“Why are you having this outdoors again?” Gilly asked.
“My mother has spent the last five years telling the world I’m afraid. I’m going to show them that’s no longer true.”
Gilly nodded and headed out with Tuck. Jamison came over and gave Paisley one more hug before shooting Bare a look and walking out.
Paisley turned to him. “What’s on your mind?”
He blew out a breath. “I’m worried about you.”
“I know,” she said. “But I’m going to be okay.”
“I’m not talking about the conference, or at least, not specifically about the conference.”
“I don’t understand,” she said. “You’re not regretting last night, are you?”
“You know better than that,” he admonished, reaching for her. “I’m worried things are changing too fast for you.”
She shook her head. “Five years is not too fast, Bare.”
“Everything has changed in a matter of less than twenty-four hours.”
“But I’ve been working up to this for a long time,” she said. “It might not have seemed like it, but every day, I was a step closer. I’ve wanted you for a while now and struggled with the guilt that caused me. But us, we weren’t the catalyst that propelled me into finally doing what I needed to.”
“We weren’t?”
She shook her head. “You opened my eyes to what I was missing with you. But it was my mother and her actions that forced my hand on this. I’ve spent my whole life bowing and catering to her every whim. She said jump and I became the prancing pony. Go here, say this, smile. She was one of the last things Lance and I talked about that day. I was going to put my foot down. And in the aftermath, I gave her more control than ever.”
“So what’s your plan?”
“I’m going to show the press just how well I’m doing. They need to see that. No more speculation. No more letting my mother drag this out and parade it every year.”
“And how are you going to prevent Vivian from doing that?”
“I’m going to offer them something better, something they can only get from me.”
“Do you want to do it? Or do you feel forced to do it?” Bare asked.
“I need to do it,” she answered. “For me and no one else. This may seem soon, as if I’ve just flipped a switch and changed. Maybe, in a lot of ways I did. But I think I needed to flip a switch, up here.” She tapped her head. “Once I did, it was like clearing out all the clutter. I can’t promise you I won’t have days where I fall back into depression or guilt or anger.”
“Warning me off?”
Paisley shrugged.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ve seen you at your worst. You don’t scare me.”
She smiled. “You don’t scare me either.”
“Good, because I have a temper, as well. I’ll yell, cuss, and I’ve been known to go off and sulk for a while. At least, that’s what Gilly says.”
She chuckled. “We’ll make quite a pair.”
“As long as we’re a pair,” Bare said. “I know this might seem soon, too.”
“Stop,” Paisley said. “You and I have been working our way toward this for a long time now, and everyone knows it.”
“Paisley, I—” Bare began, but she interrupted him.
“It’s time to head down,” she said. “We’ll have to finish this later.” She took a deep breath and ran her hands over her clothes, straightening her shirt and tugging at the hem of her skirt. “Do I look okay?”
“Beautiful,” he assured her.
She gripped his hand, lacing their fingers and wrapping her other hand around his wrist. “You’re going to stay beside me, right?”
It was the third time she’d asked him, and he nodded, assuring her again he wasn’t leaving her side. It let him know just how nervous she was. He felt her trembling as they headed down the stairs toward the lobby. He heard the rumble of the crowd as they drew closer, and her trembling grew. She might tell him she was ready, that she needed to do this, but he knew her well enough to see the nerves and fear she dealt with.
He didn’t ask her if she was okay this time. A question wasn’t what she needed. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’m not sure what you plan to say, but I know you’ll have them eating out of the palm of your hand.”
They both heard Jamison’s voice boom from outside. Paisley took another breath and blew it out slowly.
“Showtime,” she whispered.
“Let’s go get ‘em,” Bare said.
He kept his hand on the small of her back as they headed out the doors. With the other, he pulled on a pair of aviator sunglasses. He skimmed his gaze around, taking in the crowd and seeing where every man currently on payroll at Knight’s Watch was located. Jamison stood in front of a podium someone had moved out. There were microphones and cameras everywhere. Jesus! There were way too many people here. The crowd of reporters went into an uproar as soon as they saw Paisley.
