It was hard to get the words out. Chloe wasn’t good at asking for help. “Actually, I need a place to stay until I leave and a loan. Just until I get my first check—”
Before she could finish, Madison had her in a bear hug. “Of course you can stay with me. And I would love to give you some money.”
“Not give. I’ll pay every cent back.”
Madison released her and laughed. “You are as prideful as they come, Chloe McAlister. Which is just another reason why I love you. Now would you please find me some chocolate? I’m feeling the need for a sugar high.”
They ended up polishing off an entire bag of Chips Ahoy! cookies, but it didn’t give them much of a high. Madison was sad because Chloe was leaving, and Chloe was sad because she had to leave. Once Madison was gone, Chloe changed into her jean skirt and black T-shirt for work, then carried the remaining plants downstairs and left them next to Mr. Garcia’s door. She didn’t leave a note. Goodbyes were much easier without them. When she went back to her apartment for her duffel bag, the Romeo nightshirt caught her eye, the glittery name on the front standing out like a sign on the Vegas strip. Without another thought she picked it up and stuffed it in her duffel. Not only because it was her last gift from Madison, but also because it would serve as a reminder.
Never become a man’s possession.
CHAPTER FOUR
After being mistaken for a bum and almost arrested, Grayson went straight home and shaved off his beard. Not all of it—he left a little stubble—but enough to make him feel as naked as his nudist neighbors, the Huckabees. He thought about trimming his hair, but then vetoed the idea. He was as bad at cutting hair as Chloe.
Or whatever her name was.
Grayson had thought that Chloe didn’t want her face photographed or painted because of some silly girlie insecurity about her looks. But after what happened today, he had to wonder if the police officer was right and Chloe wasn’t who she said she was. It seemed likely, given that she didn’t have any identification or records. And if it was true, whom was she hiding from? The law? Her family? Another abusive jerk like Zac?
The questions stayed with him as he showered and dressed in a gray designer suit, then drove back to the office. He was almost relieved when his phone rang and gave him something else to think about. But his relief was short-lived when he answered his hands-free cell phone and Deacon’s voice came through the car speakers.
“So I’m going to assume that I don’t need to come bail you out of jail.”
Grayson cringed. “I guess Kelly told you?”
“It happened right in front of our corporate office. Did you expect our employees to ignore the fact that one of their bosses was lying on the ground in handcuffs? When I asked you to take over, Gray, this wasn’t what I had in mind.”
As tired as Grayson was of being the perfect Beaumont brother, he hated disappointing Deacon. After their mother died, Deacon had given up a lot to make sure Grayson and Nash hadn’t gone without. Not only had he worked to provide them with clothes and food, but he’d also given up his savings so Grayson could go to art school. Grayson owed him. And causing problems for French Kiss was a shitty way to pay him back for everything he’d done.
“I’m sorry, Deke,” he said. “It was all a misunderstanding.”
“So you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine, and everything is straightened out—”
Deacon erupted. “Straightened out? How can things be straightened out when one of the owners of French Kiss is plastered all over the Internet with the captions Billionaire Bashes Cop and Rowdy Romeo Gets His Panties in a Twist?”
Grayson tightened his grip on the steering wheel and blew out his breath. “Shit.”
“Yes, I couldn’t agree more. You’ve gotten yourself into a pile of shit—and subsequently, the company.”
“But I didn’t mean to hit the guy. I was trying to help…this woman and things got out of hand.”
“We both know that the truth doesn’t matter. The public only knows what it reads. And the damned online rag-mags have you pegged as a derelict jerk who beat up a police officer.”
Grayson might be able to dispute beating up a police officer, but he couldn’t dispute looking like a derelict or acting like a jerk. He had promised Deacon he would take care of things while Deacon was on baby leave, and all he’d been doing so far was moping around feeling sorry for himself because he couldn’t paint.
“Okay, so what do we need to do to fix it?” he asked. He wasn’t surprised when Deacon quickly answered. His big brother had an answer for everything.
“We can’t get the pictures back, but we can show the public the real Grayson Romeo Beaumont.”
The real Grayson Romeo Beaumont? Good luck with that. Grayson didn’t have a clue who that guy was. At one time he’d been a creative painter. Now he was just an embarrassment to his family. Although Deacon didn’t seem to think so.
“Let’s show them the sensitive guy who defends women. Entertainment Tonight has been wanting to do a segment about the upcoming fashion show. Get Kelly to call them and see if they can squeeze it in tomorrow. I’m sure they’ll jump at the chance to ask about the pictures.”
“And what should I say?”
“Keep it simple and truthful. Just say it was all a misunderstanding and you were trying to help the woman. Who is she, anyway? The pictures weren’t very clear.”
Grayson didn’t know why he’d kept Chloe’s identity from his brother. Maybe because Deacon would ask more questions than Grayson was willing to answer. He didn’t want to talk about Chloe. In fact he didn’t even want to think about her. He was through with the woman. Let her keep her secrets.
“She’s nobody,” he said, before changing the subject. “So how’s fatherhood?”
“A piece of cake. Everyone acted like a new baby was such hard work, but frankly, I don’t see it. All the little guy does is sleep.” Since the baby had been home for only a day, Grayson didn’t know if Deacon had a true grasp of what being a new parent entailed. But he didn’t point that out.
“Well, give Olivia and Mikey a kiss for me, and I’ll try to stop by tomorrow night.”
“Good. I’ll expect an update on the interview. Oh, and before you do it, make sure you shave and get a haircut. After coming back from Paris, you look like shit.”
Grayson laughed. “This coming from a man who used to have a beard down to his chest and whose favorite clothes were camouflage.”
“True, but that was when I didn’t have a multibillion-dollar company to run.” He paused. “Maybe I should come into work for just a little bit this afternoon.”
“Absolutely not. You need to be with Olivia and the baby. Besides, I’ve got this covered.”
It might’ve been an overstatement. Grayson didn’t have anything covered. Especially not his personal life. But for his brothers, he would do his best. He got his first chance to prove himself when, on the way from the parking garage to the executive floor, the elevator stopped at the lobby. The same receptionist from the day before sat at the desk, her back to the front doors as she chatted on the phone. Her obvious lack of respect for her job prompted him to step off the elevator and walk to the desk.