Page 2 of Chance of Romance
Hailey went on. “But now that the article’s out there, your popularity is growing by the hour. Definitely take advantage of that. Your career could explode!”
The hair on the back of Sabrina’s neck stood up at the thought of that kind of exposure and the potential damage to her professional reputation. Her practice that she’d built from nothing over the last three years would tank if her clients lost faith in her.
Lexi, sitting by her side, grabbed her hand and spoke earnestly. “If you don’t do this talk-show interview, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. You’ll always wonder, how many people could I have reached that needed to hear from me at that exact moment? There’s a lot of lonely people in the world.”
Sabrina studied Lexi for a moment. Was Lexi the lonely one?
“It’s okay to be nervous,” Lexi said. “Just don’t let it hold you back.”
Sabrina nodded once. The advice was sound, even if it was easier said than done. Not to mention she was several degrees past nervous into serious fear territory.
Hailey spoke in a soothing tone. She’d mellowed considerably since getting her doggie companion. “Sweetie, if all you need is a little confidence boost so you don’t feel like a fraud, why not bring a backup guy to the interview? All he has to do is stand in the background. When they ask about your personal relationship, and they will, you can say you’re engaged. If they ask anything further, just say your relationship is private. They’d expect a counselor to say something like that. Then when all the buzz dies down, just pretend you broke up, and go back to your life.”
“I’m a terrible liar,” Sabrina said.
“Didn’t I say that?” Mad barked.
Hailey shot Mad a quelling look before turning back to Sabrina. “It’s a romantic white lie for the greater good. Go into that interview confident in your relationship-expert status.”
Sabrina blushed furiously, muttering, “Not an expert.”
Everyone encouraged Sabrina to go for it.
“Once in a lifetime!”
“Grab this opportunity!”
“Don’t be a wuss!” That last one was Mad.
Sabrina held up a palm. “Even if I had a committed relationship, this talk-show gig is just not me. I feel like I’d be faking it, like an actress. I’m not flashy. I prefer helping people one-on-one.”
“Ooh!” Hailey said, her pale blue eyes bright. “Call Claire for some tips. She can coach you through it.” Claire Jordan was their movie-star friend, well used to the spotlight.
“I’m not a show pony,” Sabrina said stubbornly. “I just want to help people.”
Lexi lifted a lock of Sabrina’s hair. “With this mane of luxurious hair? Definite show-pony material.”
Everyone laughed. Sabrina gave Lexi a small smile. “Ha-ha.”
Haley went on enthusiastically. “You’ll be faking your way through anyway, pretending not to be nervous. Add in the fake relationship, no big thing.”
“Fake it ’til you make it,” Lexi put in. “Make that your mantra.”
Sabrina let out a breath of exasperation. “Who in the world would I even ask to be my fake fiancé?”
Lexi grinned evilly. “How about yourfriendLogan?”
Sabrina felt herself flush, her stomach dipping just hearing his name. Her secret lust for Logan Campbell was so embarrassing because it was completely one-sided. He was her breathtaking, spine-tingling, panty-melting sexyfriend,ever since he’d rented the office upstairs from hers six months ago. He joked around with her all the time but never, ever flirted. She knew all the classic male flirtation signals—a deepening of voice, direct sustained eye contact, throwing his shoulders back to appear bigger—and he did exactly zero. His voice was always deep and never changed. She wasn’t sure how long he’d hold her eye contact because she looked away the moment she felt her cheeks heat, but when she looked back, he was always looking somewhere just past her ear. His shoulders were always the same, wide and muscularly athletic like all of the Campbell men, but never thrown back, always just relaxed.
Even if Logan did think of her inthat way,which he didn’t, he was still not for her. If there was one thing she’d learned as a relationship counselor, it was spotting the men who were not good for her relationship-wise. Logan was a classic commitment-phobe.
She smoothed her hair. “I told you we’re just friends.”
Mad cocked her head. “Yeah, ask Logan. It’ll be nothing for him.” Logan was her older brother. “He’s been hung up on his college girlfriend for years.”
Sabrina stared at Mad in shock. Logan had never once mentioned this college girlfriend, and they had lunch on a weekly basis, when neither of them was too busy. Dedicated to the same woman for years? Had she misjudged him? Maybe she should’ve given him a lusty signal. Not that it mattered. He wasn’t into her, and now that she knew he had ex-girlfriend baggage, forget it.
Hailey offered an alternative with Mad’s other single brother. “Josh’ll do it if you pay him.” She scowled. “Just expect to pay big.” Hailey knew this from personal experience. She was a wedding planner and, in desperate need of a dependable wedding date, had paid Josh to escort her to weddings so she wouldn’t always be alone in front of clients. Unfortunately, their deal had quickly soured, and they’d been fighting ever since.
