A Hollywood Bride (Ryder & Paige 2)

My sister clears her throat and hands the bouquet to Paige. I wait for her to toss it on the ground. Flowers from Anthony aren’t fit to be turned into compost for my garden.

Instead, she puts them close to her face and inhales. “They smell nice.”

Elizabeth lowers her head for a sniff. “Wow. They really do.”

“Guess I’ll put them in my room.”

I almost spew my coffee. Anthony’s flowers in my fiancée’s room? In my home? I don’t think so.

But apparently Paige is serious. Holding the big bouquet like it’s a baby, she walks out. A moment later I hear her going up the stairs.

I start to get up, but Elizabeth puts a hand on my forearm. “Let it go. Paige can deal with the problem. Don’t you trust her?”

“It’s not Paige. It’s Anthony I don’t trust.”

“At least finish your coffee before you go.” Elizabeth lowers her voice. “Do you honestly think people don’t know what you were up to last night?”

“What?”

“You went to a strip club with Elliot.” Her lips purse in disapproval. “Not the smartest move.”

I curse under my breath. “How did you know?”

“Photos? Elliot going in first, then you following him in later? Everyone has a camera on their phone. Your privacy isn’t safe no matter where you go, especially in this town. You’re just too high profile.”

Shit. I thought I’d gotten away with it. “Think Paige knows?”

“I don’t think so. She hasn’t said or done anything. But you have to be more careful.”

“Nothing happened. I swear. You can ask Elliot.”

“It isn’t about what happened or didn’t happen. It’s the perception.”

Of course. I rub my face. Everything is always about perception.

I gulp down my coffee as quickly as possible. I don’t want to fight with Paige, but I’m not going to be weak and run away when she’s obviously spoiling for one. I can’t think of any other reason for her to want to keep Anthony’s bouquet.

After placing the empty mug on the counter with more force than necessary, I run upstairs to find Paige. She’s in her room, and I see the offending flowers in a crystal vase on the bedside table.

I grind my teeth at the sight. Bad enough that she has Anthony’s flowers in her room, but right next to her bed?

Elizabeth’s warning echoes in my head. So I try for some calm. “I’d appreciate it if you threw those out.”

Paige tilts her head. “Is that your answer to what I said yesterday?”

“No.” I grind my teeth. “Actually, maybe. If you want me to trust you, then act in ways that inspire my trust.”

“How should I act?”

“Not associating with people who want to hurt me would be a start. And for god’s sake, don’t keep stuff sent by them.”

She raises her chin. “That’s all it’ll take for you to trust me?”

The defiance in her gaze rubs me raw. “Not quite.” I never give a definite answer to anything. “But close.”

“Right. So even if I do everything perfectly, there still won’t be any trust.” She looks at me with a coldness I’m not accustomed to seeing from her.

“What you want is control. You want to decide who I see, who I can associate with, who I talk to. There’s nothing equal about that sort of relationship.”