Escorting the Actress (The Escort Collection 2)

Lowell responded first. "If I could just say one thing, Mr. Richards? Kyle has been nothing short of wonderful to me. I made some really big mistakes, and he's helped me turn everything around. I called the service as a last-ditch effort to save my career. He didn't know it was me who was… hiring him until he showed up at my house."

"He told me the same story."

Lowell looked at Pierce, her eyes pleading. "It's true. This has all been a show for the press. Kyle's actually really gifted at public relations. He'll be great working for your company in that capacity. Everybody loves him."

"That's part of my son's problem," Pierce said. "Everybody does love him. He's had it too easy—he's never worked a day in his life."

"He's been working for me," she said, "and he's amazing at winning the press over. It's not a bad thing that everyone loves him, sir. It's a gift."

Her words left me with a weird mix of emotions. Her kindness never ceased to amaze me. She saw me in a way nobody else did.

I faced my father, who was looking at me with raised eyebrows. "What?"

He crossed his arms. "You have a gift?"

I smiled, feeling exposed. "I guess Lowell sees the best in me."

"But you two aren't a real couple." He sounded extremely skeptical, and also as if he were waiting for an answer.

I didn't have one for him. "I'm ready to come to work for you, Dad. I just need more time. I made a promise to Lowell, and part of me acting like an adult is not going back on my promises."

Pierce inspected my face. "What's the difference with you? Is it her?" He motioned to Lowell, who was sitting perfectly still, silent and pale. "Because really, you two can't be together. If the press finds out that she's your stepsister, her career's over. She isn't going to choose you over her career."

Lowell opened her mouth and then shut it again.

"You shouldn't choose her over your career either," my father said. Satisfied that he'd won the argument, he sat back in his chair.

"I don't want her to give up her career for me, and I don't want this to get out." I looked at him. "I told you—I'll come to work for you, but I have to wrap things up in Los Angeles first."

My father leaned over his desk. "Eric showed me the pictures of you two from yesterday. You've been followed here. Your every move is being documented. Hell, somebody could be waiting outside my door right now." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Giving you a chance is a risk for me, Kyle. I can't have it come out that you've been a male escort and that you've been escorting your stepsister. That'd completely ruin me." He jerked his thumb at Lowell. "Her too. And I can tell you don't want that." He took a deep breath. "I'm truly sorry. Lowell, I'd be happy to reimburse you for what you paid Kyle. I'll give you enough to start another PR blitz. Or hire another young man."

Lowell shook her head. "You don't have to do that, Mr. Richards. I don't need your money. I'm fine."

I turned to her. "You're fine because I'm not leaving you. We're going to that premiere."

"Not if you want your trust back, you're not." My father looked at me. I must've looked stricken, because his face changed from stern to apologetic. "I'm sorry, son, but I can't risk this right now. I have too much at stake."

"Actually, I'm the one who's got—"

"It's okay, Kyle," Lowell said. "Your father's right. If he's got a big press blitz coming up, it's too risky for all of us. I don't want the public to find out how we… came together. And I don't want them finding out about our parents." She looked at me. "I'll be fine. You've done wonders for me. I'm going to be okay."

I clenched my hands into fists. "Let's talk about this outside." I turned to my father and nodded at him tightly. "Dad."

"You need to come back here tomorrow morning. You start work then," he said. "Lowell, it was a pleasure seeing you. You've grown into a mature, thoughtful young woman. Thank you for cooperating. Give Caroline my regards. Tell her I've been… thinking about her."

Lowell nodded, clearly shocked by his lack of animosity toward her mother. It was weird, but I ignored it, grabbing her elbow and dragging her out of the office. I had bigger things to deal with right now.

"You have to listen to him," she said as I stalked down the hall beside her.

"I'm an adult." I heard the anger in my own voice. "He can't tell me what to do."

She shook her head. "You need to listen to me then. This is your one shot. He's going to give you a position that you'll be brilliant at, and you'll get your trust back. That's millions of dollars we're talking about. You can't give that up for me."

I stopped, and turning, I pressed her back against the wall. Anger and sadness ripped through me as I looked at her beautiful face. "I'm not leaving you. Period. He's my father. He'll wait."

She shook her head, and although I saw sadness in her eyes, stubbornness rolled off of her in waves. "He's not going to give you another chance, Kyle. He has his launch coming up—if you cross him now, it's all over."

I leaned over her, wanting to crush my lips against hers and stop this stupid conversation. "Your premiere's next week." Unable to stop myself, I ran my lips along her jawline. "It's just a week. He'll be fine."