by Apryl Baker
“About what?” He adjusted himself and put his hands behind his back to keep from touching her.
“About this whole no seducing me thing.”
“You mean we can throw that whole two week thing out the window?” His dick twitched at the thought. Please fucking say yes.
“Nope, that’s non-negotiable.”
He groaned.
“But I was thinking.” She leaned into him. “That doesn’t mean we can’t do other things.”
“Other things?” His hands refused to be held quiet and pulled her close. “What sort of things?”
“Oh, you know, kissing, touching, making out, those kinds of things.”
“Those things lead to you being bent over the couch and fucked, Becca.”
“Nope, wrong again.” She batted her eyelashes at him much as the front desk attendant had earlier, only this time, it nearly brought him to his knees. “You need to learn you don’t always get what you want.”
“Oh, but that is where you’re wrong, sweetheart. I always get what I want.”
She only smiled and pushed away from him. “We’ll see.”
“You are driving me insane, woman.” He shook his hands, trying to make them forget the urge to pull her back and run them all over her body, making her as aroused as he was.
“Good.” She popped a piece of pineapple into her mouth. “Now, start loading those bags into the boxes. They’re alphabetized so keep them in the right boxes.”
The fuck? She went from seductress to general in a blink of the eye.
“Get moving or we’ll be late.”
“No, you aren’t coming with me.” No way in hell was she putting herself through that.
She paused, another chunk of fruit midway to her mouth. “What?”
“I mean it, Becca. I can do this myself. You don’t have to come and face all that…”
“Oh, yes, I do.” She gave him her full attention, appreciative of what he was trying to do, but this was a decision she’d come to this morning. She’d spent all her life hiding from things, never facing her fears, and in this instance, her honor. She’d be damned if she let some hateful, jealous ex keep her from helping her best friend.
“Last night…”
“Was last night,” she cut him off. “I’m okay this morning. I’ve taken my anxiety meds, I have my inhaler handy, and I’ll be okay.”
“Becca.”
“No, D. I have to do this. I realize it will be hard, and I might flip out, but I need to try. Not only for you, but for me. As long as I’m behind the table and no one can surround me, I’ll be okay. I’ve been giving myself pep talks since I agreed to come. I need to do this.”
“But you don’t have to.”
“Yes, I do. I need to make sure I can be the person you need me to be.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? I need you to be you, that’s it.”
“You need someone who can do this, go to events, be out in the public. That’s who you are, Dimitri, and if I can’t do this, we might not work.” She held up a hand to stop him. “I know what you’re going to say, but if I feel inadequate in our relationship, how much of a chance do you really think we have? Let me do this, please.”
She had thought a lot about this. Dimitri was very much a public person, one who was always out to events and parties. She had to be able to know she could eventually go to those things with him. She wasn’t stupid enough to think going to one event would cure her, but it would tell her if she could build from it and eventually contain her panic enough to do the things he loved to do.
“First sign of a panic attack, and we’re out.” He came over and swept her up. “Not for me, but for you. I couldn’t care less if you had a meltdown and screamed bloody murder, but I’m guessing you would.”
She nodded. He was right. She’d be so embarrassed she’d probably delete her Facebook page. She already set her profile security so no one could tag her or post on her page. Enough was enough. And if she saw Christy, Carly, whatever her name was, she’d give her a piece of her mind. How in the world had she found out who Becca was? It still boggled her mind. She never posted anything personal.
“Fine. Now get to loading those bags up before we really are late.”
Dimitri let her go, but slapped her ass before she could move out of the way. She threw him a glare and started to gather up all the swag she’d organized last night. Today was going to be hard. She knew that. She was prepared for it.
Today was her test run. If she couldn’t do this, there might not be a future for them. She wouldn’t trap him in a relationship he’d ultimately come to despise, even if he didn’t want to admit it.
Today would be everything.
Chapter Seventeen
The signing room was filled with people running around like lunatics. Curses could be heard as they struggled with banners and other things that needed to be put together. Becca kept her eyes down and made a beeline for Dimitri’s table. She was shocked to find Henry there, arranging banners.
“What are you doing?”
He paused long enough to wink. “I’m arranging these so you won’t be bothered by anyone. I’m making you a cocoon of banners. That way, you won’t feel crowded.”
That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her. Dimitri grumbled, but she ignored him. “Thank you, Henry.”
The model finished what he was doing before coming out from behind the table. “It’s nothing.”
She put down the box she was carrying and hugged him, really hugged him. There wasn’t anyone else around their table, and she didn’t feel at all crowded. “Yes, it is. It means more than you know.”
“Anything for you, baby girl.” He hugged her back. “I don’t know what I would have done last year without you, so anything you need, just ask.”
He was referring to when his brother died. She’d talked to him for hours every day for weeks. He’d been in a bad place, and she’d done everything she could for him. Henry was a sweetheart, and she considered him a good friend.
Dimitri’s growling broke them apart. “Sorry about the Neanderthal.”
