“How can you hate it so much? Don’t you fly all the time? You’ve done two international tours.” Her hand is clammy, and her leg bounces up and down. She washed off her makeup earlier in the plane bathroom and finally looks like her again, except even more innocent with nothing on her face. She looks so damn young that she makes me ache.
“I will never like flying,” she mutters. “We’re basically in a tin can with wings attached. I, unfortunately, love my career, so this is what I have to do.”
I squeeze her hand. “I won’t get into the rules of aviation with you, but it’s a little more than a tin can, sweetheart. You’ve got yourself a top of the line jet. And this pilot has been with you for years, right? We’re gonna be just fine.”
She glances over at me, the anxiety plain in her cerulean eyes. “Yep, Jeff has been with me for forever, and he’s the best. But life is fragile. So damn fragile.” There’s sorrow in her voice and the reason for it strikes me.
Her mother.
I remember her early interviews and the insensitive questions that people would ask then fourteen-year-old Gemma. She always handled them with such aplomb that most people couldn’t see the pain in her eyes. She was ten when her mom died, just a baby.
I can’t stop myself. I reach out and touch her cheek lightly with my thumb. “Hey, nothing is going to happen. I’m right here. I’ve got you.”
She lets out a long breath. “I know. I know you have me. I trust you.” There are tears in her eyes now. “But even you can’t stop bad things from happening. Sometimes they just happen.”
I bring her hand to my mouth for a kiss. “Just rest, Gemma. Just rest. I may not be able to stop everything, but I can tell you this. Right now, here in this moment, we’re going to be just fine.”
And we will be. Because no matter what happens between us, no matter how deeply I fall for her, I make a vow. I will protect her with everything I am, with everything I have. I will lay down my life for her.
I feel the moment her body finally relaxes. She lets the anxiety go and she lays her head on my shoulder. A few moments later, I hear a soft snore.
I kiss the top of her head. “We’ve got this, Gemma. I’ve got you. Everything’s going to be just fine.”
Chapter Eleven
Gemma
Why the hell does it turn me on so much when he tells me what to do? -Gemma
“We are so excited to have you here in Cupid City, Ms. Sparks. We can’t wait to see you in concert. It’s going to be amazing.” The young reporter is so fresh-faced she makes me feel like I’m a thousand years old.
“Thank you…” I search my brain for her name again, “Mandy. I’m so excited to be here. This is definitely the place to be for Valentine’s Day!” I try to sound upbeat, but the truth is my body is still dog tired from dancing at the club and then getting rescued by Gabe. Then making out with Gabe, having an orgasm, the two hours of sleep I managed to get on the plane, and the feelings I have for my overprotective bodyguard…fuck, I’m just tired.
The young woman’s face changes as if she senses gossip. I shift in my chair.Shit, here it comes.
“Speaking of, our viewers want to know…well, actually the whole world wants to know…” she leans in conspiratorially like we’re best friends and I paste a fake smile on my face, “is there anyone you’re currently interested in? Anyone you’re dating? There is a rumor that you’ve become especially close to one of your dancers…Hugh James? Do I sense a little romance brewing there?” Did I say she was fresh-faced? Right now, she looks like she’s a shark that’s just smelled blood in the water.
I can’t help but sneak a look at Gabe. He watches from the shadows, like always. He’s just outside of the view of the cameras. His steady presence calms me.
His shoulders are tense as he waits for me to answer. Mandy licks her lips, waiting for my answer too.
“Hugh and I are great friends, but that’s all there is to it.” Hugh is the best and his boyfriend totally agrees with me on that. There hasn’t been anyone that I’ve been interested in since my last awful boyfriend. Except for…Gabe. My impenetrable wall of a bodyguard. My gaze strays to him again. “I’m single and enjoying it.”
I give Mandy a smile that manages to convey that this part of the interview is over. My private life will remain private…for the moment.
I shake hands with Mandy as we leave, and she pulls me in for a small hug.
She glances over at Gabe. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Gemma.” I can feel him hovering right behind me. “Quite the handsome bodyguard you have there.”
Now it’s my turn to tense.Enough with this bullshit.“It was a pleasure. So pleased they’re finally giving you something else to report on besides, what was that my dad mentioned…” I tap my lips, “oh yeah, he said your last story was an expose about the expense of plumbers.” I know my smile is predatory and it’s a low blow, but I’m feeling a little petty to be honest.
It’s somewhat gratifying to see Mandy’s fake smile drop. “Yes, well, again, lovely to meet you,” she murmurs.
I can feel Gabe’s hand at the base of my spine as we walk away. My shoulders finally droop once we’re out of the hotel’s conference room.
Marty waits outside. “You’ve got four more interviews lined up, Gem. Gotta get moving. We’ve got Tom fromInside Focus,Lori fromCupid City News…”
“She’s got nothing, Marty. We’re going up to the suite and she’s taking a break.” Gabe’s voice breaks through my fog of exhaustion, and I swing around to look at him. He stares right back at me. “She’s not doing any more interviews until she gets some rest.”
