Page 114 of Dirty Rock

“Sure. Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Just…” He looked down at my arms that were fixed behind my back. “Loosen up a little, okay. This is serious, yes, but we also need your charm to shine through. This is a national disaster. We need to connect with the audience to bring in the serious donations.”

“Got it.”

I didn’t have shit, but the thought of Jules watching my discomfort and finding it amusing spurred me on. With a roll of my neck, I shook my arms out and pushed them into the pockets of my jeans, making my stance more relaxed. The orders were given, we were counted in, and JJ Jones draped her hands over my shoulder again to make us look like a goddamn Hollywood couple.

“I’m Rhett Ryan.”

“And I’m JJ Jones.”

“Together, we’re here to ask you, America, for your help and donations towards the Tornado Relief campaign.”

“After the devastating effects of the Quad-State Tornado, our great nation is gathering together to unite and generate aid that will fund families who have lost everything in last month’s disaster...”

“As well as helping to rebuild towns, cities, while also investing in the emergency services America relies upon during these tragic times.”

“Alongside mydarlingrock star here,” JJ cooed, squeezing me tightly. “I’m asking you to dig deep and give everything you can.”

Relax, Rhett. Relax.

I slid my arm around her waist, pulling her closer and slipping a hand under the back of her blazer. The contact surprised her, and a little mewl fell from JJ’s lips. She hitched in a breath and pressed her tits against my arm again.

“In just a moment, JJ and I would like you to take a look at some distressing footage that will highlight the wreckage left behind.” I squeezed my fingers into her skin, making her stumble into me slightly. Her smile tightened as she tilted her head to the camera. “By coming together, we can put this disaster that never should have happened behind us and look towards the future. A future of growth, strength, and standing up to the dangerous side of Mother Nature, no matter how beautiful she can be.” I looked directly into JJ’s eyes as I spoke. “Because beauty means nothing when there’s no peace attached to it.” Turning back to the camera, I delivered my parting line. “Take a look at this.”

“Cut!” the guy roared out again.

As soon as the word was free, I let go of JJ and took a step away.

“What the fuck was that, Rhett?” she hissed at me, no longer the giddy little nymphomaniac she had been a few hours earlier. “You wenttotallyoff-script.Beauty means nothing when there’s no peace attached to it?What the hell?”

I shrugged. “The words felt right.”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you were saying. This is so typical of you! You and your stupid, British mind games. You need to grow up.”

I held my shit together for all of two seconds before I started laughing. “If you don’t want to get burned, darling, don’t cosy up next to the fire. Nobody asked you to rub up on me.”

JJ’s face paled as she stared at me, open-mouthed.

“Rhett,” the fat controller sighed again.

I turned to him, expecting a lecture, only to see him smiling and giving me a thumbs up.

“Much better. Good thinking on the ad-lib. It sounded sincere. From the heart.”

“Thanks.” I smirked, glancing back at JJ and offering a wink.

“I need to get out of here.” She began to unfasten the big, black button holding her blazer together as she looked around for someone to take her aggression out on. “Where the hell is my assistant?”

“We done?” I asked the guy, whose lanyard read Burt. JJ had had enough of my attention. I was over it.

“You’re good to go. See you at the live show tomorrow.” JJ stormed off in a huff, and Burt made a face that said he was just about done with this celebrity bullshit. “I hope they don’t put you on stage with her again.”

“You and me both.”

When I turned around, my Jules was standing in front of me, her expression giving nothing away. “Did you just inadvertently tell JJ Jones to stop groping you?”

I took a quick glance around to see who was looking, and when I thought the coast was clear, I leaned down and whispered intimately in Jules’s ear, “Only my publicist is allowed to grope me now.”

---