It didn’t take long for her guitarist to pick up on the deliberate slip.We?
Doctor’s orders. A security specialist who has training in anxiety management.
She watched the dots start and stop on her screen as Jackie considered her response. Finally, she sent back,Anything I need to know about him? What’s the story?
Suddenly Liana was grateful that they’d gone with Zander’s idea.No cover story. I’ve developed performance anxiety and it’s manageable, but I need support. Dean is that support.
The truth. It might just set her free.
His name is Dean?
Liana glanced over at her bodyguard, who was watching the jam-packed Washington traffic with a frown.Yes. He’s very nice.
I bet.
Stop it.
You want me to tell the others not to stare at the sexy bodyguard?
He’s not… Stop it.Dean glanced over at her furiously typing fingers, then back out the window again. She tried and failed not to blush as she fired off a second rebuttal message.Really, he’s nice. He’s Canadian. Very polite. And nobody is allowed to think he’s sexy.
Jackie’s last response came in as they pulled up to the hotel.Got it. Nice and off-limits. Heads up, Track is in the lobby.
Liana groaned and slinked lower in her seat as Dean got out of the car and went around to open her door.Where are you?
Also in the lobby, waiting for you. Holy shit, is that him?
These were exactly the kind of text messages she’d rather not have on her phone. She turned it off and grabbed her sunglasses instead. Time to armour up.
Head down, she stepped out of the car and into the shadow of Dean’s body. “Track is in the lobby,” she said quietly. “Jackie just gave me the heads up.”
“Noted.” He swung both of their bags into his right hand and guided her past the doorman with his left firmly planted in the middle of her back.
It turned out quite a number of the performers for the next day’s concert were in the lobby. There had been a problem with the block of rooms booked for them, but due to parking restrictions, the tour buses had dropped everyone off and left, and now couldn’t get back to pick them up because they’d gotten stuck behind the concert prep area.
So for a minute, Liana just stood there watching Track order everyone around a little too loudly. He barked at his crew, his band…even other people’s staff, which was rude and off-side.
By the time he looked up and saw her, he was good and steaming. Normally that would have her ready to run for the hills, because she hated the inevitable conflict. And yeah, she didn’t love it right now, but Dean was right there beside her.
And it turned out, Dean was like a literal speed bump for Track.
Her ex glared at her, then swung his gaze to the man beside her and just stopped. He stared at Dean, and she didn’t dare look sideways to find out, but she was pretty sure that Dean was glaring right back.
Nice guy, her ass. He wore nice as a uniform, but she felt him turn rock solid.Try me, his muscles all screamed.
That was the moment she knew this would work. When Track stumbled and Dean didn’t even sway.
“Everyone, this is Dean Foster.” She lifted her sunglasses and deliberately didn’t look at Track, who didn’t need any more explanation than that. Instead she sought out West and Andrew, giving them a small smile. “You guys stuck waiting for a room?”
They both smiled back. She had a good band.
Her tour manager, Brad, stepped forward, a worried look on his face. “We weren’t expecting anyone else. We’re going to have trouble getting another hotel room. Everything is sold out due to the Fourth of July. As it is, our block of rooms won’t be ready for another hour.”
Dean held out his hand. “No worries, man. I’d never want to inconvenience anyone. I took care of that yesterday and booked a room for myself. They had a cancellation, so I lucked out.”
Brad grinned, relief flooding his face.
Liana stifled a smile of her own as Dean turned and looked down at her. “I’m gonna go check in, you want to come with me?”
