Page 111 of You Rock My World
Josie gasps, turning to the dark spot where Nick is standing. “I hadn’t even noticed him. Your bodyguard really blends in with the shadows.”
I carry her out of the courtyard, her legs curled against my side, the soft fabric of her leggings pressing into my arm. She has one hand hooked behind my neck, the other curling over my shoulder. At my truck, I reluctantly set her down and get the door for her.
Josie stretches her toes in her socks against the concrete, then looks up at me with a playful squint. “Where’s Ned?”
I pop open the door. “Nick drove on the way here.”
Her mouth pulls into an exaggerated pout. “That’s a shame.”
I smirk, tipping her chin up with my fingers. “Why’s that?”
“Because that means we can’t make out in the back seat for the entire ride home.”
An electric heat shoots through me, setting every nerve on edge. My grip on the truck door tightens to metal-denting strength. My restraint is hanging by a thread, and she knows it.
“That’s actually for the best.”
Josie leans closer, lips an inch from mine. “Oh?”
“Yeah.” I brush a strand of hair from her face. “We need to talk first.”
Josie groans, but it’s teasing, her hands falling dramatically to her sides. “Fine. Ruin my fun.”
I chuckle, nudging her toward the seat. “I promise to make it up to you.”
She slides in, flashing me a grin as I shut the door and round the hood. I pause at the back, unstrapping my guitar and placing it in the truck bed before heading to the driver’s side. Once I’m behind the wheel, I shift the gear into drive, easing us onto the lane.
Christmas lights blur past the windows, the city shimmering in festive colors. Josie watches them for a while before turning to me.
“What did you want to talk about?”
I drum my fingers against the steering wheel, eyes flicking between the road and her profile. “Did you quit your job today?”
She blinks, surprised. “Why would you think I did?”
I give her a side stare, arching a brow. “The official email informing me that my previous PR rep had resigned and that I’d been assigned a new one tipped me off.”
Josie snorts. “Gosh, Nadine is a piece of work.”
“So, you didn’t quit?”
“Technically, yes,” she drawls. “But only after she fired me first and then tried to rehire me.”
I glance at her again. “Are you okay?”
She shrugs, staring at the passing streetlights. “I realized I didn’t really love my job. And the idea of going back and working under Nadine made my skin crawl. So yeah, I think I’m okay. A bit financially irresponsible, but otherwise fine.”
I nod, processing that. “Want me to fire your old firm?”
Josie lets out a surprised laugh. “Tempting, but actually? No.”
I study her out of the corner of my eye, mouth twitching. “Oh?”
“Nadine’s a shark,” Josie explains, shifting in her seat. “She’s awful to work for, but she’s incredible at what she does. For all her faults, she knows how to control a story. And after your interview, she had the press eating out of your hand.”
I smirk. “Don’t I get a little credit for that?”
Josie’s eyes sparkle. “You were fantastic.”
