Midnight Diamonds (15 page)

When Justin opened his mouth to protest, Kade put one hand on his chest to stop him. “Easy, bro,” he warned quietly.

Amelia continued with an indignant tone. “How dare you make your sordid affair with this pitiful excuse of a man so public!”

This time Justin stopped Kade.

Silver glared at her mother and pointed at Justin. “This man stepped up to defend me.”

“Yes, with a lie, which shows his true colors.”

“Amelia!” Connie’s stern voice silenced the other woman. “You will not come into my home and speak that way about my son and your daughter.” She and Amelia faced off against each other. “How dare you speak like that to your only child! Don’t you realize what she’s going through?”

Amelia sneered at her. “I can see you’ve done a fine job of raising your children, Connie. Your son has managed to get my daughter’s naked picture splashed across every sleazy publication in existence. This is insanity. How will I ever show my face again in public? My reputation is ruined!”

“So it’s all about you, Amelia. Just like in high school. Never mind how Silver is hurting or what this could do to her. Forget about her students and the respect of the community. It’s all about Amelia Baldwin Madison and her reputation.” Connie took a step toward the other woman. “I feel sorry for you.”

“And why would someone like you feel sorry for me?”

“You’re so stiff in your resolve to be perfect and right all the time that at some point, you will break. Who will be there to pick up the pieces? I can’t imagine anything more pitiful or lonely. You must be a very miserable woman, because there is no way that frigid attitude keeps you warm at night.” Connie began walking out of the kitchen. “Now get your head out of your perfectly Spanxed derriere so we can help our children.”

Amelia gasped. “You can’t talk to me like that!”

Slowly, Connie turned back and glared at her. “Either shut your mouth or leave my home. But remember this: what you do today decides what happens between you and Silver from now on. I intend to stand beside her. Where will you be?”

Amelia lifted her chin but said nothing. Connie led everyone to the living room.

Justin glared at Amelia and reached over to hold Silver’s hand. Silver avoided looking at her mother, and Kade raised one eyebrow as Connie shook her head slightly.

“What’s the next step?” Kade asked.

“I think the cover story of Justin and Silver being engaged is our best bet at this point,” Connie explained. “It won’t make things disappear but it repairs some of the damage. We’ll know more once Becky is finished with her calls.”

“Becky is done,” Justin’s younger brother, Hunter, announced as he and Becky walked into the room.

“You can thank Sam for this mess in a roundabout way,” Becky said as she handed her notes to Justin.

“Sam?” he asked in surprise, and she nodded.

“Sounds like he set this ball in motion purely for publicity, just like he did the other morning.”

“I’m gonna kill him,” Justin muttered between gritted teeth.

“No, you’re not,” Connie said. “Sam didn’t take the pictures. Any idea who did?” She directed these last words back to Becky.

“I called in a few favors with some people and found out it’s a freelancer who wanted to make a few bucks. She’s a bottom feeder the rags use for assignments like this. Sam must’ve paid her to set things up, then sent the pictures out first thing this morning.”

“She photographed us…in my home…my bedroom,” Silver whispered, tears filling her eyes. “For publicity?”

With a toss of her head, Amelia opened her mouth to comment. Connie spoke first.

“Hon, listen to me. Those reporters out there don’t know you, and they don’t care. You have to show your strength and true character. If you show weakness, they will be relentless. Take away the story and you take away their power.” She raised her eyebrows at Justin.

Justin moved in front of Silver and knelt on one knee. “You don’t deserve this. Neither of us do.”

“Does,” Silver automatically corrected him. “Neither of us does.”

Grinning, he took her hand. “Does. Here’s the thing. This won’t disappear as if it hasn’t happened, so our best bet is to deal with it head on and have a press conference in the morning. I know the engagement idea took you by surprise, but it was the best thing I could come up with on the spur of the moment. Frankly, I can’t see any other way to stop this from ruining your life.”

“What about your life?” she asked.

“Hey, guys bounce back. After a few weeks, I’ll make a statement saying you gave the ring back and dumped me for someone better.”

“Excuse me?”

