Changing Roles

“Liam!” Everett slammed his hand on the table.

I snapped my gaze back to him. “Back home. Brilliant.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Stop eye-fucking my sister. We need to go over this entire schedule. Give it a break, and concentrate.”

I was eye-fucking her again. I couldn’t help it; she was far too irresistible when she was that close to me. I smirked at him. “Well, if you’d leave, I’d stop the eye-fucking and commence with the real—”

He threw up his hands. “That’s my sister! Jesus! Shut up!”

I grinned. “Aye. Your sister. Not mine.”

He groaned, dropping his head into his hands. Shelby looked over at us, a smile curving her lips. “Liam, behave. Stop freaking Everett out.”

I winked at her. “It’s fun.”

“Oscar.” Her voice held a warning tone.

“Fine,” I huffed. “I’ll behave. Now, where were we?”

Everett pulled out a file. “They got a lot of pictures of you two the other night. Clear ones. They’re now scrambling to find out who Shelby is—that’s three times in a row she’s been out in public with you.” He pushed the file toward me. “It’s only a matter of time.”

I looked through the file. They were clear—innocuous for the most part. My arm around her, walking into the building. The two of us smiling at each other as we walked. A couple of grainier ones inside. The ones of us leaving, our heads lowered, Mark in front of us as we headed to the car. The last one I paused at and studied closely. It was taken before we left the building, obviously with a zoom lens. I was talking to Shelby, my hand cupping her face as I instructed her what I needed her to do when we left. She was gazing up at me, her hand wrapped around my wrist, and the moment the camera captured was oddly intimate. I returned my gaze to Ev, who stared back at me, serious.

“We could issue a statement. Get ahead of this frenzy,” he offered.

“No. I’m not commenting on my personal life. I’m actually surprised they haven’t figured it out yet. Shelby comes and goes from here all the time. They must have a few photos of her on file.”

He glanced toward Shelby and shrugged. “Your household staff has never been a topic of interest before. I don’t think they’ve realized the mysterious woman in red and your housekeeper are the same person yet.” He dug through some photos and held up two—one of Shelby in her gown with me, and the other a shot of her leaving the grounds taken at some point, her hair up, sunglasses on, wearing jeans and a baggy T-shirt, probably one of mine. “They hardly look like the same woman.” He lifted a shoulder in apology. “Sorry, Shelby.”

Shelby waved her hand. “It’s fine, Ev. I hardly recognize myself once Lily gets through with me.”

I took the photos, studied them, then smiled at Shelby. I held up the picture of her taken on a regular day. “I prefer you like this. You don’t need all the other stuff. You’re perfect when you’re simply you.”

Shelby blushed, and Everett rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “Cheeseball.”

I flipped him the bird, and he chuckled then became serious again. “They will figure it out, and soon, and then the shit is gonna hit the fan. Cassidy has been taking calls and fielding inquiries all day. It’ll only increase. They were all around when I came through the gates. They’ll surround the library event. I’ve already instructed the organizers we’ll need extra security.”

I rolled my eyes. I was looking forward to that event. It had never garnered much media attention in the past, and I was hoping it would be the same this year. Everett didn’t seem bothered, though.

“It’s been growing and getting bigger every year since you came on board. It’s more publicity for them. They’re not surprised.”

I hated this part of my career. The constant intrusiveness of being chased by photographers over the most mundane things. I could never figure out what was so fascinating about me buying a bag of crisps at the corner store or why a hundred photos had to be taken while I did. It was only a bloody bag of crisps—hardly newsworthy. I was grateful I would be busy filming for a while. At least on set I was insulated from all this craziness. And Everett would make sure Shelby was okay while I was gone.

I looked at Shelby, who returned my gaze calmly. I turned back to Everett. “We carry on.”

He huffed as he shut the file. I grabbed the last picture before he could pull it away. I rather liked it.

“My sister,” he muttered in warning.

“I’ll keep her safe,” I assured him.

Shelby smiled at us both.Shelby ran her fingers through my hair again, and I frowned. “I don’t want to go next week.”