A Reclusive Heart
Page 29

“This is just getting sad,” he said, sighing as he moved the bag further away.
She looked up at him with sad puppy dog eyes as her lower lip began to quiver and he just barely stopped himself from chuckling, which she probably wouldn’t appreciate. Instead he shook his head and her shoulders slumped in defeat as she let out a cute little sigh.
“Miss. Harris?” one of the production assistants said in greeting as she approached Jamie. “My name is Carla. Is there anything I can get you?”
Jamie immediately perked up. “Yes, um, is there any chance that I could get some chocolate? It helps settle my nerves,” his little recluse said, lying her adorable ass that he planned on focusing on tonight off.
Carla smiled. “I believe we can arrange that.”
“No,” Nick said, cutting the woman off before she did something they’d all regret later. “No chocolate for her whatsoever,” he said, earning a killing glare from Jamie, but he didn’t care.
Chocolate was Jamie’s drug of choice and unfortunately for her she didn’t seem to handle the sugar very well. She got wired, then cranky, then sleepy and when she woke up from her chocolate induced nap he usually had to wrestle more chocolate out of the addict’s grasp before she could make it to the toilet hugging phase, which was probably his least favorite of the phases.
“Then can I have a Coke, please?” she asked, sounding hopeful.
Sugar and caffeine? No, that would never work.
“She’ll have a water,” he said, thankful that the assistant knew better than to listen to Jamie.
When Jamie sulked in her chair he of course ignored her even as he made a mental note to order a huge ice cream sundae for her later. The woman was a little sugar addict and thankfully could be bought easily. Actually, now that he thought of it he should probably hunt down something sweet to give her once her interview was over. He could give her the chocolate in her handbag, but judging by the looks she was shooting the bag the little junkie had already reached her limit for the day.
“So what do you say, Nick?” Margaret asked, making him realize that he’d missed everything she said while he’d been smiling like a fool at his little recluse.
“Hmm?” he asked, barely able to take his eyes away from Jamie as Margaret fussed with Jamie’s hair and makeup.
“She wanted to know if you’d like to go over to her house after this so that she could cook for you,” Jamie explained casually, not sounding upset at all, but judging by the hurt expression on her face she didn’t like the idea one bit. Why that made him happy he didn’t know, but it was nice to know that he wasn’t the only one that got jeal”Actually,” Jamie said brightly as she sat straighter in her chair, “why don’t the two of you go discuss your dinner plans,” she said smoothly as she reached out and snagged her bag out of his hand, “and I’ll just sit here and wait to be called for my interview.”
His eyes narrowed on her as he felt a tick start beneath his left eye. “You’d sell me out like that? Over chocolate?” he said with obvious disgust.
She shrugged as she held the bag tightly to her chest and let out another cute little sigh. “It’s Belgium chocolate,” she said as if that explained it all. That explained nothing. It also pissed him off that she clearly chose chocolate over him.
He reached over and tore the bag away from her, earning a little gasp of horror that he refused to find adorably sexy. “Just for that you aren’t getting this chocolate back until tomorrow.”
“B-b-b-but,” she stuttered, reaching for it but he simply stepped back.
When she realized that she wasn’t getting it back she went back to slumping in her chair. He thought he heard her mutter, “Big jerk,” but he decided to ignore it since that was most likely the chocolate withdrawal talking.
“Are you busy tonight, Nick?” Margaret asked as if the little odd conversation hadn’t just happened. Then again she was probably used to weird conversations in this line of work.
He should take the woman up on her invitation. She wouldn’t drive him crazy or have him drooling after her like some kid. In fact, he was pretty sure he’d have her out of her panties and beneath him within two minutes of walking through her front door, but unfortunately for him the thought of touching her left him cold. The only woman he wanted was coming down from a sugar high and would probably require some babying later tonight when the stomach ache hit. What the hell happened to him when he’d rather spend the night cuddling a cranky woman than f**king a willing one?
“That’s a very sweet offer, but unfortunately we have to work tonight and then catch an early flight in the morning,” he said, giving the woman his most charming smile and hoping it was enough.
“Maybe next time you’re in town,” she said, giving him that coy smile that promised all sorts of naughty things between the sheets. Since this thing with Jamie would be over by the next time he swung through Virginia for work he didn’t see any reason why he shouldn’t accept.
“That sounds like a great idea, sweetheart. How about you give me your number so I can give you a call the next time I’m in the area,” he said, forcing his eyes away from his little recluse as he told himself that he had no reason to feel guilty. He never felt guilty for living his life and he sure as hell wasn’t about to start now.
******
“We’re ready for you, Miss. Harris,” one of the assistants said, gesturing for her to join Andrew Jameson, the show’s host, on stage.
She decided not to keep her promise to Nick and hunt him down for last minute advice since he’d just given her the kiss off and joined Andrew on stage. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Nick try to discretely gesture for her to walk over to him, but she ignored him and plastered what she hoped was a friendly smile on her face and sat down in the small leather chair next to Andrew.
The man was mid-thirties, handsome and the look he gave her slightly appeased the hurt Nick had caused not even twenty minutes ago. She still couldn’t believe that he’d hurt her like that. She knew that they’d never have a lifetime together, but the last few days had been wonderful, especially yesterday when they spent all day in his bed, but apparently she’d been wrong. Well, she’d enjoyed it but obviously he had not.
If he had he wouldn’t have been making plans to meet up with another woman right in front of her. The least he could have done was taken her aside beforehand and given her the brush off. Finding out like that hadn’t exactly been pleasant.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Miss. Harris,” Andrew said warmly as he reached over to take one of her hands into both of his.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Mr. Jameson,” she said, easily returning the smile.
“Please call me Andrew. From what I gather this is your first on camera interview. Just relax and pretend the camera’s not there and you’ll be fine. I’m also assuming that you would prefer to be called J.L. Lewis during the interview?” he asked, still holding her hand she might note.
She risked a quick glance over to where she’d last seen Nick and was a little surprised to find him glaring at their hands. Considering he’d just basically made plans to have sex with another woman she thought he had a heck of a nerve to look pissed that another man was touching her. After this they were going back to a strictly professional relationship. She didn’t even want help with her list and come to think of it maybe it was time just to bite the bullet and have sex. It sure as heck would stop her from pinning after him and it would help shred a little more of the old Jamie away for good.
“If you’re ready?” Andrew asked, reluctantly releasing her hand as he sat back in his chair.
Was she?
Yes, she was and not only for this interview. It was probably childish, but tonight when she found a man to take to bed she was going to make darn sure that Nick knew that she was doing it. Not that he’d care since he’d probably be ha**ng s*x with another woman and couldn’t care less that she moved on and she had. It was just a few days. Nothing major. She could move on just as easily as he had.
“Thank you for joining us this evening, J.L. Lewis,” Andrew said, letting her know that they’d begun recording the interview.