“Goodnight, Riker,” I whisper, placing a hand on the door, wondering how I’m ever going to get any sleep with him right next door in my guest bedroom.
six
Riker
“Everything is going tobe just fine.” I squeeze Ashton’s hand, letting her know I’ll be right beside her every step of the way during her signing today, and every day she needs me, even if I have to wear these ridiculous tight leather pants and leather jacket without a shirt.
“He’s right, Ashton.” Carrie places a huge stack of special edition books on the table in front of us. “Besides, the internet went crazy over the new cover of your book, and that you’re dating your own real Renegade Reynolds.”
Yeah, I woke up to a flood of texts from my SEAL brothers about all the online attention, and even my boss, Cal, sent me a message to check whether I was still good to go with the assignment or needed to be pulled because of the high level of attention.
Like hell I’ll let him pull me away from Ashton.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t do the photo ops with the fans like we always do?” Ashton’s eyes shift to the line of fans waiting to get into the bookstore.
Today’s venue is a bit larger than yesterday’s. I checked the building myself and know it’s secure, but I still don’t want to risk Ashton’s safety by allowing her fans to get that close to her, even if it’s just for a photo.
“Not yet,” I say, softening my words by adding, “After we’ve caught the person responsible for those letters, I’ll let you go back to your normal routine, but right now I’m not leaving you that exposed so someone could hurt you or worse.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, glaring at me. “Fine, we’ll do it your way, for now.” Damn if I don’t love the fire inside of her. I’m glad this nightmare hasn’t taken that away from her.
“Are you ready for Nina to let your fans in?” Dani fusses with the books on the table, making sure they are presentable.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Ashton sighs. I give her hand one last squeeze before dropping it to my side. “The crowd looks a lot bigger than it was yesterday.” I hear the panic in Ashton’s voice.
“Well, you can thank that hunk of a man on your right for causing an international sensation. Half the internet wants to be him, and the other half wants to be with him.” Dani steps back, signaling for Nina to lead the crowd through the door and to the table in a single file as per our usual protocol. But something happens, and the crowd spreads out, pushing at each other to be the first in line as they rush the table.
“What’s happening?” Ashton blinks up at me. “They normally don’t act like this.”
“Nina! Get them under control!” Dani yells, rushing toward the crowd.
“I’m getting you out of here, Ash.” Without missing a beat, I stand, scoop Ashton up and over my shoulder, fireman style, as I make our escape through the back door, where my truck is waiting.
Without ceremony, I pull open the passenger side door and drop Ashton onto the seat, slamming the door as I hurry around to thedriver’s side, jump in, start my truck, and peel out of the alley before the rush of fans overtakes us.
“They’re chasing after us, Riker.” The panic in Ashton’s voice as she peers out my back window at the crowd chasing us through the alley is my undoing.
“Don’t worry, Ash. I’m taking you to one of our safe houses until all of this blows over. No one will find you there.” I tug at her arm, pulling her away from the back window and against my side. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.” I hold her tighter against my side as I drive to our destination about two hours away.
***
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” I gently nudge Ashton’s side, trying to wake her up. I’m glad she managed to get a few hours of sleep during this stressful time. “We’re here.”
She stretches like a tiny kitten in my arms, making me long for a future I can never have. Once we find her stalker, all of this will fade away into the past.
“Tell me it was all just a bad dream.” She groans, rolling her neck from side to side.
“I wish I could, but unfortunately, it wasn’t.” I park my truck next to the cabin. The view is breathtaking here with a small creek only a few feet away.
“What I don’t understand is why my fans would act like that? They never have before.”
I’d like to know the answer to that myself. But for now, my job is to keep Ashton safe and my hands to myself.
seven
Ashton
Istare into thefireplace, watching the flames dance as Riker makes us something to eat—the memories of today’s book signing replaying over and over in my mind.
