Page 36 of Resisting You
“No! Nothing like that.” Rosa shook her head. “It’s just your average frustration with family. I love my parents, but they drive me crazy. And with their jobs, it’s hard to have a close relationship with them.”
“Very well.” Kristen gave a quick, thoughtfulhmbefore nodding. “I have to admit, Noah, I’m shocked that your approval ratings are through the roof with this wedding announcement. People love that you’ve chosen a non-actress as a wife. A smart woman. A doctor?—”
“Oh, I’m not an MD—” Rosa began to say, but was quickly waved off by Kristen.
“Potato, potahto.” Kristen paused, looking sharply at Rosa. “I think I know the answer to this based on what you just said, but I have to ask. You don’t have a desire to go into politics like your father, do you?”
Rosa snorted. “Absolutely not.”
“Too bad. The two of you would be unstoppable. A power couple. A force to be reckoned with?—”
“Andmiserable,” Rosa snapped. “Just like my parents.”
There was a long pause before Kristen said, “You know, Rosa. Not all famous couples are unhappily married. Most of my clients are blissfully in love.”
“Or they just want you tobelievethey’re blissfully in love.”
My heart descended into the cavity in my chest with her statement and whatever hope I had for Rosa and me sank just the tiniest bit. What the hell happened to Rosa and her parents to believe so firmly that happiness doesn’t exist for celebrities?
But despite my souring mood, Kristen merely smiled. “I’m the one person theydon’thave to lie to, Rosa. Remember that,” she added, looking pointedly at me. “Bothof you. No matter what, the two of you need to be fully, and completely honest with me. Always.”
“I hear you, Kristen.”
She paused, looking over at Rosa. “And you? Do you hear me? I’m your ally in this. Maybe your only ally.”
Rosa gulped, giving a jerky nod. “I understand. I won’t lie to you.”
Like a slingshot snapping and releasing a pebble, Kristen’s entire demeanor changed and she smiled cheerily. “Great. Then, let’s get started. We’ve got a lot to plan in a short time.”
Chapter 13
Rosa
Am I having a heart attack?
Literal chest palpitations were causing my heart to sputter, stall, then race again as I lived what was pretty much my personal hell. A very public day date with Noah… and about a dozen photographers following us documenting the whole thing.
If I thought last night’s date was bad? It was nothing compared tothis.
It was a whole day so far of very public appearances—from a walk around the lake to breakfast at the diner to a picnic in the park with Noah’s mom and sister.
Kristen mostly kept the paparazzi back and away from us. Close enough to get cute photos, but not close enough to hear our conversation. And she had also hired our own personal professional photographer to capture posed and candid shots of the day for us to release to the press ourselves.
It was, quite literally, my absolute nightmare.
“Here, darling,” Noah’s mother said, passing me a bowl of strawberries.
I smiled weakly at her. She was so sweet. So nurturing. So… opposite of my own mother. “Thanks, Marty.”
“You look very pale,” she added. “Some sugar may help.”
I felt Noah’s palm fall gently on my back. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, even though I didn’t feel okay. “It’s just been a long day.”
Callie snorted, sipping her soda through a straw. “It’s only 1:30. I’d say you’ve got a long way to go before the day is over.”
Noah shot his sister a look. “Not helping, Cal.”
