Shameless (18 page)

She shook her head, looking despondent. “I don’t have insurance.”

“It doesn’t matter, Megan. Just set up the appointment and have them send me the bills. Let me know when the appointment is. I want to go with you.”

The color drained from her face. “You do?”

“Of course, I want to talk to the doctor myself.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “You still don’t trust me, do you?”

He needed a drink or maybe a meeting. “I didn’t say that. Listen, I don’t want to argue about this; just make the damn appointment and text me with the details.”

“Fine.” She stalked toward the door, slamming it with enough force to rattle the paintings on the walls.

Chapter Fourteen

“You have caused me a lot of sleepless nights over the past five years, Trey, but I may not sleep for a week trying to sort this mess out.”

Trey poured his publicist a well-deserved glass of wine and set it in front of her on the desk.

“I’m sorry, Avery.” He settled into his deep, leather swivel chair, propping his feet on the desk. “I wish I could help you put a positive spin on this, but...”

She peered at him over the top her trendy tortoiseshell glasses, making him feel like a suspect preparing for a long interrogation. He had hired Avery because she was gorgeous, sharp, and tenacious. Four years ago, she had been the perfect distraction, but even after their attraction waned, he kept her on his payroll because she was brilliant at maintaining the image that kept him on top.

She set her tablet down on the desk and rubbed her temples with her fingertips. “Let me see if I’ve got this straight. The paparazzi took photos of you in a compromising situation with your ex-wife, who happens to be engaged to a judge. These images then go viral the same day your girlfriend tells you she’s pregnant. Have I left anything out?” 

He stared longingly at a bottle of scotch, wishing he could drink his problems away, even for a little while. “No, that’s about it.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say somebody has it in for you.” 

Luc stalked into the room, stabbing a finger at Trey. “I knew this would happen. That woman has been nothing but trouble for you, man.”

“Megan?” Avery asked.

“No, Sierra, the ex-wife.”

Trey stood up and leaned over the desk. “I’m warning you, Luc. I’m not gonna listen to you trash-talk Sierra. If that’s the reason you came, get the hell out and don’t come back.”

Luc glared at Trey. “Fine. I’ll keep my mouth shut, but don’t ask me to clean up the mess when you finally get your head out of your ass and realize you’ve pissed away the reputation and career it took me a decade to build.” 

Trey kept his mouth shut only because he knew his friend was right. He wouldn’t be where he was without Luc and he owed him a debt of gratitude. Any damage his career suffered as a result of his poor choices was his fault, and he had to be willing to accept responsibility for the potential fallout.  

Luc walked over to the bar and poured himself a glass of scotch. “So, how are we going to handle this, Avery?”

She slid her glasses off, propping them on top of her head. “I’m still trying to figure that out. We could discredit the girlfriend. Are you sure it’s your baby?”

Trey shrugged his shoulders. “We’ve been together a few times over the past couple of months, but I was always careful. When I asked her if she’d been with anyone else, she denied it.”

Avery rolled her eyes. “Of course she did. You didn’t expect her to admit it, did you?”

“Since Trey won’t know whether the baby is his until it’s born, I think we have to assume that it is, right?”

Trey felt like his head was going to explode. Over the counter pain relievers had done little, if anything, to ease his pain. “I’m going to go to the doctor with her and find out if we can narrow down the date of conception.”

Avery raised her eyebrows. “Sounds like you’ve been through this before?”

“When Sierra was pregnant. Her pregnancy was a welcome surprise, but unexpected to say the least.”

She pulled her long hair loose from the ponytail holder she often used to contain it. “I see. Okay, I’m gonna run a background check on both ladies and the judge, but I’ll dig up what I can from the net and my sources first. Anything else you can tell me?”

He shook his head. “Avery, I don’t want you digging around in Sierra’s past. It’s an invasion of her privacy.”

Luc slapped his palm against his forehead. “You still don’t get it do you, Turner? Your career is going up in flames, and all you’re worried about is protecting Saint Sierra.” 

Avery shook her head in agreement. “I hate to say it, but Luc’s right. Besides, you’re being naïve if you don’t think the paparazzi are going to be all over her. If she has any skeletons in her closet, they’ll find them. That’s why we have to find them and expose them first, so we can be proactive… put our own spin on it.”

He hated knowing that he had put Sierra in a position to be picked apart by the vultures in the media. The only mistake she made was trusting him again. “Fine, do what you have to do, but I want a full report before you prepare any statements.”

“You got it, boss.”  

Sierra stared at her cell phone, her finger poised over the ignore button until her conscience interceded. “Hey, sis, what’s up?”

“You’re asking me what’s up. What the hell?”

Sierra settled onto the bed, preparing for a long lecture. Her sister had strong opinions about everything and Trey was no exception. “I guess you’ve heard?”

“Of course I’ve heard. I live in Little Rock, not under a rock.”

Sierra chuckled. At least her sister was able to maintain her sense of humour. She wished she could say the same. “I haven’t turned on the TV, radio, or computer since Eric called a few hours ago. To be honest, I don’t want to hear what people are saying about me, at least not yet.”

“Speaking of Eric, what did he have to say about all of this?”

