“Oh, this is just priceless.” Jayson’s laugh sounded sinister. “Come out, Paige. I know you’re here, and I can see now why you didn’t want to come home.”

Half-surprised that Jayson hadn’t tried to sign Tatum to his agency already—since he never missed the opportunity to represent a pretty face—I crept out of bed and quickly pulled on a sweatshirt and jeans. My hand on the bedroom doorknob, I took a deep breath to steady myself and then stepped out into the living room.

“Calm down, Jayson. I’m right here.”

Tatum rushed to my side, blocking my view of Jayson with his body before pinning me with worried eyes. “Tell me what to do. What do you want me to do?”

He sounded confused and desperate, and I wanted to take him in my arms and forget about the world. Although, that was what I’d been doing for the past three weeks. I was surprised I’d been able to stay away that long.

“There’s nothing you can do,” I said sadly.

The second Jayson arrived, my escape was all over. Everything I’d built in my time here was swept away in an instant. Out with the brave new-and-improved Paige, and in with the old scared-to-let-anyone-down Paige.

It was like being in an abusive relationship where freedom only came from being away from your abuser. Separated by a few states seemed like a good start. My soul had soared when I’d cut off ties with everyone who controlled me in LA, but it crashed to the ground in spectacular fashion as soon as Jayson’s voice broke the sanctity of the peaceful space I’d found for myself.

“I brought you a present, Paige.” Jayson eyed me. “Although I have to admit that I didn’t realize you wouldn’t need it.”

Confused, I frowned at him. Whatever Jayson referred to was completely lost on me until I heard the knock on the screen door. My cheating rat bastard of an ex-boyfriend stood outside, his face forlorn and his hair mussed in what I was sure was a calculated way.

Tatum tensed beside me, and I gave his hand a reass

uring squeeze. He squeezed back, but didn’t release the pressure. I couldn’t believe that Jayson had brought Colin all the way out here. It was one thing for my agent to come and play hardball, but it was downright dirty to bring Colin with him.

“You never answered my calls,” Colin said from behind the screen. “Or my texts or e-mails.”

I straightened my back and sucked in a breath. “I didn’t want to talk to you.”

Emotion tinged my words, and Colin’s face softened as he stepped through the screen door uninvited, clearly mistaking the meaning of my tone. Tatum must have misunderstood too because he dropped my hand and stepped away from me.

Surprised, I glanced at Tatum, wanting to tell him that he had it all wrong. I didn’t want Colin; my tone only reflected my surprise at seeing him here, nothing else.

“Don’t be like that, babe,” Colin said in a cajoling voice.

“Don’t call me babe, and don’t tell me what to do. Why are you even here?” I said harshly.

“Because I miss you. I wanted to see you. We belong together, Paige.”

When Colin took a step toward me, I edged back. I fumbled for Tatum’s hand and linked my fingers with his. “I don’t want you. And we don’t belong together. You’re delusional.”

“Don’t say that.” Colin practically growled at me, and Tatum sucked in a deep breath.

The air crackled in the emotionally charged room as Tatum stood a little taller and flexed his muscles as he boomed at Colin, “Your ears busted or something, man?”

Colin shifted his weight from foot to foot as Tatum leaned forward slightly and bit out, “Did you hear the lady or not?”

“I heard her,” Colin said, sounding more like a punk kid trying to talk back to his parents. “But we have history. And what—you think she’s going to stay here forever with you? What are you, a farmer?” He laughed, and Jayson followed suit.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Mrs. Montgomery’s hands ball into fists at her side, and I felt my own anger rise.

“You’re a good-looking guy, I’ll give you that.” Jayson smirked at Tatum, then said smugly, “But there’s no way that this thing you two have going on would ever last in California. I’m sure it was a nice little fling, but it’s over now. Do you need me to write you a check to make you feel better?”

“Jayson!” I shouted as Tatum once again tensed beside me. I knew Jayson’s words were embarrassing him, and it killed me. This was the type of game they played in Hollywood, but Tatum wasn’t from there. He’d never had to deal with this kind of thing before.

“Don’t listen to them,” I whispered at him. “They’re just trying to get inside your head. Please don’t let them. They don’t know me at all. You know me. Don’t forget that.”

Jayson wiped the smile off his face and softened his tone, obviously changing tactics. “I’m sure you’re a reasonable guy. You can certainly understand that Paige has been off the radar for weeks now and, well, that’s not good for business or her reputation.”

It was my turn to be shocked as I flinched at his words, wondering how much of what he was saying was true.

Tags: J. Sterling The Celebrity Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net