“Ms. Ames! Ms. Ames!”
The cries filled the air as people jostled while they tried to claim her attention. It was a fucking zoo, one Bare hoped they didn’t have to get used to. He was already getting a fucking headache.
He kept his gaze scanning as they approached Jamison. Bare didn’t pay attention to what his boss said. Then a hush fell over the crowd. He glanced at Paisley, seeing her hand held up, waiting for silence. This tiny woman, and she controlled them with a lift of her hand.
“I’ve prepared a statement,” she said, sounding calm and collected. “I will not be taking questions afterwards.”
He forced his gaze from her and went back to watching those watching her.
“I’d like to start by saying Lance McIntire was one of the greatest men I’ve ever known. I was lucky to love him for the short time we were given together. His loss was a devastation beyond words. I know there has been speculation as to why I left LA when I was released from the hospital. The answer is because it no longer held anything for me. I needed time to reflect quietly on what was important in my life.” She squeezed Bare’s hand then released it. “And who. Losing Lance was like losing a part of myself. I needed time to heal and time to grieve. My father gave me a home to do just that.
“I know you all have questions, and I promise they will be answered, just not today. I invited you all here today to let you know, although I will not be returning to LA, I have been in contact with several publishing houses about writing my story and Lance’s. In my own words, not the ones my mother, Vivian Ames, has chosen to give you.”
A murmur went through the crowd, and Bare felt tension mount as they all waited for Paisley’s next words.
“Furthermore, today, I am announcing a severing of ties between myself and Vivian Ames. She does not speak for me, nor does she speak for the memory of Lance. I will grant interviews soon, but I am here to assure you that I will not grant them to any station or reporter who chooses to align themselves with Vivian.”
The crowd was at a dull roar. Shit! Paisley had just alienated her mother from all her favorite people. The bitch would go absolutely ballistic.
“Andromeda Eisley will take care of setting up private interviews. I’m sure you all know who she is.”
Complete and total silence. Bare didn’t know who the woman Paisley mentioned was, but apparently, everyone else did. This must have been something else Paisley had taken care of in the brief time they’d been apart. Her voice quieted, taking on a husky tone as the emotion he knew she tried desperately to hold in check slipped free.
“The last words Lance said to me that day were I love you, and despite the vicious acts of our attacker, that memory is the one I choose to hold onto. I will always cherish the man I was lucky enough to know and love.” Her voice changed at that point, taking on an edge of steel as did her spine.
“And I end with these words, meant for the man who did this. You did not break me that day. I stand before you strengthened by the love of those around me.”
She held her hand out to Bare, and he took it, linking their fingers. His glance met hers, and he saw the flash of bulbs around them.
“The focus of the last five years has been on the victims of this heinous crime. Today, I am asking the press to turn the spotlight where it should have always been, on the person capable of committing such a crime. I ask them to shine a light so bright on you that there is no hole where you can hide. Perhaps, the police can’t find you, but I’m willing to bet someone somewhere can and will. And rest assured, no matter how long it takes, I will keep you in the center of a media storm. I am no longer the victim you left to die. I am the woman who will see justice served.”
Her voice rang loud and clear, and Bare was so proud of her. Jesus! She took his breath away. He’d been worried this would be too much for her, but it seemed this was exactly what she needed to do. She turned toward him, ready to walk back inside when he caught the flash of something. He was already reaching for her when he heard Jamison bellow.
“Gun!”
Screams and chaos ensued as shots rang out. He took Paisley down, covering her with his body.
“Keep her down!” Jamison yelled, but Bare wasn’t moving. He had every inch of Paisley covered by his body, managing to keep their heads and chests hidden behind the podium. He felt her breathing under him, feel the frantic grasp of her fingers against him. Then he felt her lips at his throat, pressing a kiss to him. He was ready to scoop her up and make a dash for the door when a new voice stopped him.
“Where is she? Where is my daughter? They’ve brainwashed her! Did you hear the awful things she said? I’ve been so worried, with her father cutting me off from her.”