Sierra settled her feet under the turned down duvet. In fact, she would like to bury herself under the covers and shut off the phone. “It’s over. The engagement is off.”

“At least something good has come of this.”

Sierra winced. Her sister was many things, but sensitive was not one of them. “Thanks for the support, Lexi.”

“Hey, you know how I feel about him. He’s arrogant, bossy, controlling, and manipulative. Need I go on?”

She snuggled under the covers, curling up in the
fetal
position. “No, I’ve heard it all before.”

“Good, then I won’t have to waste my breath. Now, about that ex of yours...”

“You love Trey.”

“You’re right, I do. But I don’t love the way he treated you toward the end; he was an insensitive jerk.”

“Do you think I tried hard enough to save my marriage, Lexi?” The pregnant pause spoke volumes. “You don’t think I should have divorced him, do you?”

Lexi sighed. “No, I don’t. Trey loved you, and I know you loved him. He may have had his faults, but don’t we all?”

Sierra thought about her own laundry list of faults, and Trey’s didn’t seem so inexcusable. “Why didn’t you say something at the time?”

“I was twenty-three years old when you and Trey started having problems. Who the hell was I to give you advice about relationships? I’m still no expert, but if Trey wanted me, I sure as hell wouldn’t be wasting my time with someone who’s old enough to be my father and can’t satisfy me...”

“Enough, Lexi.”

“Anyways, this is all a moot point if the redhead is having his kid, right?”

Sierra bolted up in bed, her heart thumping in her chest. “What did you say?”

Lexi groaned. “Are you telling me you didn’t know his girlfriend was pregnant?”

“His girlfriend; you mean Megan?”

“Yeah, says here her name is Megan Scott. She’s a model slash actress.” Lexi chuckled. “Aren’t they all?”

“I met her last night at Jared’s birthday party.”

Lexi laughed. “I saw the pictures; it looks like some party. I’m sorry I had to miss it.”

Sierra blushed. She could only imagine what those photos revealed, but that was suddenly the least of her worries. “I can’t believe she’s pregnant.” She thought of the woman flaunting her toned little body while tipping back expensive glasses of Bordeaux. “She sure as hell didn’t look or act pregnant last night.”

“Apparently, they’ve only been dating a few months. If she’s only a couple of months along, you wouldn’t have been able to tell, right?”

She couldn’t believe this was happening. She was finally in a place where she’d allowed herself to believe that she and Trey may have a future together only to find out he’d already committed to being some other woman’s sperm donor. “I can’t believe this, Lex. What am I going to do now?”

“I take it you’re still in Nashville?”

“Yeah, I promised Edna and Jimmy I’d help them out at the bar for a few weeks.”

“Do you really think that’s a good idea, under the circumstances?”

“I don’t know...” A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. “There’s someone at the door. I’ve gotta go.”

“Wait, make sure it’s not a reporter. You know they’re going to be hounding you for the next little while.”

She pulled her hand through her hair, massaging her scalp. “God, I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Maybe you should just go home and lay low for a while, huh? Or better yet, why don’t you come here and spend a couple of weeks with me?”

The knocking persisted, distracting her from her thoughts. “Yeah, maybe, I don’t know. I’ll call you back and let you know what I decide.”

“If you need me, I can be there before you know it.”

Sierra smiled in spite of her heartache. “Thanks, honey. I love you.”

“What are sisters for? Talk to you later.”

Sierra tightened the sash on her short, black bathrobe, wishing she had time to put clothes on before answering the door. She stood on her tippy-toes to look through the peephole. Trey.

She considered telling him to go away, but she knew she had to see him eventually. Might as well get it over with.

She opened the door and stood just behind it so hotel guests wouldn’t have to witness her state of undress. “Come in,” she said, quietly.

His eyes travelled the length of her body before finally settling on her eyes. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

“Eric told me about the pictures. Lexi told me about the pregnancy. Anything else you’d like to share?” She didn’t know if she could stand to hear anymore.

He walked over to the bank of windows stretching across one end of the small room. He pulled the heavy brocade curtains closed, making sure they were secure. “The paparazzi have been doggin’ me all day. They’re outside the building now. Hotel security can try to keep them off the premises, but they’ll still be waiting outside when I go down.”

“Where’s your security team?”

“They’re monitoring the halls, securing the elevators and stairwells.”

She pulled the sash around her robe tighter, conscious of the gaping neckline. She felt ridiculous being self-conscious in front of a man who had seen her naked more times than she could count, but things were different now. “How did you find out which room I was in? I didn’t think hotel staff was allowed to divulge that information.”

He laughed. “Honey, celebrities can buy just about anything in this town. It may not be right, but that’s the way it is. Are you upset that I came?”

She looked up at him, noticing the faint circles under his eyes. She wondered if he’d had a drink today, but couldn’t bring herself to ask. “No, we need to talk.”

He dropped onto the bed, propping his elbows on his knees as he lowered his head. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this mess, Sierra.”

She felt his pain, but she was too busy feeling sorry for their loss to pity him. She had finally been ready to trust him with her heart, and instead, he’d broken it all over again. “I guess this is good-bye, Trey.”