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“Good afternoon.” He held out his hand. “Aidan Bancroft, ma’am.”
She gave it a soft shake, holding his hand a little too long. “I know. I’m Angie Sammons.” She smiled brightly and completely ignored Laura.
Her rudeness annoyed him more than he expected. He would extradite himself as quickly as possible from the exchange. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I'd love to show you around the carnival.” Angie gave an exaggerated wink, before she finally turned to Laura. Her expression turned down, as if she’d sucked on a particularly sour lemon. “I’m sure Ms. Blake has her hands full, with the paper and Jeanie and all. I just saw her little one with her preschool a few minutes ago.”
Next to him, Laura visibly tensed at the mention of her daughter, her face paling until it turned as white as the coconut ices a nearby vendor was peddling. Was she still afraid of him meeting her daughter? Her fear was both unfounded and burdensome. It was bound to happen, especially if something… developed. He needed Laura to understand he would never hurt a child, no matter what the circumstances. Only one thing could solve this, easily and painlessly.
Before they left today, he would have to meet Jeanie.
For now, he turned back to the model. "I’m sorry, Ms. Sammons, I'll be busy all day with Ms. Blake. You see, our relationship is just getting started.”
He left it at that, leaving the two women to interpret themselves. Angie looked furious, and Laura managed to pale further, until he worried she would faint. He placed a hand on her back. If she needed him, he would be there.
"Well, another time, then." Angie got herself under control real quick. She even winked at him before stalking off. “Ta ta,” she threw over her shoulder.
He turned to Laura, relaxing into a genuine smile. “It’s funny. I wouldn’t have taken you for the jealous type.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she pursed her lips. Said through gritted teeth, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He just laughed.
Just as he was about to tease more, Aidan caught sight of something – or rather, someone – behind her. All at once, annoyance replaced delight, indignation extinguished joy. "Damn," he muttered as an eagle-eyed woman bounded toward them, in a flurry of determination and challenge. Behind her strode a black-garbed man carrying a very expensive and very professional video camera.
Laura turned and blinked. "Do you know them?” Tiny furrows appeared in her brow. “The woman looks vaguely familiar.”
“You probably saw her on television. They're reporters." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Only not just any reporters. Ms. Carol White and her cronies, the royalty of gossip. I guarantee we'll be all over the Internet next week.”
The annoyance grew sharper, until… an idea formed, a way he could finally solve the mystery, once and for all, so he could stop reliving the past and focus on the future. Yet second thoughts demanded hesitation. It wouldn't be nice. It wouldn't be fair. But it would get him the answers he'd been seeking.
Laura was not going to be pleased.
She studied the determined pair a moment longer before turning back to him. Her expression froze. With their connection, she knew he was up to something. “Aidan?” she said slowly. “What are you thinking?”
He took a step toward her. “I’m sorry, but you’ve left me no choice. I need to know.”
“Need to know what?” She was no longer smiling. “What are you talking about?”
“I need to know the truth of how you found out about the clinic. I hope you understand why this matters so much – if someone discovered your most precious treasure, you would do anything to safeguard it. That’s what these secrets are to me. That’s why you need to tell me how you knew about the clinic. Or else…”
“Or else what?” she whispered.
“Or else I’m going to tell the Gossip Queen of the World, and effectively the entire world, that you and I are an item.”
Guilt flared as she glared pure fury. Of course, he wouldn’t actually do it, but she didn’t know that. She did know being linked to him would thrust her into the spotlight. Her entire life would be altered by the one simple declaration. But he needed to know the truth.
Besides, his so-called threat might become the truth very shortly.
He waited as she glanced at the rapidly approaching woman, now less than a minute away. She had only moments to make her decision.
He leaned in and whispered fateful words, “What’s it going to be, partner? Full disclosure or my girlfriend? You have thirty seconds to tell the truth…”
Chapter 9
She was captured.
There was no escape, no reprieve, from the two invading forces: Aidan so close and stoic, and the reporter chasing them down like a gleeful hound intent on a poor fox. Desperation led Laura to grab Aidan’s hand and pull him away from the approaching reporter, yet where could they go? Searching for somewhere, anywhere, to hide, she ducked into the tent holding the nearest ride, ignoring the call to stop from behind. Aidan let himself be dragged – she couldn’t have budged him if he hadn’t – but remained silent. She needed a few minutes to think, and a ride would be the perfect place where the reporters couldn’t get to them. Not realizing what ride she had chosen until too late, she hoped the “Love Cruise” didn’t give the reporter too much information.