Bare heard Paisley groan beneath him and mirrored the sound.
“Get me out of here,” she whispered.
“On it,” he promised. He needed to get her somewhere safe so he could strip her naked and inspect every inch of her to make sure she was okay. Then he needed to hold her, make love to her and assure himself he’d never lose her.
Chapter Ten
Paisley felt swamped by guilt. Her press conference could have gotten someone killed. Might have if it hadn’t been for Tuck. He’d pushed her dad out of the way, and the bullet had ripped through his upper arm instead. She couldn’t wrap her mind around it though. Why had someone been firing at her dad?
To top it all off, her mother was here and creating a stir. Fortunately, the press seemed to be taking Paisley’s words to heart and most had packed up and moved out, ignoring Vivian. Of course, that had only served to bring Vivian into Knight’s Watch where she was most definitely not welcome. Paisley was sure it didn’t help that everyone was ignoring her as they split their efforts between checking on Tuck and scouring the area to pinpoint where the gunman had been. But Vivian’s appearance had delayed their search, and Paisley didn’t think they’d find the shooter.
Her dad had hauled her into his office and told her to stay while he dealt with the police and Tuck, who was refusing to go to the hospital, ordering the EMT to bandage him up instead. Bare had gone off to oversee the search for the shooter, stopping only long enough to kiss her until her toes curled then ordering her to stay put until he got back. She was sensing a pattern from the men in her life.
Everyone was busy, except her. She’d known from the moment she’d decided on her speech that she would have to deal with her mother. No time like the present, it appeared. She left her dad’s office and headed down to the conference room she knew they’d escorted Vivian into before leaving her alone. This confrontation had been a lifetime in the making.
Paisley pushed open the door and stepped in.
“It’s about time…” The words died off when her mother saw who was before her. A flash of anger was quickly stifled then replaced with what was supposed to be motherly concern but fell far short.
“Paisley,” her mother gushed. “I’ve been so worried about you. What has your father done to you?”
“Stop,” Paisley ordered, holding up her hand before her mother could step toward her. “There are no reporters here to see you, Mother.”
“How very ungracious of you,” her mother retorted, voice sharp with reprimand. “You’ve forgotten how to behave like a lady.”
Paisley laughed, though it held no humor. “What’s the matter? My understanding was you wanted me to give a statement to the press. I did. It’s not my problem if you don’t like the one I gave.”
“You’ve alienated them from me,” Vivian yelled. “The calls are already coming in. Appearances being canceled due to your little statement. I’ve been working on a retraction for you. You were under duress, this time of the year—”
“No,” Paisley said, interrupting her mother’s spiel.
“What do you mean no? You will fix this!”
“No, I won’t. You’re done making your living off my tragedy. My God, Mother! Did you even once consider how much you were hurting me?”
“Hurting you?” Vivian asked sharply. “I’ve been the only thing keeping your career alive, keeping your name in the press so you’d have a job when you get over all this mess and come to your senses.”
“All this mess?”
“He died. I’m sorry for that, but you have a window of opportunity when it comes to stuff like this. The book idea is good. We’ll play on that.”
“Window of opportunity? Did you really just say that to me?”
“Grow up, Paisley,” her mother snapped. “And please, don’t play the martyred victim with me. I saw you with that man. I’d say you’ve moved on. In fact, I’d say it looks as if you’ve gone slumming.”
Paisley walked closer. Her mother stood to face her. Paisley’s palm slapped against her mother’s cheek, marring the porcelain skin with the red print of her fingers.
“My whole life I wanted to make you happy, to see you smile. You were always so angry. The only time you were ever loving or attentive was when there were other people watching. So I did what you wanted and lived for the moments we weren’t alone, when just for a minute, I could pretend you loved me.”
“I did everything for you, you ungrateful bitch,” Vivian screamed, one hand cupping her cheek.
Paisley shook her head. “Nothing you did was ever for me. Sometimes, I think you only had me to punish my father for leaving you.”
Vivian dropped her gaze, looking away.
“Until you decided I might be worth more to you,” Paisley continued.