Page 13 of Beneath the Hood

7

Blakely

There’s a picture of Jackson and me on TMZ. Usually, a photo in the tabloids is the goal, after all, there’s no such thing as bad promo, but the fact someone snapped a photo ofthismoment—where it felt like Jackson was dipping into the depths of my soul—makes nausea curdle in my stomach.

Blakely Donahue’s Mystery Man.

That’s what they’re calling him. Like he’s a puzzle for them to solve. Like he’smine. The reality is he’s neither of those things, but people aren’t interested in facts. That’s not what sells.

Truth has no place in the spotlight.

They’ll want him, that’s for sure. You can’t look the way Jackson does and not have agents and slobbering fangirls banging down your door.

Anxiety tightens my insides, my foot tapping against the leg of the glass table. I’ve been sitting here for the past hour, hiding away in the enclave off the kitchen, trying to force myself into believing I don’t care about this headline.

But for the first time since I met him, I wish Jackson was just a little bit uglier. A little less perfect. A little less likable. Because if they get their hands on him, they’ll either change him into something unrecognizable or they’ll destroy any sense of reputation and honor he has. Either way, he gets eaten alive. There’s no way to come out whole once you’re in the jaws of Hollywood.

It was stupid as hell, letting myself get lost in the moment. A rookie mistake, one I’ll never let happen again. But it caught me off guard last night. I didn’t expect the air to become our foreplay, swirling in the space between us, and sinking into my skin, teasing me with its tension. I didn’t know playing with Jackson’s fire would make it lick at my insides, desperate to have him strip me of my products and love me bare.

I don’t have much experience with men, and even less with sex, but I’ve never felt anything like what I felt last night. And now it’s staring me in the face from the front page of TMZ.

“I think it’s great.” Sierra’s voice filters through my thoughts as she plops down across from me.

Turning my head, I look at her, my brows rising. “What is?”

She nods toward my computer and my eyes follow. It’s not a great photo. It’s grainy, like someone snapped it on their shitty phone, and sold it to the highest bidder. But there’s no denying the way our bodies are pressed so close you can’t see the space between us. No way to mask the look in his eyes or the smile on my face.

“He’s hot. They’re practically salivating trying to figure out who he is.”

I cringe, guilt weaving its way into my chest. I can’t imagine he’s the type of person who craves notoriety. And that’s what being seen with me will give him. A bad name and a bad reputation, whether he wants it or not.

“Use it to your advantage,” she continues. “Invite him to more things.” She pauses briefly, tapping her stiletto nails on the tabletop. “But nottoomany things. We want them curious, not confident. We still need plausible deniability.”

“Mmhm.” I’m only half paying attention to what she says, choosing to scan the article instead, my stomach churning more with every word I read.

“What’s wrong?” Sierra asks.

“Hmm?” I glance up at her. Clearing my throat, I push my laptop to the side. “Nothing. I’m just tired.”

“You’re being weird. You don’t…” She tilts her head to the side. “You don’tlikethis guy, right?”

My stomach flutters at her question and I scoff, scrunching my nose. “Please, Sierra. He’s like thirty.”

“And your dad’s employee,” she says pointedly. “Maybe we should leak his profession. Blakely’s mysterymechanichas a nice ring to it, yeah?”

“He’s not a mechanic,” I snap.

She shrugs. “He’s close enough.” Her eyes narrow as she leans back, running a hand through her blonde hair. “Shit. You like him, don’t you?”

I roll my eyes. “Get real, Sierra.”

“I’m alwaysreal, B. You’re the one who has to put on a show, not me. Let’s not forget that.”

Her words hit their mark, bruising the tender spots in my soul and dripping into my conscience.

She sighs. “It’s probably for the best if we don’t use him then.”

My eyes widen. “You literallyjustsaid we should.”

---