“She’s the genius, then. And a saint for staying with your ugly ass.” But they had to be right. Rico wasn’t sure how to figure it out, but he knew exactly where he could start.

“Give my love to Tanya, okay?” With that he got off the phone.

Then he dialed another number and put everything in place. For all the things he couldn’t figure out, there was one thing he had figured out, and he couldn’t leave it be. He went looking for China Dashwood again.

“Rico!” China said when he let himself into her office. “Did you need something?”

“As a matter of fact, I did. I need a huge favor. You got a minute?”

She was instantly all ears. As the star of her show, he could demand anything, but something told him that she was going to be protective of Ashna and he had no idea how this was going to play out.

“Can you make up an excuse and let Ashna have your car again today? I know you had her take it home for you last week. I’ll have my driver take you home, or wherever you want to go.”

She pushed a hand against her hip, no longer the eager-to-please producer. “What are you up to, Mr. Silva?”

“I just need a ride somewhere and Ashna’s the only person who can drive me there.” He showed her his hands, palms up. “I don’t mean Ashna any harm. You have to see that. She needs this. I promise. She’ll love it.” At least he hoped she would. He just couldn’t see her this way anymore.

China narrowed her eyes at him. “What makes you an expert on what Ashna needs? What is going on between you two?”

He shrugged. “We’re paired up on your show.”

Her whole stance was mama-bear now. No producer-pleasing-her-star in sight. “Thanks. That part I know.” She studied him with unnerving focus and he stared right back.

Her hand slapped her forehead. “Holy shit. How did I miss this? This isn’t the first time you two are meeting, is it?”

He didn’t answer that. That wasn’t his to tell. Ashna would tell her family and China in her own time, if at all. He just had to do this.

China dropped into a chair, then jumped up again. A whole new wave of understanding suffusing her face. “That’s why you asked to be on the show. Oh God, you’re Frederick Wentworthing her.”

He shouldn’t know what that meant but he totally did. “I’m half agony, half hope, Ms. Dashwood.” He tried to shrug, but she looked in his eyes and her whole face turned into a giant awwww.

She pressed her hands into her face. “You can’t do that to me. You can’t quote Persuasion to me.”