Page 69 of The Librarian and the Rock Star

“But it’s dark, and in the shadows. You’ll likely be behind the side stacks.” He looked so excited just thinking about having me right there. “And I can wave to you.”

“No, you’ll be waving to your fans. You can wave to me after the show.”

He rolled his eyes, and we dropped it. Opening another link from Kelly, there was a photo and headline that could not be missed.

The photo was of the two of us with cocktails in hand. Jack’s arm was around me, and his lips were at my ear. Although it was likely a whisper, it completely looked like a kiss.

***

Singer’s Latest Squeeze is a Librarian?

Jack Vegas, the charismatic singer of Vegas Mud Disco must be getting mellow in his old age. Most rock stars have flings with models, actresses, and dancers. Since his career has apparently been toned down lately, Jack has followed suit. Instead of a string of hotties, his latest arm candy is Keira Avidan, a librarian at Denson College in Toronto.

***

I stopped reading as my eyes filled with tears of frustration, rage, and horror. Jack was reading along with me, and his jaw clenched.

“I...” I gasped, shaking. “No,” I whispered weakly.

He grabbed his phone and fired off a text. Seconds later the phone chimed with the Kelly ring, and he answered it quickly.

“Yes. Right.” There was a little pause. Jack sounded irritated. “I don’t care what anyone says about me, but anything about her must be deleted immediately.” There was another short pause. “Thanks, Kelly.”

I heard a beep, and a deep sigh. “She’s contacting that stupid website to have the piece pulled right away. Don’t worry, she starts talking quickly and aggressively in legal speak, and they’ll do it within a few hours.”

I set my coffee down, since I was quaking so badly. How in the blazes did anyone know what College I work for?

Then it hit me. I mentioned it to Paul when I was telling him off for thinking I was a naive groupie girl. Or he could have looked it up after having seen my name on the guest list.

He couldn’t have. But he must have.

There was no way the media team at the college weren’t going to see this. To some degree, it was none of their damn business what I did on my own time. But as a young woman desperately trying to seem professional at all times, having photos of me partying with musicians didn’t exactly set the right tone.

“Keira, I’m so sorry,” Jack started, but I held up my hand. Then I stood up and got dressed, sitting down on the bed when I was finished.

“This can’t happen,” I said, my voice shaking with shock. “I’ve spent my life trying to build up a career, and be taken seriously, and now they might have yet another reason to dismiss me as a silly little girl. Some of the older professors actually try to book meetings through Tommy because they assume I’m an assistant, and can’t do it right.”

“They might not see it if it’s taken down quickly enough,” Jack said hopefully.

“There are search alerts on the name of the college. Someone will see it.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah.” I went over to pick up my coffee mug, drinking the rest, then picking up my purse.

“Where are you going?” Jack asked with a desperate tone I’ve never heard before.

“It’s always like this, isn’t it?”

“Like what?”

“When you’re in the spotlight, people feel like they have a right to comment, to assess, to build you up or tear you down. You have no control over your own life. You have no control over the information that goes out into the world with your name and your face on it.”

Jack sat very still. “Sometimes?” he nearly whispered. “But we can make so many people happy.”

“I’m not happy. I’m horrified.” I headed for the door. “I’m going for a long walk. I need to figure out if I can handle this, or if I want to.”

Jack’s low voice raised in pitch. “What do you mean?”

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