“Okay.” And he lets the privacy screenroll to the top.
“What the hell happened to yourunderwear?”
I sit back with a huff crossing my arms.“Cole.” I raise my hand to stop her from saying anything else. “It’s fine. Iwill just buy another pair.”
“Why are we going to The Empress? I wouldthink you’d hate that place?”
I shrug. “I don’t hate it, but I did myresearch and the place I want to go is there. Leave it to Preston to putnothing but the best in his hotel.”
There’s a tap on the glass. Laura glancesat me, I nod and she pushes the button on the screen. “Where would you like tobe dropped off?” Morgan asks.
“The shopping entrance, please.”
“Sounds good.”
“Um—Keaton?”
“Yes.” He turns further in his seat,looking at me.
“Are you going to follow us around?”
“That was the plan.”
“Laura.” I look at her.
She opens the duffel bag. “How much tobuy your silence?”
Keaton’s eyes get wide when he looks inthe bag, but he recovers quickly.
“Here’s the deal.” I take stacks of one’sout of the bag. “I will give you your bet money back.”
“Wait, I can’t.” He starts but I keeptalking.
“Just listen. You have to come with us, Iget that. You’ll blend nicely into the background, I’m sure. The thing is whenCole—”
“Wait!” Laura holds up her hands. “Ifanyof them call or text.”
“Oh man, that’s good thinking. Okay ifany of them, them being Cole, Luke, Race, Kit or Cooper.” I wave a dismissivehand at him. “Just anyone calling and wanting to know exactly what Laura and Iare doing, you can’t tell them.” I peer over the stacks of bills in my lap.Keaton still looks like he’s going to say no. “There can be any stipulation youdeem necessary to intervene or tell them.” I toss stacks at him. “I’m just sickand tired of not being able to go and do something without Coulter Holt all upin my freaking grill. Not that I don’t want him there for the most part, butseriously, come on. It’s a bit excessive. Seriously, punishing me for moving tothe other side of the booth and not telling him why. Good grief, take my—”
“Kate!” Laura screams, and I drop halfthe stacks on the floor.
“Sheesh, what was that for?”
“You were rambling.”
“Oh, you mean, I said that all out loud?”
“Yes.”
I feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment.“Oh, well…” I burst out laughing. “Sorry.”
“Kate.” Keaton gives me a serious look.“I can’t take that money. I’ll lose my job. But I’ll do as you ask.”
I narrow my eyes at him. Yeah, right, hewill. His loyalty lies with Luke and Luke is loyal to Cole. Which means I’mscrewed and not in a good way. I huff and start piling the damn one-dollarbills back into the bag.
“Look, I promise. I’ll tell them you’reshopping, unless you decide to break the law or streak naked down the mall. Mypriority is your safety, that’s it. I won’t interfere, unless I have to.”
“You promise.”