“We have to play out this charade until those guys find another story.”

Silver sat up straighter and narrowed her eyes. “The engagement is a ruse to fool the press so they’ll back off. You’re using me to make things better.”

“Exactly!” he smiled.

Connie tapped her son on the shoulder. “Justin, that’s not exactly what you mean, is it?”

Silver leaned away from Justin. She’d hoped…wanted…this to be real. Even though they hadn’t known each other long, she had fallen hard for Justin. She’d given herself to him, allowing that vulnerability to push aside doubts. She’d trusted him with her heart.

She loved him.

And now she wasn’t worth keeping?

Suddenly she remembered how Chase had humiliated her in front of her family and friends. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—let herself be hurt like that again, so she used her anger as a shield against Justin. Her stupid, romantic dreams had gotten her in this mess, but she would wade through it.

“What am I supposed to do at the press conference tomorrow? Lie some more? And what makes you think I want to be engaged to you? Just because we slept together doesn’t mean you have to put a ring on my finger. That’s a bit archaic.”

Puzzled, Justin frowned at her. “Wait a minute; I’m willing to do this for both of us.”

“Willing? Well, don’t do me any favors, cowboy. Did you even bother to ask what I want?”

“Did I miss something?” Justin asked Kade.

Kade grimaced. “You think?”

“It’s obvious they’re nuts about each other,” Hunter whispered loudly to Becky.

“Yup,” Becky whispered back, grinning until Silver glared at them both.

Standing up, Justin put his hands on his hips. “I don’t get it. I thought you’d be thrilled with this idea.”

Silver stood and faced him. “I’m supposed to be thrilled to be engaged to the great and mighty Justin Rivers? A man who can’t see past his own boot tips?”

Connie raised both hands in front of her, as if in surrender. “Kids, maybe we should sit down and…”

“You could do worse, darlin’,” Justin said as he glared at Silver.

“Don’t call me that! And the word is darling, not darlin’.”

They stood, toe to toe, facing each other like fighters in a boxing ring. Silver’s chest heaved as if she’d just run a quarter mile and her heart pounded in fury. How dare he assume she’d be OK with this stupid plan!

Amelia’s voice cut through the sticky silence. “He’s right. It’s a good solution to have him at your side.”

Both Justin and Silver turned at the same time to the woman then back to each other.

Connie sank into the cushions of a chair. “Did you agree with something we said, Amelia?”

“Yes, I did, albeit reluctantly. It may not get rid of the tawdry details, and it certainly won’t help the picture situation, but it does give credibility to the relationship. And it will help Silver keep her job. Hopefully.”

“I think hell just froze over,” Becky said with a strangled laugh. Hunter poked her in the ribs with an elbow.

Silver rubbed her forehead to ease a pounding headache. A press conference to announce a fake engagement to a cowboy who pretended to care about her. And Amelia agreed that it was the right thing to do.

Something had gone seriously wrong with her world.

Chapter Ten

Silver sat on the edge of a bed in one of the Rivers’ guest rooms. Victorian furniture, soft blue walls and taupe carpet had the same elegance as the rest of the house. Maybe she should feel relaxed, should welcome the quiet after a long day of talking and arguing and more talking, but the day’s events had her wound up so tightly she couldn’t settle down.

Everyone told her it would be best if she stayed here tonight, so she agreed. Becky had made an announcement to reporters that Justin and Silver would talk with them “about their relationship tomorrow morning.” They’d made the evening news, and Becky said tweets about them were trending worldwide. No doubt Jimmy Fallon would have a few choice words on his show tonight.

Silver shook her head. Not exactly the impact she wanted to have on the world.

Jackie had texted her and said to take another day off. The school board had unanimously voted to keep Silver and wanted to congratulate her on the engagement. Then they wanted to know if Justin would sing at graduation ceremonies. Free of charge, of course.

She shuddered with unreleased emotion. Her father, Stewart Madison, had always said, “Never lie. Sooner or later those lies catch up with you, and people won’t trust you again.”

