CHAPTER 11 #5
After performing their single Jamie and Clayton sat down for an interview. To her horror the live studio audience mainly consisted of Clayton Langley fans: middle-aged women and young girls wearing fuzzy pink cowboy hats, likely from the suburbs.
“Congratulations!” Kelly said, her blue eyes bright with excitement. She’d always been warm and welcoming, a true fan of Jamie’s music. Her co-host, Roger, was another story entirely.
“On what?” Jamie asked, having no clue what she was referring to.
“On ‘I Did a Good Job of Drinking’ reaching number one on the country charts!”
“Golly!” Clayton tipped his cowboy hat and draped his orangutan arm around Jamie’s shoulder.
She wriggled free from his hold. “Oh, I had no idea.”
“We just heard this morning,” Roger said. “Do you have any comment on Derrick Anderson?”
“No comment,” Clayton said, attempting to be funny.
She smiled politely for the cameras and lied through her teeth, “I’m sure his movie is fabulous!”
“What about his co-star, Matilda Graham?” Roger asked. She found it rude when someone asked about Derrick during an interview. If they wanted him on the program, they should have booked him.
“What about her? Matilda?” Jamie tried not to sound defensive.
Derrick had frequently complained about his nineteen-year-old co-star’s lack of professionalism.
Matilda was consistently late to the set, didn’t know her lines, and threw fits when the director requested multiple takes.
Everyone called her “Donna,” as in prima donna, behind her back, including Derrick .
“They announced their relationship at the premiere last night,” Roger said matter-of-factly.
Clayton rested his hand on Jamie’s knee. Heat prickled up her spine, unwelcome and infuriating, and she swallowed hard instead of punching him in the face.
“What relationship?” Jamie asked, bewildered by the situation.
“Sorry, I assumed you knew,” Kelly said. “Matilda Graham and Derrick Anderson announced they were a couple.”
An invisible arrow struck Jamie’s heart, pinning her to the couch.
Derrick hated Matilda—her fake boobs, her streaky spray tan, even the way she clung to him during their scripted kisses.
And yet . . . he was with her? It didn’t add up.
Unless their so-called “relationship” was nothing more than a calculated publicity stunt.
With the media fixated on her and Clayton, Derrick needed a way to steal back the spotlight.
“We’re happy for them,” Clayton said, stepping in. “Aren’t we, Jamie?” He nudged her ribs with his elbow. “There’s nothing like a new romance.”
When she realized she was still on live TV she quickly snapped out of her daze and forced a nod. “I wish them nothing but happiness.” The moment they cut to commercial she leaned close to Clayton, her voice low and sharp. “Get me the hell out of here.”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “I’m sure it’s just a publicity stunt.”
Clayton waved to the producer as an assistant stepped in to unclip their microphones.
“You’re all set,” the guy said. “You can head out whenever.”
Jamie exhaled. Finally .
But as they turned toward the exit her relief evaporated. The number of photographers had multiplied, their cameras flashing like miniature lightning strikes.
“Dang it,” Clayton muttered under his breath. Without hesitation he draped a protective arm around her shoulder, pulling her close against his frame. He was a wall between her and the chaos, a shield from the invasive lights.
“Keep your head down,” he murmured near her ear, steady but firm.
Jamie didn’t argue. She tucked herself into his side, the scent of his cologne—warm and woodsy—cutting through the crisp air.
Reaching the SUV Clayton yanked the door open and helped her in. She wasted no time scrambling across the leather seats to the farthest corner, pressing herself against the door like it might swallow her whole.
As Clayton slid in beside her and the doors locked, she finally released the breath she’d been holding.
“You good?” he asked, his deep voice softer now.
She nodded, though she wasn’t entirely sure.
“Mind taking us to our hotel?” Clayton asked the driver.
“No!” Jamie said. “The paps will be waiting for me.”
“What’s the big deal?”
