My answer would always be yes.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Kyle
Two weeks later, I slung my duffel over my shoulder and then reached for Ashlyn’s backpack, but she lightly smacked my hand away. We were finally checking in at the resort after a long morning of travel.
“I can get that. It’s not that heavy.”
Paying no attention to her scolding, I picked up the backpack anyway. She was wrong. It was heavy and I had to wonder for a moment just what in the hell she’d packed in there. An anvil? Was I in Florida with Wile E. Coyote? How was she even lugging it around? It weighed more than she did.
I would know too, because I’d picked Ashlyn up and carried her to the bedroom more than once.
“I’m being a gentleman,” I said, leading the way to the hotel elevator. The bellman would bring up the larger suitcases. “Some people would be really happy about that.”
“I am happy. I’m also capable of carrying my own bag.”
“I never said you weren’t.”
The elevator silently swept us upstairs to the suite I’d reserved, Ashlyn giving me a sour look the entire way. I’d found out a few things about my girlfriend on this trip and the most important one was that she wasn’t the hardiest of travelers. First there had been a delay with our flight and she’d paced the first-class lounge like an expectant father while I drank my coffee and ate everything on the breakfast buffet. Then there had been a little turbulence over Atlanta and that had turned her a nasty shade of green. Then after we’d landed she’d paced the baggage area, certain that our luggage was on a one-way cargo plane to Siberia. I finally got out of her that she’d lost her luggage once flying from San Francisco to Chicago, changing planes in Denver. She did eventually get her bag back, but she was distrustful to this day.
That might explain why her backpack weighed a ton. She’d shoved everything in it instead of her suitcase.
“You can take a nap if you want,” I offered as the elevator doors wooshed open. “I need to talk to the event coordinator this afternoon.”
“Why would I take a nap? I’m not tired.”
Using the key card, I pushed open the door and ushered her inside. “You may not be tired but you’re more wound than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers, as my grandmother used to say. You may want to hit the minibar.”
Like a tiny tornado, Ashlyn rounded on me after dropping her backpack on the couch. “I am not–”
She broke off and heaved a huge sigh, rubbing her hands over her face.
“Okay, I am stressed,” she admitted. “There’s something you need to know about me. I’m not a good traveler.”
I feigned shock and horror. “You’re kidding. Are you sure? Because I never would have noticed.”
Ashlyn flipped me off and then fell back onto the sofa, propping her feet on the glass coffee table. I could already see that she was relaxing now that we had arrived at our destination.
“Asshole. Seriously, I don’t travel well because I’m something of a control freak. Just a little one, though.”
“A little control freak?” I simply had to know more about this. I’d seen a few signs here and there but nothing too awful. “How little?”
She buried her face in her hands with a groan and then finally peeked up at me through her fingers.
“If they would have let me fly the plane, I would have.”
“You have a pilot’s license?”
I really was learning about her.
“No.”
And some of it was seriously weird. But cute.
“You don’t have a pilot’s license? Then I’m not sure why you’d think we would be safer with you flying the plane. Seems like it would be the opposite.”
“It’s not always logical.”
“Clearly. In the spirit of sharing personal little anecdotes about each other I think you should know that I do, indeed, have my pilot’s license and I would never have thought to try and land that huge aircraft.”
“You have your pilot’s license?”
I wasn’t sure if I should find her tone insulting or charming. I decided on the latter because she’s had a rough morning.
“I do. It was on my bucket list. Along with climbing that mountain.”
“Someday you need to show me that bucket list.”
“How about I show you around our digs for the next four days?”
I’d stayed in this hotel a few years ago when I’d also spoken at the convention. It was a beautiful property right on the Gulf of Mexico and I’d made sure that our room had an amazing view. I’d already had a fantasy of the two of us drinking champagne as we watched the sunset.
We might both be naked, too.
Yes, I’m a horndog and I’m completely ashamed of myself. But what could I say? We were a new couple in that first rush of love and sex.
It was an absolutely gorgeous and warm sunny day, so different than what we were used to back home. When we’d left central Illinois, the temperature had been hovering around twelve fucking degrees with a wind chill of zero. Zero. Fahrenheit. That’s some ball-shriveling cold and I was glad that we had a short respite from it.
There weren’t many people on the beach below, but the glistening emerald green waters seem to go on forever, beckoning to us to jump in and splash about. We needed two beach chairs, a couple of fruity rum drinks, and a good spot under the fronds of a palm tree.
Ashlyn loved the view from the windows and balcony and she did all the appropriate oohing and ahhing, but when she really went crazy was when she saw the bathtub. It was big enough for four – maybe five – although I was hoping she’d want to keep it just us. With a giggle, she hopped right into the tub, clothes still on.
She’d kicked off her shoes in the bedroom.
“You know I have a jetted tub at home,” I reminded her, watching indulgently as she stretched out, her hands over her head. She was so petite she couldn’t reach from one end to the other. I loved it when she was like this, her passion for life and fun boundless. For all her no-nonsense business demeanor, she had the cutest goofy streak, too. I loved making her laugh, and I was thinking that I might want to do that for a very long time into the future. She’d easily shaken off her traveling stress, thank goodness. I didn’t want anything to get in the way of our vacation. “You’ve been in it.”
