Page 81 of Delicious Surrender
She dialed Jared as she reread the lies, getting increasingly agitated.
“Have you seen the tabloid? That bastard told everyone a story about me to cover his own ass! He basically said I made the whole thing up to punish him!”
“Calm down, Bree. I don’t think it’s such a terrible thing.”
“Not terrible? In what universe, J?”
“The sooner this thing dies down, the better for all of us. You included.” His placating tone was annoying as shit.
“So, you think it’s better I look like a woman scorned than a journalist writing an exposé that angered London’s kinky elite?” As she said it, she could see the logic, but it still pissed her off.
“Yep. It will take the sizzle out of the story. And Gage got a retraction printed on the front page on Tuesday. Didn’t you see it?”
“No. Today was my first day off the couch. I guess I should be glad.” Her harsh laugh was devoid of humor. “Maybe now he won’t put a hit out on me.”
“Not funny. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Nigel took a leave of absence. I don’t know if he’ll be back.”
“Oh great, one more horrible thing they’re laying at my feet. They need to figure out who did this so innocent people don’t get blamed.”
“I agree, but everyone just wants it forgotten.” Jaredpaused, then added, “The club reopened yesterday.”
“Do you think they’ll let you back?”
Jared paused. “Not likely. There is a member who might go to bat for me, though.”
Brynne bit her lip. It must be John. God, she hoped nothing bad happened to him because of the story. “I hope so. I know you loved it as much as I did. Too bad it put an end to my sex education.”
“Speaking of that, how is the editing going?”
Brynne snorted. “It’s going nowhere. I could barely summon the energy to walk and talk last week, let alone write. But I’m pulling myself together. And I cut off all my hair today. I’m taking a job in town and will try to summon the energy to do some editing next.”
“What? Send me a picture! I want to see!”
“Hang on.” Brynne snapped a selfie and texted it to Jared. “I expect you to lie to me if you don’t like it. I’m in a very fragile state.”
His squeal burst though the phone. “Oh my god, I love it! It’s sexy and feisty—like you.”
“You really like it?”
“I do. I think it’s fabulous. The men of Skye will be all over you.”
“Dude, there are like eight eligible men on this entire island. Besides, I’m not ready to put my rod in the water. I’m liable to catch myself a toothless fisherman.”
Jared couldn’t stop laughing. “Oh my god, you mean your line, not your rod, babe. But I’m going to steal that phrase.”
“Be my guest. It suits you more than it does me.”
“I think you should get back on the horse, or the boat, as soon as possible.”
If only it were that easy. Jared didn’t know how hard she fell for Gage MacLeod. “I’ll take that under advisement. I’ve got to go now; my butter pecan ice cream is melting.”
“Okay. Talk to you tomorrow. Ciao, bella!”
“Ciao, J!”
Brynne returned home and got to work cleaning up the evidence of her meltdown. She collected all the debris, washed the dishes, stripped the bed, and threw a load of laundry in. At some point, she would go through Josie’s closets, but that project could wait. For now, she put her things away in the main floor guest bedroom.
She set up her laptop at her aunt’s beautiful antique writing desk, which faced a window with a picturesque view of the water. It sat near the big wood-burning stove, so she would be toasty when the colder weather came.