Page 70 of Uncharted Desires

West hated these things, but they went with the territory, and after announcing his retirement, then falling off a yacht and washing up on a deserted island, the press was having a field day.

Stacy, his public relations agent, had flown in the moment he had called her. If anyone could help him spin this situation, it was her.

“You have created quite the frenzy, Monroe,” Stacy said as she fiddled with his hair before he went out to talk with the press.

“I know, Stace. If it makes you feel better, it was unintentional.”

Stacy smiled at him in the mirror. “You know I never stay mad at you, but they’re vultures out there today. Bobby from TMZ is pissed you canceled last night; he’s not going to go easy on you.”

West felt his face warm just thinking about the things he and Kat had done the night before. He had done plenty of depraved things in his life, but the feelings of last night had never been there. He cleared his throat, shaking the images of Kat’s naked body out of his head. “I had something come up.”

Stacy looked down at his lap. “Mmmm, I bet.”

West grinned. She knew him all too well. She’d been his PR rep for almost twenty years. Stacy and her wife had always called him out, but he loved her realness; it had made their relationship easy. He really did need to dig into why he couldn’t work with single straight women without wanting to fuck them. Maybe it had just been Kat all along he had needed to keep at arm’s length.

“Where’s the girl?” Stacy asked him.

“Kat? I don’t want her involved. I told you that on the phone.”

Stacy pursed her lips, holding back what she wanted to say, something she didn’t do often.

“What?” he asked her.

“Nothing,” Stacy said, going back to fussing with his hair.

West gave her a disbelieving look.

“It’s just . . . did you ask her if she wanted to be left out of all this?”

West thought about it for a moment. He hadn’t actually asked, but he knew she didn’t want to be involved. She had said on multiple occasions that his life of fame would be difficult for her.

“I just know she wants to keep her name out of it as long as possible.”

“So, you’re just going to tell the press that you fell into the ocean, landed on a deserted island with some girl on your production crew, and nothing happened between you two—even though you’ve clearly fallen in love with her. Your face says it all.”

West scowled at her. “I am not, and no, it doesn’t.”

“You are so over the moon, baby, and I am so happy for you, but just remember those predators out there are going to read you too. Then they’ll eat you alive, so whatever your story, just make sure your face matches.”

West wouldn’t admit it aloud, but Stacy was right. He was in love with Kat, and he didn’t know what to do about it. He wanted to tell her, but he wasn’t sure if she was ready to hear it. Women had never rejected him before, other than his mother, who’d had no interest in his life. If Kat rejected him, he wasn’t sure he could come back from that.

West nodded, standing to shake out his clothes. “I got this, Stace. You know the press loves me.”

“They used to. Now they’re pissed you announced your retirement through social media. No one got the exclusive and they’ve been banging down my and Declan’s doors.”

West gave her his best smile, but she was still frowning. “I’m sorry. I know you told me not to do it, but Declan said it was a better plan.”

“And I told you to stop listening to that dimwit,” Stacy snapped back. “Something’s off with him, and if I were you I wouldn’t trust him.”

“You mean the cocaine?” West already knew all about Declan’s cocaine addiction. It wasn’t news to him, but his behavior had been more erratic lately.

Stacy sighed. “Just make sure all your ducks are in a row, West.” She looked out at the press, who seemed to be getting anxious. “Now get out there before they tear this place apart.”

Kat’s knee bounced up and down in the back of the cab as she watched the buildings pass by.

“Could you go faster?” She leaned over between the front seats to get the driver’s attention.

He didn’t acknowledge her, and Kat sulked in her seat. “Of course you can’t go faster. It’s just the love of my life that’s about to be blown to pieces. Even if I can’t be with him, he can’t be dead.”