“This one is big enough for all three of us.”
“Three?”
“You, me, and Sam.”
“That’s true. We didn’t let Sam jump in with us.”
“He was mad about that.”
That puppy had pouted the entire time Ashlyn and I were in that bathtub. He’d ruined any romantic vibe we might have had going. He just kept staring at us with his big brown eyes and whining every few minutes.
“He wasn’t too happy about me leaving him with George, but I got a text while we were driving here to the hotel. George sent me a picture of Sam sitting on the couch eating breakfast, watching cartoons, and looking pretty damn happy. I think he’s settled right in.”
She smiled and my heart flipped over in my chest. I doubted that I would ever get used to how beautiful she was. I could barely believe she was in my life. Because of an old creaky elevator. “I miss him already.”
“I do too, but he’s going to be fine. Sam and George will be best buds by the time we get back.” I sat down on the edge of the tub and leaned down to give her a kiss. Her lips were soft and she hooked her arm around my neck, trying to wrestle me into the tub. I wanted to give in, but I had to take care of business first. “I can’t take a bath with you now, but if you can wait we can do that when I get back from my meeting.”
Sticking out her lower lip in the most adorable pout, Ashlyn sighed. “If I must. I think that I’ll kill some time exploring, if you’re okay with that.”
“I’m fine with it. Have some fun and we’ll meet back here about three. We can take a soak and then order room service. Or if you prefer I’ll take you somewhere fancy.”
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I already knew what she’d choose. Ashlyn was a homebody at heart. She liked to get dressed up on occasion, but she was just as happy to hang around the house in one of my old t-shirts.
“Whatever you want.” She held out her hand and I lifted her from the bathtub, placing her dainty feet down on the tile floor. I kept my arms around her, pulling her close and pressing a kiss on her neck. She smelled delicious. My will to leave and get my business done was weak. I kept picturing her in a sexy bikini on the beach. “I might grab a bite to eat. I don’t think I can wait until dinner. Aren’t you hungry?”
Shaking that image from my brain, I tried to focus on the here and now. We could play later. “I had a huge breakfast when we were delayed, remember?”
I didn’t mention that she’d probably worked up an appetite with all the pacing she’d done. She wriggled in my arms, trying to get free.
“If you don’t go do your stuff, you won’t be free later.”
Reluctantly I let her go, instantly missing how she felt in my arms. I was pathetic and addicted to this woman, but I was deliriously happy. So there.
“You’re right, I suppose.”
She rolled her eyes at my sad sack expression.
“I’m sending you off to a business meeting in a semitropical paradise, not off to war. Those sad puppy eyes aren’t working on me.”
I’d have to ask Sam what his secret was. She fell for his every time.
I leaned down so we were nose to nose. “You’re mean.”
“You love it. Now get going. How can I miss you if you never go away?”
Cracking up, I managed to steal another kiss. “I do love it. Have fun while I’m gone. Call me if you need me.”
We walked together out of the bathroom, through the bedroom, and toward the door. The room was drenched in sunshine and it made a halo around Ashlyn’s golden hair, the light reflecting off the silky tresses. She was far from angelic. She ought to have devil horns. “I think I can manage to entertain myself for a few hours. But just in case, you have bail money, right?”
“Absolutely.”
If the beginning of this trip was any indication, this was going to be a fantastic four days.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ashlyn
The next morning Kyle was kicking off the convention with his keynote address, a speech he’d been practicing in the mirror this morning while he shaved.
And then when he was buttoning his shirt.
And slipping on his shoes.
And drinking his coffee.
He never mentioned being nervous, but I noticed that he didn’t eat any breakfast, sticking to two cups of coffee and simply nibbling on a piece of bacon. When it was time to go downstairs, he hadn’t even eaten half of it.
It was strange to see him on “work mode” but it was impressive, too. He didn’t say much, seemingly inside of his head preparing for his speech. He did try and smile at me a few times, but he was clearly not completely present. I tried to be as quiet and soothing as I could but let’s face it… I wasn’t a soothing kind of person. But I gave it my best effort because what he was about to do was a big deal.
Plus, I had my own worries to deal with, and I was doing my best to hide them. He didn’t need to be concerned about me right before doing something this important.
The official-looking man that had come up to the suite to escort us downstairs had said that the media was already in the ballroom to cover the event. Just that word media had me shaking in my expensive high heels.
Now I was as nervous as Kyle was. My hand shook as we entered the elevator, but Kyle must have had an inkling because he grabbed it and gave me a reassuring smile.
“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. You’ll probably find it boring.”
“Nothing you do could bore me. I’m really looking forward to it.”
He paused for a moment and then nodded. “I’m sure I could bore you but there’s something else to think about. There will be photographers there.”
We’d talked about this. More than once. As Kyle Lewis’s girlfriend I was going to be the object of much scrutiny and the world wouldn’t always be kind about it. The internet was a rough neighborhood and I knew that I was opening myself up to being criticized for even breathing, let alone having the audacity to date him.
