by your relationship with Ignacio to your advantage. All you have to do is get in the recording studio and knock it out of the park.”

He made the next steps sound so simple, and under normal circumstances, she appreciated his pep talks, but no amount of rah-rah-rah would work this time. They were going to be working with her ex, and the young man she’d fallen in love with was long gone. The thirty-two-year-old man in his place hated her. His contempt was palpable.

“Right. I’ll do that. Knock it out of the park,” Delta said with feigned enthusiasm.

She didn’t wait for her father’s reply. She marched the rest of the way up the stairs and down the hall to the master suite and shoved her way through the double doors. Flinging herself across the king-size bed, she buried her face in the thick comforter.

Her chest hurt. Her head hurt. Everything hurt. There had not been a smidgen of warmth in Ignacio’s expression the entire time they talked. How could they possibly move in together and pretend to be in love?

Maybe he could do it. He was an actor, after all, but for her, the performance would be a struggle. And not because shewasn’t attracted to him. She was stillverymuch attracted to him.

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