Henry glanced at him, his eyes twinkling. “He’s only doing what I would if you were mine.”
“She’s not yours, so get your fucking hands off my woman.”
“See?” Becca rolled her eyes and slipped out of Henry’s hold, knowing Henry was only egging him on. “I can’t take him anywhere.”
“Woman…”
“Man.” She winked at Henry and went behind the table to start organizing the boxes so she could easily get to them. The books for sale were each in their own boxes, some titles two to a box depending on popularity. Dimitri was going to have to help keep the book rack full.
“Do you do that just to drive me nuts?” Dimitri whispered by her ear, his tongue darting out to swipe the soft skin of the lobe.
“Sure do.” She turned and nipped his bottom lip. “Now, get to work. We have to have this done in about half an hour, thanks to your not waking me up.”
Henry stuck around, helping them both organize the boxes and swag. He and Dimitri struck up a hesitant conversation and were soon talking about fishing. Fishing. She didn’t understand what people saw in it. You sat there for hours, hoping some unsuspecting fish would take the bait. Hours, sometimes, without even so much as a bite. Men loved it. She shook her head and set up the iPad so people could sign up for Dimitri’s newsletter. She’d thought about a signup sheet, but she had no desire to try to decipher people’s handwriting. This way, they could type it themselves. No stress later.
“I fired your brother.” Sara Jane’s angry comment brought all their heads snapping round. “He’s insufferable.”
“I thought you said he was hot as fuck?” Dimitri teased.
“Oh, he is, but his attitude cancels any lustful thoughts I might have had.” She looked ready to hit someone. “Seriously. That man is a control freak.”
“Yes, he is when it comes to the safety of his clients,
” Dimitri agreed, “but he’s never failed at a job of protection either, and I think you both need his help.”
“He’s bossy.”
“He has to be bossy, doll.” Dimitri’s expression turned serious. “He has to keep you and your daughter safe. Sometimes that might mean telling you how to do something, when to do it, and where to do it, but he’s not doing it to be hard or a bastard. He’s doing it to protect you. Let him help you keep Delia out of her father’s crosshairs.”
“You had to go remind me why I needed help to begin with, didn’t you?” Sara Jane looked cross enough to keep any random passerby from attempting to come over to their table.
“That’s what friends are for.” He kissed her forehead. “Now get yourself set up. I see your PA waving frantically.”
“I’ve got to get over to Heather’s table too.” Henry picked up one of Dimitri’s cards. “You ever want to a model for a custom book cover, shout at me. I’ll give you a discount.”
“He’s not so bad,” Dimitri admitted as they finished stocking the book rack.
“He’s pretty awesome.”
“You know him well?”
“About as well as you do Sara Jane.”
“Point taken.” Dimitri smiled, finally giving up. The guy was cool, and he understood Becca was taken. He wouldn’t stick his nose in their friendship. “How are you? Everything okay?”
“So far.” She gestured to the wall of banners Henry built around them. “This helps.”
“You’ll tell me if it gets to be too much?”
“Yep.”
“Promise me, Becca.”
“I promise.” She rolled her eyes.
“Why are you being so blasé about this?” Dimitri couldn’t wrap his head around the change in her. Last night she’d been on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and today she was acting like nothing was wrong or would go wrong. He was on pins and needles, himself.
“Because you’re here with me.” She smiled shyly. “That’s the difference.”
His entire being swelled with pride.
They announced the group picture and she shooed him away, assuring him she’d be fine. Not that he trusted that. He’d seen the faces of everyone eyeballing them with speculation. They had to be eager to gossip. It was the one thing he knew about the Indie community. They were gossips and could rip each other apart as soon as defend each other. He didn’t trust the other PAs not to try to chat her up.
Becca sank down in her chair, relieved when Dimitri finally left. He was getting on her nerves worse than the actual thought of crowds with his hovering. That was as bad as crowding her, but she knew he did it out of worry.
“Hey, Becca!”
Stacey Jamison approached the table, all smiles. Becca knew her from Facebook. She was author H.L. Harper’s PA, and a gossip monger. She knew it was coming, but she’d hoped the signing would start and they’d have to wait until at least lunch to start in on the questions.
She took a deep breath and steeled herself. It was just Stacey. No one else. She could do this.
“Hi, Stacey. You and Heidi all set up?”
The girl bounced on her feet. “Yes, I was worried we wouldn’t get finished on time since we didn’t get in until late last night. We missed early setup.”
“That sucks.”
“So…um…you guys all ready?”
“Yeah, we’re good.” Becca watched, fascinated as the girl tried to get up the nerve to ask her about the crazy ex. She seemed to really want to ask, but was almost afraid to. Might as well put her out of her misery.
“If it wasn’t for Dimitri’s crazy ex, I’d be peachy this morning.”
“Oh, yeah? The woman posting all that stuff about you?”
Becca nodded. “Dimitri broke up with her, and she seems to blame me for it, but he dumped her last week.”
