“I just finished undressing.” He returned to the stool. “Why?”

“Who are you undressing with?”

“You.” He snorted. “Christ.”

“And I’m on speaker.”

“How else would this work?” He wasn’t good at removing his clothes and doing anything else at the same time. Hell, he’d surprised himself by not falling down while removing the suit. He froze as someone thumped on the door. He snatched the phone from the counter and returned it to the regular setting. “Shit. They found me.” He massaged his forehead. “I never should’ve signed on for this bullshit.”

“You’re trending,” Luna said. “Charlie, by leaving that show, you’re a sensation. The publicity is working.”

This wasn’t how he’d wanted anything to work. “So?” Trending? What did that mean?

“You’re a publicity dynamo.”

He shook his head, knowing she couldn’t see him, and stepped into his loafers. A trickle of sweat cooled on his back. “I don’t want to do this. I don’t want those girls.”

The pounding increased.

“I know,” Luna said, her voice soft.

“I want you.” He should’ve kept those words to himself, but he couldn’t help how he felt. “I need to go. I’ve got to escape this mess, even if only for a little while.”

“Wait. Charlie?”

He stopped short. “I’m sorry. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. You hate me and I’ll get over you. I know.” He’d never get over her, but whatever.

“No, you won’t.”

“No?” She’d pushed him away. How dare she tell him how he was supposed to react?

“You won’t like I didn’t get over you,” she said. “I lied.”

“You did.” How could she do that to him? And she still had feelings for him? If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have called, but still. “So?”

“Give me a few minutes. Stall,” she said. “Please?”

“Stall? For what?” He didn’t understand.

“Do you trust me?”

“You know I do.” He still wasn’t sure what she had in mind, but he’d let her show him. When she disconnected the call, he tucked the phone in his back pocket, then opened the door. “I quit.” Not much of a stall, but what did she expect?