“Even if it’s just for publicity, it’s still embarrassing, Clayton.” She bent forward and placed her head in her hands. “You don’t get it. Derrick and I always get back together.”
“Why?”
“I—I don’t know. It’s just our thing.” She sat up, turning away from the window. “Why did you say there’s nothing like a new romance?”
“Because it’s true.”
“It seemed like you were suggesting that we were together. ”
“Suggested nothing of the sort, darlin’.” He leaned toward her. “You’re reading too much into it.”
“I’m going to be on the cover of every tabloid.” Jamie’s voice was tight, frustration threading each syllable. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her worn leather jacket, her fingers balling into fists. “I need to call Ruth, but I don’t have my phone. She must’ve taken it with her.”
“Want me to call somebody?” he asked, his voice steady. “Your daddy?”
She shook her head.
A pause. Then, with quiet patience, he asked, “Okay, where do you want to go?”
She let out a long, measured sigh. “Anywhere but here.”
Clayton shifted, rubbing the back of his neck as if weighing his words. “Why don’t you stay at my ranch until this blows over? Nobody’s going to bother you there.”
Jamie snapped her head, her sharp gaze locking onto his. “You’ll be there,” she said bluntly, her skepticism evident.
“I’ll stay at my parents’ house.” He held up three fingers, his mouth twitching in a half-smile. “Scout’s honor.”
She arched her brow. “You were a Boy Scout?”
“Eagle Scout.”
“Figures.” She rolled her eyes, though the corner of her lips threatened to betray her amusement. “What about your girls?”
“They love staying at Momma’s,” he assured her, his voice softening when he mentioned them. “They’ve got a bedroom there and everything. Can’t keep them out of the barn—they’re crazy about horses. It’s in their blood. Come from a long line of rodeo champions.”
Jamie scoffed, crossing her arms as a smirk tugged at the edges of her lips. “Rodeo clowns I would have believed. ”
He fixed his gaze. “You’ll be safe there, Jamie.”
“Oh, sure. Safe.” She folded her arms. “With your arsenal of guns.”
“No guns.” His lips twitched. “They’re locked away in the main house.” He raised his arms and flexed. “But I have these.”
She gave him a slow, unimpressed once-over. “Is that supposed to scare me or impress me?”
He lowered his arms. “Reassure you, darlin’.”
“Swing and a miss, cowboy.”
He sighed. “Fine. No guns. Just me.”
“Yeah, that’s what worries me.” She huffed, not seeing another option. “Can I borrow your phone to call Ruth? She must be freaking out. You have her number, right?”
Clayton handed her the device and she tapped on her assistant’s name.
“Hey, Clayton,” Ruth answered, chewing her gum.
“Ruth, it’s me. Oh my God! Did you see the interview? Derrick’s such a fucking asshole!”
“I know, I could hardly believe it when I saw his socials.”
“Wait. When did you find out?” There was a pause on the other end. “Ruth . . .”
“I saw it first thing,” she admitted.
“And you didn’t think to tell me before I went on live television?”
“Sorry, James. Shorty said it was too late to cancel.”
Women can’t be trusted either.
She immediately called Shorty after hanging up the phone.
“Hi, Clayton,” he answered on the first ring. “I was just about to call you. Congratulations on having the number-one song in the country!”
“It’s not Clayton,” she said in a cold tone.
“Oh, how are you, kiddo? ”
“How the fuck do you think I am?” she asked. “You should’ve told me about Derrick before I went on.”
“The wheels were already in motion, Jamie.”
“You could’ve stopped it.” She shook her head at Clayton. “I can’t even go back to my hotel now. The paps are crawling everywhere.”
“You should lay low for a few days until things settle down.”
“Why should I hide out?” She hesitated a moment, aware of the answer to her question. “Clayton invited me to stay at his ranch.”
“That’s a great idea!” Shorty said.
“I’m sorry, have you met me?” He knew damn well she’d hate the ranch.
Fresh air gave her a headache.