"Thank you. I'm just glad it's over." She leaned against him slightly, drawing strength from his solid presence. "One event down, two more to go."
“I noticed you didn’t eat.”
Her eyes widened. “You noticed?”
His lips twitched as he looked down at her. “Not much I don’t notice about you.”
Warmth spread through her, and she smiled, this time genuinely happy. “Since you and the others didn’t eat before we left the hotel to come to the conference center, how about we eat now?”
Cole had just caught up to them on the street. “I like her idea!”
“What idea?” Frazier asked, jogging closer with Todd on his heels.
Casper looked over his shoulder. “We all need lunch.”
“Sounds good,” Frazier agreed.
“How about eating in the restaurant instead of room service?” she suggested. “No one would dare bother me with you four around.”
The Keepers looked at each other, silent communication passing between them. They nodded, and Casper grinned as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. They walked into their hotel, but instead of going to their rooms, they veered into the restaurant. It wasn’t crowded, and soon, the five were seated in a large, curved booth, enjoying roast beef sandwiches with house-cut fries. Keeping their conversation light, they returned to Casper and Willow’s suite afterward.
While the Keepers planned security for the next day’s book signing event, Willow decided to check in with Aaliyah. As soon as her assistant’s face came onto her phone, Willow recognized the background as a terminal, possibly an airport. “Where are you?”
Aaliyah laughed as it appeared she was hustling along the corridors. “I talked to your literary agent, Amanda. She said she’d tried to get you to accept help for the signing, but you thought you could handle it. She’s paying for me to fly to Kansas City. I’ll be there later tonight and can help you tomorrow.”
Surprised, but pleased, Willow smiled. “That actually sounds good. It’ll be good to see you, and I think it would be nice to have the help. I know I told Amanda that I’d be fine, but that was probably an overestimation of my capabilities. I thought the signing organizers had more volunteers. With several hundred readers, the volunteers will be needed to check people in and keep them in line. I really need someone to assist at the table.”
“Then I’m glad I took her up on the offer!”
“Will I see you tonight?”
“Oh no. I’ll take a cab to the Majestic Hotel and see you tomorrow.”
Willow’s eyes widened, remembering that Aaliyah thought she was staying at the Majestic, but Casper had changed their reservation to the Grand Meridian. “Right… yes… well, I will be in the signing area about ten thirty, so you can just meet me there.”
“Sure, no problem.” Aaliyah looked to the side, then said, “My flight is starting to board. See you tomorrow.”
After a hasty goodbye, Willow was glad for the help tomorrow but walked straight to the suite's living area to let Casper know about the change in plans. He scowled, but she hastened to explain that Aaliyah would be able to sit next to her, be in plain sight of him, and they’d know where she was at all times.
“Do you trust her?” Frazier asked.
Licking her bottom lip, Willow shrugged. “As much as I trust anyone right now.” Her shoulders slumped. “I hate living like this. Always looking over my shoulder, and always staring at theperson right in front of me, wondering if they have an alternate agenda.”
The men once again exchanged glances, but didn’t offer false hope other than that they would be right there in the room.
By now, the late afternoon shadows had crept across the room. They ordered room service, everyone keeping their choices light. The conversation flowed more easily now that she was used to their presence. Willow genuinely enjoyed the company of Casper's colleagues. She liked their easy camaraderie, their obvious respect for each other, and their protective concern for her felt like being welcomed into an exclusive family.
After the other Keepers departed for their rooms for the night, Willow stood in the middle of the room as Casper locked the door behind them. He walked straight toward her, reached down to snag her hand, and led her gently to her bedroom and the opulent bathroom. A large tub, easily big enough for two, offered the perfect antidote to the day's stress.
The hotel's attention to luxury was evident in every detail, from the granite surfaces and heated floors to the fluffy towels. He stopped in the middle, bent over to turn on the water, then moved back to her. He lifted his hands to cup her face. With her hands on his chest, she stared into his eyes, getting lost and found at the same time.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he vowed.
“I believe you,” she responded, finding the words to be true.
He bent and kissed her, gently at first, then with more urgency. His hands slowly undressed her as she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt. Their lips barely parted as clothing was dropped to the floor. Finally, as steam rose from the hot water, they settled into the spacious tub together, the tension of the day melting away under the massage of strategically placed jets.
At first, they faced each other, then her lips curved slowly as she moved to straddle his thighs, placing her sex against his erection. A sense of power surged through her as she rocked, his cock dragging against her sensitive flesh. His eyes locked on her as his hands found her waist, his fingertips digging into her back.