He’d warned me that they’d take my picture, try and get a quote, and maybe even follow me around. They’d splash those photos all over the papers and the internet, and some of the more smarmy journalists wouldn’t bother with the truth, details, or anything like research.
We’d been shielded in Arborville, but out here in the big bad world Kyle was a press event wherever he went and whatever he said. That was his reality and if I wanted to be in his world I’d have to deal with it, too. Emmy had told me that I needed to grow a thick skin quickly. I’d always thought that I didn’t much care what others thought about me, but as the light on the elevator panel ascended down I was beginning to think that I was wrong.
Floor four. Three. Two…Lobby. Shit, too late now.
I drew a shaky breath and smoothed down the black and navy blue dress I’d bought for just this occasion. It looked business-like without being boring and I’d paired it with a pair of black pumps and a few pieces of discreet silver jewelry. Even my hair was tamed today and pulled back in a large barrette. I wanted to look cool, calm, and capable. No rock band t-shirts, no ripped jeans and Converse tennis shoes. This would be the first impression the world had of me and I wanted to make Kyle proud.
Yep, I admit it.
“It will be fine. It’s all good.” I squeezed his hand, my palms damp. “Just don’t let go.”
“I won’t. Don’t give them anything. They’ll yell out questions but act like you don’t hear them. Just smile and look forward. Got it?”
We’d gone over this last night, but I nodded as if it was the first time he’d said it. I wasn’t famous but I was dating someone who was. I was going to have to get used to this if Kyle and I stayed together.
I fervently hoped we could make this work.
The first few steps out of the elevator weren’t that bad. With my hand in Kyle’s we walked down a cramped hallway and then turned to the left. That’s when it all hit me.
It was like a wave of sound and energy coming at us all at once, and for a moment I paused, almost stumbling back but then Kyle put his arm around my waist, his hold strong and reassuring. I could do this if I didn’t have to do it alone.
There were dozens of reporters, including a couple of television cameras. For some reason I hadn’t expected that. The incessant clicking of the cameras was muted by the yelling of the reporters each hoping to hear something they could report. Even one quote would have done for them. They pelted question after question at us, unrelenting as we walked the gauntlet being held back by security. Nothing was off limits and I flinched when a man asked about “the pretty girl”, which I guess was supposed to be me.
Just as Kyle had coached me, I walked quickly and kept my gaze forward. A smile was frozen on my lips and my heart pounded against my ribs painfully. The blood roared in my ears but even that couldn’t drown out the noise in the lobby. I had no idea how Kyle could do this on a regular basis.
As fast as it had started it was over.
We were standing in a small room adjacent to the larger one where Kyle would be giving his speech. I could breathe slightly easier now, although my knees were mostly jelly. I would be glad to sit down and just listen.
“You’re on in ten,” the man with the clipboard said. “Water?”
Kyle smiled and nodded. “That would be great. And one for Ashlyn too, please?”
A cold plastic bottle magically appeared in my hand and this time Kyle did let go so he could open it for me. “You did great. Are you okay?”
I needed a drink, but I didn’t want to smear my lipstick. Would there be more pictures taken later or during? I didn’t know.
“I’m fine,” I replied and I actua
lly sounded it, to my great relief. “That was…something.”
Wincing, Kyle took a drink of his water. “They’re hoping for a quote about the new AI software. They won’t get it.”
I realized I didn’t really know what he was talking about. We spoke about his work in sort of a peripheral way but not with any specificity. Mostly because I didn’t understand it but now I had to wonder if there was another reason. Did he not talk about it because he didn’t think I’d like it? Once more I was thrown into a swamp of uncertainty. Kyle and I were a million miles apart, not only in the way we looked at life but in how we lived it. The press sure as hell didn’t follow me around, but he lived his life in the public eye.
A fact I was only now beginning to fully comprehend.
There was far more separating us than simply how we viewed the past or the future. A part of his life was public and probably always would be. If I wanted to be in his life, I’d have to share him to a certain extent, and I’d have to open myself up to people as well.
Could I do it? I wasn’t sure.
Was Kyle worth it? Yes.
Did that make it easier? Sadly, no.
* * *
Kyle
I wouldn’t say it was the greatest presentation that I’d ever made. Far from it actually. I wasn’t prepared to make any statements regarding my current project and that’s what they really wanted to hear about. I talked about a few others that I’d recently finished but weren’t big news, and I also spoke about the potential benefits which I completely believed in.
Every now and then I would look down into the audience and see Ashlyn sitting in the front row. It felt so right that she was here with me, by my side. A team. She’d managed the press like a veteran, much better than I had when I’d first captured their attention. I wished that I could stop the nastiness and troll-like behavior on the internet that she was going to receive but I didn’t have that kind of power. The best thing I could do was try to keep her away from it and support her when I couldn’t.
When my presentation was over I took a few questions from the audience, much to the chagrin of the organizers. They’d warned me that they couldn’t control what might be asked but I wasn’t worried about that. There was always some arrogant kid in the audience that thought he was smarter than me. What that kid didn’t realize is that there was always someone smarter. Always someone else nipping at my heels. I was only as good as my last project and others were trying to elbow me aside every day.
Tease Him (ManTrap Book 2) Page 12
