“Maybe they’ll ask for their money back, since we’re not getting married.”
“Whatever happens, I’m not letting you take the flak for this. I’ll explain it, somehow.”
“I already took care of it.” Her hands were shaking, more from frustration with Cole than the reporters who were just doing their jobs. “I told them we aren’t even friends.”
“But that’s a lie, and I bet you’re already kicking yourself for it.”
“Not really.” She swallowed bile in her throat.
“And there’s another one. Look what I’ve driven you to.”
“I’ll be fine. All you need to do is go home.”
“I’m sorry, Brooke, but I can’t do that. This is my responsibility, and I need to take care of it. I got you in this mess, so I’m going to get you out.” She heard his car door open and slam shut. “I have to go talk to them, even if you never speak to me again.”
“You’re going to make things worse! Stay in your car!”
“Too late.”
She stomped her foot. This man had some sort of overdeveloped protection complex. The last thing she needed was him spouting off to the press. He might contradict everything she’d said. “But what are you going to tell them?”
“I’ll tell them the truth.”
“Which is?”
“If you want to know, listen at your door.”
CHAPTER 9
“We’ll take care of them, boss.”
“Thanks, Mack. I’m hoping they’ll be gone by the time you get here.” Cole talked on his cell as he walked across the parking lot, his arms draped with shopping bags and Gus on a leash.
“Could be. But it sounds like she’ll need a security detail, anyway.”
“If I can get her to agree to it,” said Cole. “She’s a bit on the stubborn side.”
“All the good ones are.” Mack guffawed. “We’ll be there in fifteen, tops.”
“Don’t speed to get here. I don’t think these guys are dangerous. Just a pain in the rear.”
Cole juggled his bags to tuck his phone away and started up the metal stairway. Tugging on the leash, Gus growled, most likely feeding off of Cole’s tension.
“It’s okay, Gus. Settle down.”
He answered with a low woof and went silent.
At the third floor, they walked down the breezeway then turned the corner to walk down the back of the building toward Brooke’s apartment. Cole was glad the sun wouldn’t set until after eight o’clock, since all but one of the overhead lights appeared to be burned out.
He spied the first of the paparazzi thirty yards ahead, a lanky man lounging against the balcony railing, a smoking cigarette dangling from his fingers. As they approached, Gus let out a low snarl, his hackles raised.
The noise emanating from his 130-pound body snapped the reporter to attention, and he scurried over against the railing. Though Gus had never bitten any living being, Cole felt no need to reassure the nervous reporter or any of his twenty or so companions. With Gus attracting most of the attention, Cole passed halfway down the line of reporters before someone noticed the growling dog’s owner.
“It’s him!” A woman’s voice shouted over the murmurings. “Mr. Miller, is it true you and Brooke Ponzio were at the county clerk’s office today, getting a marriage license?”
“Mr. Miller, did you assault Nathan Riggs?” asked a deep voice behind him.
“What’s in the bags?”
“How long have you known Brooke Ponzio?”
“Mr. Miller…”
“Mr. Miller!”
The group swarmed closer, the clamor growing, until Gus let out a deep growl that startled everyone.
The crowd split and Cole made his way through to Brooke’s door and backed against it. “If you want me to answer questions, you’ll need to keep your distance. You’re upsetting my dog.”
The group edged a few more steps away, and Cole bent to whisper some soothing words to Gus. He faced the reporters with as friendly an expression as he could muster, considering they’d harassed an innocent woman. Though the paparazzi didn’t rattle him with their cameras and video-cams, he knew their aggressive tactics had sent Brooke into a panic.
“Mr. Miller, Brooke Ponzio stated that the two of you aren’t even friends, and yet you’re here at her apartment on a Friday night. Can you explain that?”
Cole recognized the red-haired man from H-Magazine. “Hi, Rick. What are you doing here? Don’t you have bigger fish to fry?”
“Cole, there aren’t any bigger fish than you.” Rick sported a huge, smug smile, glancing over his shoulder, probably making certain everyone had noticed they were on a first-name basis.
