“I’m past it. It’s fine. I just don’t need to see himright now.”
“You mean, now that your career is imploding?”
“It’s far from imploding.”
It wasn’t, really.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Is that why you went all Kung Fu Panda? Because he punched you?”
“Huh?”
“That’s what Shay calls you when you do your martial arts stuff. KFP.”
“It’s MMA,” I informed her. “I train with Shane. He’s a fighter. And yeah, maybe the fact that I got cold-cocked by a guy I would never have expected it from was a wake up call. I’ve usually got security when I go out, but sometimes a man has to look out for himself.”
“You mean, because you have so many enemies?”
“I mean because I’m famous and who knows what awaits around any given corner. People are always coming at me, for one reason or another. If this place wasn’t filled with VIPs and security, and it was just a regular night at the bar, and I was just standing here like this with you… I’d have people all over me right now.”
“I know,” she said with distaste. She glanced aside, and only then did I notice the group of women who were checking me out from a nearby table.
Angeline met my eyes again, and I knew that she did know. Because Elle. I couldn’t imagine being a woman in this position, actually. It was impressive that her sister ever left the house. But then again, Elle probably never left the house without Flynn, or Seth’s bodyguard, or a whole fleet of Dirty’s security team; whatever the situation called for.
It must’ve been weird as hell being the sister of a hot female rock star.
Angeline said she got overlooked all the time because of it. But Zane Traynor sure as shit wasn’t overlooking her in her little black dress. I wondered how many times she’d been hit on or harassed by guys because she was with Elle. Yet she didn’t have her own bodyguard.
Suddenly, that fucking bothered me.
“Do Elle or Jude ever assign you security?”
She wrinkled her nose a little. “No. Why would they?”
“Because maybe they should. Especially if you’re gonna be wandering the streets picking up groups of dudes in your slippers.”
She grit her teeth. “This, again. It was one stupid time.”
“Was it? What happens in a situation like that if the guys actually realize who you are, who your sister is? Do they get nicer? Or do they get more grabby?”
“I don’t need a bodyguard, Johnny. If I need security, there’s coverage everywhere my sister goes. They all look out for me.”
“Like Flynn?” I noticed how she tensed up at her ex-boyfriend’s name. And the grim look that overtook her pretty face. “Your ex is gonna watch your ass now? Is that a good idea?”
“Why are you dissecting my life right now? It’s none of your business. This night isn’t about me. It’s about you.”
“I can’t take an interest in my publicist’s security?”
“You’re deflecting.” She glanced over at Dylan again. “Let’s just go over.”
“Let’s get a drink.”
“Let’s go over, then get a drink.”
“No.”
“Johnny, you can’t have everything your way,” she said, exasperated. “Your way got you into trouble, remember?”
“So we’ll do it your way. After we get a drink.”
