He didn’t move an inch.
Before he could ask what the fuck, she was shouting at him.
“Where were you?”
Ah, hell.
He opened his mouth to say something, but she kept shouting.
“I did a turn, looked for you,and you weren’t there!”
Right.
He could smell she was scared.
But now she was showing it.
Big mistake.
He never should have done that to her.
She should not be feeling what she was feeling.
Most of that was not on him.
But he shouldn’t have left her.
No way.
And that was absolutely on him.
The worst part about it, he didn’t feel bad because hefreaked her, and he shouldn’t have.
He felt bad because he freakedLottie, and hedidn’t want her to feel that, or more of it.
He’d had so many bodyguard jobs, he couldn’t count them.
He already knew this one was different.But the feeling hewas feeling right then knowing he did something to spike her fear, he now knewthis one was going to be even more of a challenge than he thought.
“Hawk needed to talk to me,” he told her.“Jorge was on you.Other side of the stage.”
“Could Hawk maybe talk to youafteryou tell me youhave to take off so Hawk can talk to you?”she asked.
“Next time, we’ll do that,” he muttered.
“Jesus!”she yelled.
Then she did it.
Fuck him, his worst fear (for now).
She turned stiltedly, raked a hand through her hair, lookedat the floor, started pacing with agitation, and chanted in a whisper, “Jesus,Jesus, Jesus.”
“Lottie.”
She had her back to him, but she lifted an arm his way,straight out, palm up, and ordered, “Give me a sec.I’ll get it together.”
She should come apart.Sometimes people needed to do that sothey could put it back together stronger.
