Page 103 of Ardently Yours

She visibly works to get her face under control. “Hey, I’m standing here with Arden and a roomful of people. I’m going to say my goodbyes, and I’ll see you when I get there, right? No need to meltdown over guy trouble. I’ll come talk you off the ledge. Love your face, girl.”

She hangs up her phone and looks me in the eyes. “I have to run. How soon until we can get someone out here to pick me up?”

I glance to Brock who holds up all the fingers of both hands. “If it’s an emergency, we can have the fleet here in ten minutes.”

She nods. “Rochelle is going through something. I need to be there for her as soon as I can.”

I frown. “Right now? The press could discover your name at any moment.”

She smiles with her mouth, but her eyebrows are frowning. “It’ll take them time to figure out she’s my friend and even longer to find her address. All I need is for one of your people to drop me off at her house. I’ll give you a call when someone can pick me up.”

I shake my head. “We can bring Rochelle to New York to stay with us.”

She freezes, then speaks slowly. “That’s a fantastic idea, but I’ll need a day or so to convince her.”

“What aren’t you telling me, Charlotte?” I ask.

“Rochelle’s guy problems aren’t something I can share. It’s a bad breakup. That’s all. Listen, can you do me asuperbig favor?” she asks.

Her face is white, but flags of color burn on her cheekbones. Sweat beads on her forehead.

According to Charlotte, as of last week, Rochelle hasn’t dated anyone in over a year.

“What do you need?” I ask.

“Can I leave Bronnie with you for a few days? I need to know she’s—” Her voice cracks. Clearing her throat, she continues, “I’d like to know she’s with you and the boys. With the team.”

“That’s not a favor. It’s a privilege. I’m sending guards with you too,” I say.

Her eyes turn to saucers. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, no.”

”Why not?” I grate. “You’ll need them when the press locate you.”

“I’m not in the mood to argue with you over details,” she says, hand spread wide. “I need to get away from all of this, including people looking over my shoulder every second. Can you give me one last day of privacy before my life becomes a circus sideshow?” she snaps.

I drop my chin. “We’ll distract the press as much as we can to give you more time. One of the women can wear a wig and pretend to be you.”

She steps close and puts her hand on the back of my neck to bring my face down to hers. “Thank you, and don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

“If you’re sure,” I say.

She shakes her head. “Of course I’m sure, you silly goose.”

Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte.“Kiss me one last time before you go.”

Let me taste that sweet, lying mouth.

Bronnie stretches her armsup to me. “My legs are tired.”

I lift her. “Hey, baby girl. I'll pick you up anytime you want me to.”

She sighs contentedly. “Okay, they ain’t tired. But your cuddles are good.”

She rests her head on my shoulder, so I turn back to my conversation with Reese.

He scratches the back of his neck. “I think Plan B is the morning after pill. So maybe it is a relationship problem.”

I shake my head. “If this were a normal relationship, and she needed Plan B, it would be a phone call, not this level of crisis. She wouldn't panic about birth control unless Rochelle was”—I stop myself from finishing my sentence because of Bronnie in my arms, but by the look in Reese’s eyes, he’s having the same thought I am.

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