She glanced down at the huge diamond ring sparkling in the soft light from the bedside lamp. Less than two weeks ago, she’d had no cares at all aside from the usual mundane things like lesson plans and a glass of wine with friends. Now, thanks to the unsavory press and her impulsive actions, she had been thrust into the national spotlight.

Taking off the ring, she set it on the nightstand and wondered why her finger felt empty without it. After all, Justin said the fake engagement would be over in a few weeks and life would get back to normal.

But in her heart, Silver knew things would never be the same again. At least not for her.

She prided herself on planning, making lists, being organized and efficient. But lately, every time she turned around, something new was overtaking her, pulling her under a monstrous wave of spontaneity.

The absolute worst part of all this? What the students thought about her. How could she possibly face them again? And what about Justin’s career and the nomination with ACMA? Could he really laugh off this situation? Pitch another lie to the press in a few weeks and walk away unscathed?

Maybe his heart wasn’t involved. Maybe last night had been like any other night for him, something to laugh about with his friends.

Maybe, to him, it had meant nothing.

For her, it had been everything. The tall, dark haired, blue-eyed cowboy had stepped into her life with his alligator boots and smelly black cowboy hat, and had awakened feelings she’d buried under anger and bitterness. If she were honest, this whole situation dredged up the rejection she’d felt from Chase when he’d been unfaithful only days before their wedding.

Silver hadn’t seen it coming. She’d had a nice enough time being with Chase, but he’d called her frigid and said she needed to thaw out. She’d never wanted to let go and find anything beyond what they had.

In contrast, the fiery burn with Justin smoldered all the time. Being around him, seeing him across the room, or hearing his voice, ignited embers into a raging inferno. Even when they’d been angry with each other earlier, she’d felt the flame of desire.

Now it was as if she and her heart were being coolly dismissed after the amazing night she and Justin had shared. Silver knew she wasn’t a prude, but she didn’t give herself away easily, and she certainly didn’t play games when it came to love. Her heart had come alive since she’d met Justin but, regardless of how she might feel about him, she had to find a way to rebuild that protective wall. She had to fortify herself against the inevitable pain.

In two weeks he’d move on with his life.

Without her.

A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “Come in,” she said.

Justin stuck his head into the room. “Can we talk for a few minutes?”

Nodding, she scooted over on the bed as he came into the room, leaving the door open. He walked to the other side of the bed and sat down beside her. “Thought I’d see how you’re feeling about all of this craziness.”

“Maybe you should have asked me that question hours ago.”

“You’re right, and I’m sorry about that. I have a tendency to take charge when things go haywire.” He paused for a moment. “You know, we don’t have to give this story tomorrow morning. If you want, we can figure out something else.”

“Do you have a plan B?”

“Not really. I mean, this sort of takes care of everything.”

For you, maybe. “Should we compare stories or is there anything one of the reporters might ask me that I should know?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. Other than my music, life’s dull. You?”

“I’m a teacher, remember? Lessons plans and those rare a-ha moments on students’ faces are as exciting as it gets. At least until now.” She paused then reached over to the nightstand. “Where did you get the ring?” she asked quietly.

“It’s my mother’s tenth anniversary gift. Dad gave it to her at our lake house. He arranged for a candlelit dinner, soft music, and a night away from the stress of their business. Mom said she’d never seen him so romantic.”

She set the ring back down. “At least they had romance.”

“And we don’t?” he asked quietly. “I thought we were very romantic last night.”

“Sex isn’t romance.” Silver let out a quick breath and turned to face him. “Justin, do you have any idea how difficult this is for me? The board said I could keep my job. So what? How can I stand in front of my students—in front of teenage boys—knowing they’ve seen those pictures?”

“OK, I didn’t think that far ahead.”

“I’m sure you didn’t because it’s not your life. But it’s always been my passion to teach, and now…” Her throat closed up with unshed tears. “Now I’m not sure how to face the possibility of not being able to do that. Imagine if you could never sing again, for whatever reason. How would you feel?”

“Music and singing are my life. It’s who I am.”

“Exactly. Maybe teaching isn’t the most glamorous or lucrative of careers, but it’s who I am. And yet…” She stopped, not sure how much to share.