“Hey. You were the one that roared at me about destroying my brand.”
“And I was wrong; I see that now. Perhaps we are both working too hard?”
“What have you done with Hugo?” She reached around him and placed her hand on his forehead.
“Very funny.”
“I am my brand, Hugo. I need to—”
“There are people who would love you no matter what you said or did, Luna. All ages. They get up each day and log into Move with L.K. They love your new face oil. Those people will always be your people. Your health blogs and videos are watched by millions. A few photos of you having fun at a bachelorette party won’t ruin that. Personally, I think you need to post something about it now. Your silence is not good in this case.”
“I agree,” Charlie said.
Luna pulled out her phone, then, taking a deep breath, she composed something. Keeping it light and adding some humor, she said she had gone to a friend’s bachelorette party and the stripper had showed up there. She wasn’t sure how the photos got out, but the night had been fun. She showed it to Hugo, who nodded his approval, then posted it to all her social media sites.
“Now put your phone away,” Charlie said.
“I need to tell you guys something,” Luna said before she ran out of courage. These were her people, she could tell them anything and know it would not be viral in a matter of minutes.
“Okay,” Hugo said.
“I met this guy here, and he’s really nice, and we slept together.”
“Nash,” Charlie said, looking smug.
“How do you know that?”
“The way he looks at you, plus there’s all that tension between you.”
“Would I like this Nash?” Hugo asked.
“Likely not. He’s grumpy, unsociable, and rude,” Charlie said. “But seriously hot.”
He was seriously hot, and made her bones melt, Luna thought.
“He’s a good guy,” Luna said. “Kind to animals and gentle. This pony arrived at his door, and he kept her, and her duck and… What?” Luna’s words fell away as Hugo looked at her.
“You really like him?”
“Not really like him. I just like him. I mean, I’m leaving soon. He’s a rancher and would never come to Chicago, so when I leave here that will be it, and that’s okay.”
“It doesn’t sound to me like you’re okay about leaving,” Charlie said. “And why are you so terrified to let anyone in? Not everyone wants take advantage of you or pictures of you doing something you shouldn’t. Not everyone is Simon Nicks or Olivia Tyler. Or those girls, Olivia’s party of crazies.”
“What party of crazies?” Hugo asked.
“Never mind,” Luna said quickly.
“Luna.” Hugo sighed.
“The evening that I was attacked, a group of Olivia’s girls confronted me. Nothing happened.”
“Not quite true,” Charlie said. “And Chief Blake has not dismissed the fact it could be one of them who assaulted you.”
Hugo whistled softly. “Can you see yourself living life with this Nash?” he asked.
“No.” Just thinking about it had her heart racing. She wasn’t sure if that was shock or excitement. “My life is in Chicago, besides we’ve not discussed anything like that. I don’t even know how he feels about me.”
But she knew how she felt about him.