Once I’m settled and pull the door he leans down in, stopping me. He pops his head inside the car, “I will see you, right?”
Something pulls in my chest at the earnest look on his face. Maybe it’s the fact that he genuinely wants me to join him in the morning, which implies he’s not ordering me. Maybe it’s that he’s actually worried I’ll stand him up. Maybe it’s just that small, stubborn part of me still loves to be needed, no matter how hard I work on myself. Whatever it is, it makes me lock eyes with him as I nod and reply, “You’ll see me.”
He smiles wide and ducks out to shut the car door.
That smile broadens even more, though, when he spots his line of fan-girls. I look away. He’s so very annoying. His billionaire problems are annoying. So what if he has to be married to a schemer or a poser for a few years? He’s a billionaire.
Meanwhile real people are out here with a sibling at a half-way house, about to have to move their Gran into a cheaper nursing home, getting daily calls and texts that literally keep them up at night.
Cry me a river, dude.
But hey, at least I don’t have to spend my day in the mayo jar suit.
That thought must be why I can’t stop smiling the whole way down the strip to my hotel.
6
BEN
I enter the conference center with Nigel behind me. Funny, we’re both peering around in earnest. He scans the area for threats, I scan for…there!
She really does stand out. It’s not the rich olive skin, flowing brown waves, perfect curves beneath that same one-piece thing, I think, but under a jacket now. I doubt it’s even that she’s tall. She’s just…regal, elegant. I’d bet half my trust she was a ballerina as a girl.
And those eyes.
They lock with mine, bright hazel-gray, gleaming in contrast to her dark lashes. Damn, she’s something. She surprised me last night, staying out, going toe to toe with me at the bar.
I think she’s lost weight since the last time I saw her. Even now, her face is withdrawn, worried. Now I know why, at least.
Janie is different than my usual dates, not that last night was a date. She's a bit mean, bit grumpy, cold around the edges.
But still just. So. Bloody.Stunning.
“Morning, gorgeous,” I say as I reach her.
She frowns at me, of course, before frowning at my bodyguard. “…Morning?”
“This is Nigel, my nanny.” He sighs at my played out joke.
“You didn’t have a bodyguard last night?”
“I did, actually. A couple. But they can hang back when I’m more incognito. Here, today, where everyone knows me andwants a piece, he has to stick close by. Might need my nappy changed.”
Nigel rolls his eyes.
“I feel for you. Truly,” Janie says to him sincerely. I just laugh.
I hand her a coffee in a cardboard beverage holder thing. “Didn’t know what you liked so I got cream and sugar stuffs separate.”
“Thank you,” she says, going to the coffee table behind her and dumping the cream into the black coffee. No sugars. She does grab a single mini donut and discreetly eats it in one bite before turning though. Not sure why that makes me smile.
She looks up at me and I nod, “Come on then, we need to get backstage.”
“Backstage?” she sounds alarmed as we start walking quickly. I love that her long legs can easily keep up with mine. I hate slowing my pace. Carpe the diem and all that. “I didn’t know you were speaking this morning?”
“No one did. I wasn’t even supposed to be here but I’m trying to score some last minute points with,” I make a face and don a French accent,“Papa.”
“Did—” she pauses as we’re ushered through a security barricade and two heavy doors. “Did you write a speech?”
