Page 83 of Not the Bodyguard's Princess
Jordan
Andrew’s heart sunk. He’d hoped for more. Even a heart or a paw print. Maybe she had come to the same conclusion he had. While sweet, their romance was doomed. She’d been right to dump him when she had. At least this way it could fade into a nice memory. No tearful breakup or commitments to just be friends. He tucked the card back into the envelope and closed his eyes, hoping he really was dreaming.
30
Maria appliedthe last of Jordan’s makeup. “I’ve done all I can do, but I can’t pull that sadness out of your eyes.”
“Maybe you can emphasize my scar?” Jordan lifted her hair, searching for the scar from last month’s shooting.
“Sorry, the plastic surgeon did too good of a job when he patched you up. Don’t frown like that. Most actresses would be pleased.”
“I’m just not looking forward to this on-set interview. I know why Hearthfire needs us to do it, but I’m not ready.”
“I don’t know that any of us are. I wanted to slap Reggie when I did her makeup earlier.” Maria gathered up her brushes.
“Really? With everything that has happened, I think the video is the least of my worries.”
“Five minutes, Miss Lee.” The new tech person looked up from her tablet.
Blake moved from his post near the door, tilted his head, and signed “Go.” Jordan checked her phone one last time before handing it over to him. Three days and still no word from Andrew. If something had happened to him, Jethro Hastings would have called Blake.
Taking a cleansing breath, Jordan stepped onto the set for the castle parlor. Paul, Storm, Reggie, and Suzi already sat in their seats, along with Jet James, the anchor for the entertainment news show. Jordan took the only seat left on the couch next to Storm. Near the camera stood three of Hearthfire’s top executives, sending the clear message that this interview was important to them.
Jet raised her microphone. Before she could speak, one executive stepped forward. “Just a reminder: Rod’s and Kittie’s roles in the incident are to be referred to as ‘alleged.’ We are not a criminal court. Ms. James, our lawyers have the right to pull sections of this interview they feel would impede the criminal investigations, so please tread lightly on those subjects.”
Jet raised her microphone again, then faced the camera. “I’m here tonight with the cast and director ofAdventures of Princess Sam. In recent weeks, the final show has been plagued with accidents, rumors, and real-life adventures. Let’s start our first question with the director. Everyone wants to know—will the Christmas special air as planned?”
“Yes. Despite the obstacles we’ve faced, we have a remarkable cast and crew and are very close to finishing on schedule.” Paul didn’t mention that some of the remaining scenes were being modified or written out.
Jordan smiled and concentrated on not rolling her eyes as Reggie delivered a tear-filled apology for betraying Storm and Jordan by releasing the kiss video. Beside her, Storm tensed as Jet moved to him. “Why did you make that video?”
“I wanted to analyze Jordan’s acting skills. We’d had a bit of an argument. I must say I’m impressed. Even I bought that the kiss with the bodyguard was real.”
“Jordan, you were asked last week if your so-called dating of this bodyguard was just a ruse. At the time, you didn’t answer. I notice he’s not here. Do you have an answer now?”
Has it only been a week? It seemed like a lifetime ago.
* * *
“Jet, as you have most likely heard, Andrew is recovering from a gunshot wound sustained while protecting me. We were not dating at the time Storm recorded the video. However, we have since formed a bond.”
Andrew recognized Jordan’s princess persona even through the TV.
“Are you dating?”
Jordan smiled the same secretive smile her grandmother had used in an early seventies romantic comedy Andrew watched last night. “Jet, you should know a princess never kisses and tells.”
What kind of answer was that? Safe. Andrew reached for the remote. He’d been giving his family the same type of answer. None. It wasn’t like he could borrow his brother-in-law’s airplane and fly to LA. Even if the plane did have a bed. And what would be the point? To deliver some grand “I’m sorry it didn’t work out” speech?
No, it was better to let their relationship die like the melting snow.
31
“That’s a wrap!”Paul’s announcement of two hours ago echoed through Jordan’s mind. Two weeks after arriving back in LA, she was done playing the role of princess forever. And they’d finished on Friday to avoid one of Paul’s ill-tempered Saturday sessions.
The filming ended up being more rather than less of what was planned. Kittie had been an extra in several of the scenes, including the wedding kiss, and so Paul had forced them to reshoot the scene. To Jordan’s surprise, Storm played a perfect gentleman on and off screen. And Jordan didn’t contradict his claims that he’d saved them; after all, Storm had located the key to the exit tunnel.
Jordan hugged Maria and left an envelope with a gift card where Maria was sure to find it. Her goodbyes to the rest of the cast and crew were short. For the first time in years, Jordan wouldn’t be back on the lot next week. Her Hearthfire contract was complete.
