A Hollywood Bride (Ryder & Paige 2)

“I heard you had an altercation at the hospital.”

I make a face, remembering the crazy nurse. “Yeah. Some psycho fan. At least she didn’t come after me with a Jeep.”

“Hospitals have lots of sharp objects. I should have our attorney contact them. It’s unacceptable.”

“Handle it without making a big deal about it.”

“Will do.”

“And Mira?”

“Yes?”

“Paige moved out. Thought you should know now rather than find out because some idiot posted something about it somewhere.”

“What?”

“We’re taking a break. That’s how we should spin it. Or maybe she wants to spend some time with her friends or something.”

“Why did she move out?”

“It’s complicated.” I’m not telling Mira about the whole ugly mess. It’s private, and none of her business.

“She can’t do this. I don’t care how complicated it is.”

“You won’t interfere,” I growl. “I’m going to handle it.”

“How?” Mira growls louder, like we’re in some ursine competition. “If I’d known she was going to be this unreliable, I would’ve never suggested that you marry her, even for a year. God. How could I have misjudged her?”

For some reason, her irate tone and words annoy me. “You didn’t misjudge Paige. The spotlight was probably too much for her.”

“Ha! Do fish complain about too much water?”

My jaw flexes. Mira isn’t saying anything I haven’t thought, but it still pisses me off to hear the words out loud. I didn’t call her to listen to her go off on Paige. I need to get her back because the wedding is going to happen no matter what. She told me to find somebody more to my liking, but she doesn’t understand why I have to marry ASAP.

Technically, Dad gave all of us six months to find somebody and get hitched. I’m not worried about most of my siblings, but Lucas may be a problem. He made it clear he wasn’t interested, and unless all of us fulfill the conditions, none of us will get the portraits.

He needs to see that it’s no big deal to marry. It’s only for a year anyway. And I need to set the example since I’m the one least likely to settle down. Everyone knows my reputation and all the women I’ve “humped and dumped.”

“If she isn’t going to marry you, you should cut her off completely. No monthly allowance and no medical. That would serve her right,” Mira says. “And speaking of cutting, we need to do something about that idiot temp assistant you have. Every time I talk to him, I feel like I’m losing IQ points.”

I jerk upright in my seat. “You’re a genius.”

“I know, but I can handle only so much incompetence and stupidity. At the rate it’s going, I’m gonna—”

“I gotta go.”

“What? Wait.”

“And you can fire the temp.” I hang up.

Unable to sit still, I jump up and start pacing. Of course! Why didn’t I think of it before? Paige needs income and medical insurance to get through her pregnancy.

It’s probably the best leverage I have. And while Elizabeth might be right about my being an ass, I’m not letting it go to waste.

Chapter Nine

Paige