Page 89 of Nothing to No One

Only they’d potentially save Roman from embarrassing himself, her, and trashing his career. Instead, they’d feed the Hollywood Gossip Circle. In short, the Lomonds were saving her ass and Roman’s, yet, somehow, she knew the man wouldn’t show gratitude.

THIRTY-ONE

EITHER ROXANNA KYST was a practicing Wiccan, or she’d made a deal with the devil somewhere along the way. Less than an hour after they’d hung up, someone approached the bar. Wasn’t unusual, except this time, the guy pointed to the small wall-mounted TV in the corner.

“Are they here?” Glancing up, she wasn’t surprised to see Roxie in front of a camera, Zairn at her side, holding her against him. “Can you turn it up?”

“…I know nothing about that,” Roxie said, smile broad, every inch the glittering starlet.

The woman may not be an official actress, but she’d never met a role she couldn’t fill. Zairn, on the other hand, was almost the trophy husband. He fished his phone from his pocket and scrolled, all the while keeping hold of his treasure.

“It’s your wedding! Come on,” the reporter asked, “give us something. Tease us. You decided not to let the cameras in, why—”

“We decided not to letyourcameras in.”

“Oh, now, hey, that’s something. You got an exclusive deal?”

On a laugh, Roxie curled closer to her guy to splay a hand on his chest. He just kept on typing. “Marriage means exclusive. It’ll be tough for him, but a deal’s a deal.”

“Who ever thought Zairn Lomond would settle down!” The reporter relished the interaction. “You confident he’ll give up the babes—”

“For the ultimate babe,” Zairn muttered, still doing something on his phone.

“What was that?”

Zairn tucked the phone away. “Guys don’t catch women like Roxanna Kyst,” he said. “Most guys. She takes a special kind of care, one I work on every day. Rox is the sun which my world revolves around.”

And this time, the reporter laughed. “You’ve used that line before.”

“Yes, we have,” Roxie said and moved away. “You take it easy now.”

The reporter, and others, called after them. Zairn went with Roxie without letting an inch of space grow between them. Either they’d been practicing or they were used to this schtick. Was it possible two people could share instinct like that? Did they anticipate each other like it required thought, or was it all intuition? Whichever it was, they proved love existed.

The bartender turned the volume down when the picture switched back to their on-site guy.

“You did this,” Roman hissed, materializing at her side. “You brought them here.”

“I didn’t bring anyone here.” Should she be facetious and tell him the couple were dying to see the movie? “Roxie just happened to call. Be happy it wasn’t your brother.”

“What does that mean?”

She wasn’t really sure. Just that after spending time alone with Struan, her need for him had only deepened. Throughout their time locked up together at Roxie’s, any time “they” came up, she might’ve told him she understood his loyalty, but he hadn’t said it himself.

“You know how Struan feels when you hurt me.”

“What the fuck did I do to hurt you?” Okay, yeah, she had to give him that. Ignoring her was more of a blessing thana slight. He got the concession right up until he signaled the bartender. “Give me two doubles—”

“The lady’s drinking—”

“Did I ask what the lady was drinking?”

The guy was nice enough to look at her, though he didn’t say anything else.

“Good plan, Roman.” She raised her wineglass. “Get sloshed, that’ll make Roxie like you.”

“I don’t want that bitch anywhere near—”

“Should my ears be burning?”

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