While I ate, I returned a few messages. And I talked to Pam to make sure everything was a go for tonight’s show. Sledge was already on his way to Toronto with my gear, and she’d sent me all my hotel and flight info.
The flight had been changed, to accommodate adding Ronan and Andre to my travel itinerary. Pam had cc’d me on her email to Ronan with his and Andre’s travel info, too. On our flight to Toronto today, Andre was seated halfway back in the plane, on the aisle.
Ronan was seated with me in first class.
He’d already told me that he’d book a cab for us this morning. So all I had to do was get myself ready, pack up and head out.
I was just heading into my bathroom after breakfast when I got a text from him.
Ronan: Thank you.
So… he was having the breakfast I’d made for him. And at least he wasn’t pouting about last night. Maybe.
He’d seemed pretty damn grumpy after the show, while I mingled with my guests—you know, had a good time—and he watched over me like a hulking, sexy grouch… then had the audacity to inform me, his client, that I wasn’t going home with anyone.
Because that seemed normal.
I really didn’t enjoy him telling me what to do. Except that in a twisted sex way… I kinda did.
I didn’t like letting him win, though.
And I definitely didn’t love it when he’d informed me that we were never, ever hooking up because it would be… improper.
Since when did the idea that fucking someone was “improper” ever turn anyone off?
Was he trying to turn me on?
Because if so, it was fucking working. The man was a giant, handsome pussy tease. My pussy had decided so last night, when I came home to bed alone and took it for a desperate, exuberant ride on a large, phallic sex toy while I fantasized about his grouchy face.
I would’ve considered pouting about the whole thing myself, but I really wasn’t much of a pouter.
I would, however, vent to Elle about it after my shower, if I could get her on the phone. I sent her a text to give her a heads up, then showered and dressed. I packed my travel bags, and while I put on my makeup, I shut myself in the bathroom and called her on speaker.
“Elle’s firefighting department,” she answered. “Putting out fires since two-thousand-and-forever.”
“Hey, babe.”
“What’s going on? Your message sounded… angsty.”
“Uh-uh. I don’t do angst. But I do need to spew.”
“Go nuts.”
“What’re you doing?”
“I’m feeding Emma. She’s half-asleep. You’ve got a good twenty minutes or so.”
“I’ll take five. We’re heading to the airport soon.”
“Oh, right. Toronto?”
“Yup.”
“You have guys going with you?” she asked, sounding like a meddling mom.
“Don’t worry. Ronan won’t let me take a step without one. I’ve got two guys on the road, actually.”
“Good.”
“As you saw, he worked the show at the Ruby last night. It was… interesting.”
“Your first show with personal security, superstar! How did it go?”
“It went. We kinda got into an argument afterward. Maybe it was a debate? I high intensity negotiation?”
“About what?”
“About whether or not I was getting laid.”
Elle choked a little. “What?”
“I was hanging with people after the show, after you left, and we were talking about afterparties, and Ronan was hovering. Then he got all up in my grill about going home with anyone.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not.”
“Hmm. Doesn’t really sound like something you’d put up with,” she pointed out.
“Meaning what?”
“Are you putting up with it?”
“He’s a giant killjoy, Elle,” I complained.
“Right. So, obviously, you still like him?”
“I do. It’s utterly fucking annoying.” I sighed. “I went home alone last night to make my bodyguard happy. Is this a thing?”
“This is definitely not a thing. You’re his client. He works for you.”
“I know. But he said he wasn’t gonna sit in his car outside while I hooked up with someone.”
Elle laughed.
“Can you believe that shit?” I asked her. “Stop laughing.”
“And then what happened?”
“I let him drive me home and went to bed like a good girl.”
“And since when are you a good girl?”
“Exactly. No one but my dad has ever had this kind of say over my life. And you know my dad has a way of making me all… melty. No other man has ever had that power. It’s unholy.”
“Because you don’t usually give anyone else that power.”
“That is fabulously true.”
“Why don’t you just tell him you like him, like the big girl you are, and ask him to assign someone else on his team to be your bodyguard. Then you’re free to ask him on a date.”
“Elle. You don’t ask an alpha like that on a date. You let him chase you.”
“Then get another bodyguard, and let the chase commence.”
“I can’t. I have the best bodyguard right now. Why would I get rid of him?”
“Well, what do you want me to say? I guess you’re screwed.”
“Can’t I have both?”
“It’s not a good idea, Summer.”
“I want to seduce him, though. How fun would that be?”
She kinda snorted. “I give up.”
“You can’t give up.” I stood back to check my makeup, and the time on my phone. “He got all steamed up when I was talking to guys at the club. I think he was jealous. It was… tantalizing.”
“You two are in deep, deep trouble. I can’t watch. Just call me after it implodes and we’ll do a spa day or something.”
“Elle. I always help you with your man shit. This is a best friend SOS. Help me.”
“I’m not sure telling me to fuck every hot dude I ever met was exactly helping, over the years, but okay. If I were you—”
“No. No offense, sweetie, but if I were you doesn’t help me. Because you would hang back and let it play out. And you know I don’t have that kind of patience.”
“Jesus.” She snickered. “He is not even gonna know what’s coming,
