5. Dotty
Chapter 5
Dotty
E ven though I’m scrolling through the posts, I still can’t wrap my mind around this. “The whole world thinks we’re dating.”
Zac’s beard tickles my cheek as he rests his chin on my shoulder. “Yep, seems like it.” He doesn’t sound even a little bit worried about this. It’s like he’s not taking the situation seriously at all.
“You have to clear this up. You have to release a statement and tell them that we’re not dating.”
“Might be hard to convince people of that when you spent last night in my bed,” he answers casually. Shouldn’t he be freaking out over this? I’m definitely freaking out, and I’m not even the one that’s famous.
“We can’t have people think we’re dating. What about all of my friends and your family?” I’ll have to explain to Sadie and the girls that I’m not dating country music’s hottest superstar.
“I guess they’ll think we were secretly dating.”
I huff. He needs to be taking this a little more seriously. “You’re not going to let this happen. Tell your manager that it’s a little gossip on social media, and she can deny it.”
He scowls at me. “I’m not doing that.”
This man is so exasperating. Maybe it’s a prerequisite to being so handsome that I can hardly breathe around him. “You know what? It’s fine. It doesn’t matter. No one will believe this, anyway.”
Something flickers across Zac’s face. I think he’s troubled by what I said but that makes no sense at all. “Why not?”
I get out of bed, even though the food is half-finished. I can’t have this conversation when I’m still wearing his shirt after having spent the night lying in his bed, surrounded by his masculine scent. “Because you’re incredible. You’re this popular, hot, country music star who writes these amazing songs. I’m just a fat, frumpy, wannabe journalist.”
Zac growls. “Watch the way you talk about my girlfriend.”
I stop searching for my pants long enough to throw my hands up in frustration. “I’m not your girlfriend!”
“You belong to me now,” he says the words with so much confidence that I almost believe them. I want to believe them.
I swallow hard, trying to get rid of the lump in my throat. Belonging isn’t my thing. It never has been and never will be. “We’re too different.”
“You’re mine, and it’s always going to be that way. Better get used to it.” His tone is different now. Harder, with an edge to it that I don’t even understand.
I grab my pants and slip into them. That’s a little better at least. “This is crazy. You’re crazy. I’ll call your manager myself and explain everything. She has to be the sane one, right? I bet she’s used to dealing with your crazy shenanigans.”
I stalk around the bed. Before I can reach the nightstand, Zac has me pinned up against the wall. My breathing hitches, and I struggle to form a coherent thought. I can feel the heat coming off of Zac’s body. More than that, I feel his fury. It vibrates off of him in waves. “You. Are. Mine. I’ll tell you that as many times a day as you need. You can doubt me all you want, but don’t you dare deny it.”
The same longing from earlier surges again. It’s an ache, insistent and loud, urging me to let myself fall into this. But even though my soul is crying out for his, I know I have to ignore it. I need to be strong now so I don’t hurt later. “Zac, this is nuts. You know that right?”
He takes one of my curls, letting it wrap around his finger. He brings it to his nose, inhaling my scent. “Date me, Dotty.”
I frown. “Why would I pretend to date you?”
He hesitates for a moment before he says, “This is confidential, but I’m being considered for a lead in a movie. It’s a romantic comedy about a cowboy who falls in love.”
It sounds like an incredible opportunity, and I can’t help smiling. I like watching people see their dreams come true. Each time I see it happen for someone else, I remember that there’s so much good still to come for all of us. “That’s amazing! Congratulations!”
“Help me prove to the director that I am a cowboy in love.” His quiet command shouldn’t make me turn to putty in his hands, but it does. He has a way of talking to me that melts me completely.
“Well, that does make sense.” Suddenly, his words about me belonging to him make more sense. He’s playing a part. He’s rehearsing with me, even if he doesn’t realize it.
“In return, I’ll buy you a new car. Any model you want. Say the word,” Zac promises.
I scowl at him. “I love Rust Bucket!”
He’s quiet for a moment then says, “You get the first exclusive interview about the movie. Your name in one of the top entertainment magazines in the industry.”
So I know he’s crazy hot and probably crazy rich, too, if all the record sales I’ve read about are accurate. But that doesn’t mean he can snap his fingers and have whatever he wants. “You don’t have that kind of power.”
“Baby, you have no idea the power I have.”
My heart skips a beat at the same time my panties grow damp. I wonder what it’d be like to have Zac pin me against the wall and have his way with me. Maybe that’s what I should really ask for in our negotiation. “This arrangement could help both of our careers.”
“So, you’ll do it?” He presses.
Before I can answer, Zac’s phone rings. He shows me it’s his manager and puts the call on speaker.
Thea’s voice is filled with delight as she tells him, “This is going to look so good! Country superstar is dating hometown girl. The media will eat it up. The positive publicity alone will—”
Zac sighs heavily. “We might have a bit of a situation. Dotty isn’t so sure about this idea.”
Thea doesn’t hesitate. “Throw money at her.”
I roll my eyes even though his manager can’t see me. She doesn’t know how much money I come from. When you’re used to having everything, money doesn’t hold nearly as much sway as people think it does.
His voice sounds strained. “She’s not the type.”
Thea snorts. “Then throw more money at her. Do you have any idea what a goldmine this is going to be for all of us?”
My phone starts dinging with dozens of notifications, and I realize that my friends and his family must have seen the posts by now. They probably got some patchy cell service and want to know what’s going on. What am I even going to tell them?
“I don’t want money,” I say loudly enough for Thea to hear.
“I promised her an exclusive interview with me. She gets the first one,” Zac explains.
She grumbles and sighs. “Fine.”
I glance at Zac. “In one of the top entertainment magazines. You said that.”
His manager doesn’t seem upset by all of this. In fact, she doesn’t even sound surprised. I guess she’s used to negotiating deals for him all the time. “Any other terms?”
“I want a full byline with my name and biography.” I can’t wait to see the looks on my parents’ faces when they see that I made my dream come true.
It sounds like something is being typed as Thea says, “Done, but it must be a flattering article.”
“I can work with that,” I answer. For a chance to write for one of the big magazines, I’ll write about Zac Maple like he’s the best invention since the vibrator, which reminds me I’m going to need a lot of batteries in the coming days.
Thea chirps, “Great! Then it’s settled. You’ll get an email with a non-disclosure agreement and a contract within twenty minutes. The moment you sign, we’ll make an official statement on all of Zac’s profiles.”
I pump my fist in the air, barely missing Zac’s head.
He grins down at me. “Tell them she’s my future wife.”
I can’t believe that I’m about to go along with this crazy plan. The worst part is his manager is as crazy as he is! “Just say that I’m his girlfriend! Don’t be too ridiculous.”
Thea doesn’t comment on what she’ll say to the media. “All I need is for you to get seen publicly on Zac’s arm a few times. Three dates then you can go back to your normal life.”
I blow out my breath and repeat her words. Three dates, then everything goes back to normal.