Page 86 of Red Flag
Maybe she’d kiss him.
The only light that brought me out of my dark thoughts was the sunshine that wasLuca. He danced like an old man with jive hands as he came over to me and my awful, mindless, exhausted moves.
“I’m more of a sit-and-drink kind of guy,” he said in my ear.
Over his shoulder, I noticed Clara walking towards the door in her coat.
“But I missed you up there. Come and drink with us.”
“No, no,” I said, shaking my head. “The whole of Nagoya needs to see more of your moves!”
He chuckled and spun me around.
His easy smile, the laughter that followed him, the way life withLucawas so easy reminded me of Ben.
I missed my brother.
Nix had returned to the barrier, but three women surrounded him. The four of them were grinning and laughing.
I jerked my head in their direction and, on my tiptoes, asked him, “Do you know who he’s going home with tonight? Clara left already.”
Lucalooked over his shoulder, then levelled me with raised brows and a smirk. “Why?”
“I’m his publicist,” I said with a small smile.
Those brows rose higher. He took my hand and dragged me off the dance floor to a quieter part of the bar. Almost as if the sweaty bodies of everyone dancing energised me, I became overwhelmingly tired and desperate to pee.
“Are you asking as his publicist, or something more,Quinnie?” he asked.
My only response was a blink and an open mouth, ready to speak. Maybe not so ready. No words came out.
He nodded. “Knew it.”
“We’re not—”
“One thing I really value about you is your brutal honesty,Livie,” he said, raising a critical brow. “Don’t lie to me now.”
My mouth shut.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“I’m sorry,” I told him. “If you want me to quit, I completely understand. But I’m both of your publicists — both your media managers and I will stay professional and never put him forward for something that—”
“Livie, you best be drunk right now.” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t think that for a second.”
“Your manager will.”
He opened his mouth to speak but slammed it shut again.
Because I was right.
“Your manager will demand that I’m sacked.” I sighed, leaning against the wall. “This whole thing, it’s stupid and reckless. I could lose my job. His reputation is built on a relationship that isn’t ours.”
“No, his reputation is based on the fact he’s one hell of a rider.”
That’s what I had to keep on remembering.
My heart rate picked up. “How did you know?”