“So, are you and Dimitri a thing?” Stacey lowered her voice conspiratorially.
“Dimitri’s my best friend, and aside from that, it’s really no one else’s business.” She kept her voice cheerful, but made sure the bite in it was enough to get the girl’s attention. “I hate gossip and the drama rumors produce.”
“Oh, sure.” Stacey nodded a little too emphatically. “Not that I believed you’d do anything to wreck their relationship, but some people might be thinking that.”
“Then they can keep on thinking it.” Becca pulled out the money box and started filling it up with change. “I don’t give a rat’s ass what other people think. If they want to be as ugly as to think any of her hateful spiel is true, then that’s on them.”
“You tell her, girlfriend!”
Jacqueline Crantz pushed Stacey out of the way and started looking over all the swag. Jac was a blogger and one of the first people to showcase Dimitri’s books. They’d gotten to know each other pretty well over the last few years.
“If you’re getting all sweaty in the sheets with the eye candy, good for you. If not, good for you. It’s none of anyone’s business.”
“Eye candy? Is that all I am to you? I feel so dirty…I think I need a shower. Perving on the eye candy. Shame on you!”
Dimitri stood behind her, laughing while Jac blushed three shades of cherry.
“What? You’re pretty to look at. Sue me.”
Dimitri turned on his sexy as sin smile. “Is that all you want me to do?”
Jac blushed harder and fidgeted. “No, I want you to give me my damned pre-orders and stop flirting before Becca stabs me in the eye.”
Becca relaxed her grip on the Sharpie she held. She’d had a moment of extreme jealousy until she realized Dimitri was only playing a part. It was in his eyes. He wasn’t the least bit interested in Jac. He only seemed to have eyes for her, and that made her heart speed up.
She dug out Jac’s pre-order and handed it over to her. “Hey, hun. Why do you read Dimitri’s books?” It was a question she planned on asking every reader today to prove her point to him.
“Oh, my Lord, what don’t I like about them? I’m a sucker for paranormal, and you add in those sexy-ass alphas?” She waved her hand in front of her face. “You manage to bring those people to life in a way most authors can’t. I’m invested in the characters, and I get pissed off with them sometimes, but the story is what keeps me reading. You write so that I’m hooked. By the time I’m done with one of your books, I need a week to recover.”
“So, you read his books for the story and not because he’s gorgeous?”
Jac laughed. “Girl, I remember the first time you convinced me to read one of his books. I had no clue who he was. I read it and was floored. I cried at the end. Silver Stars, that’s the book I read. I’ll never forget that book. I had no idea what he looked like until I looked him up to friend him.”
Dimitri’s shocked expression made Jac laugh, unaware of his preconceived notions about readers. After five hours of this, there was no way he could say his readers only cared about what he looked like.
The event coordinator called time for the event to open, and Jac wasted no time in grabbing a picture with Dimitri before hightailing it back to her table. She was sponsoring the event and had a table set up for her blog.
Dimitri barely had time to blink before the readers poured in the room, heading straight for him. He looked at Becca, his eyes wide, and she smiled. Poor guy. She wasn’t budging out from behind the table, though. Not a chance.
The people swarmed, and thanks to the planning she and Sheila had done, Dimitri’s table kept an orderly line. Becca had taken the chair behind the book rack, which partially hid her from view. Between that and the wall of banners, her anxiety wasn’t as bad as she feared. She blocked out the sounds of the crowd, focusing instead on handling cash, credit cards, and pre-orders. A few people talked to her, but for the most part, Dimitri was the star of the show.
He flirted, he thanked people, and took pictures, always listening when Becca asked a reader what they loved about his books. Slowly, but surely, he started to let himself really hear th
em. None of them gushed about him, except for his ability to tell a story. They read his books because they loved his words. It blew him away how many people stood and talked about their favorite book or series and spoke like they cared about the character the same way he did. So, maybe Becca was right and it wasn’t only about his face or his money. It was about his books.
There were still plenty who stopped just to get a picture with the hot guy, but Becca always nudged him to give them a bookmark. Why, he didn’t know. Not like they were interested in his books, anyway. She rolled her eyes when he got irritated.
He was exceptionally proud of Becca. She hadn’t let her anxiety get the best of her. Two hours of constant readers, and she’d held her ground. He could see the strain in her eyes, though. It was more than she was used to, but she was handling it.
His legs, though, were not only burning like he was standing in a pit of acid, but the pain started about half an hour ago. It raced up and down his legs, settling as a dull ache in the small of his back. He needed to sit, but there were so many people swarming, and he’d have to get right back up for photos.
When they called lunch a few minutes later, he had never been so grateful for anything in his life. The chair wasn’t exactly comfortable, but he was glad for the small relief it provided.
“You okay?” Becca handed him a cold bottle of water.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” He winced when he tried to rub a particularly sore spot on his leg.
“I’m not good, but I think I’m doing better than you.” She gave him a wry smile. “You need to sit down and finish signing. If you keep standing, I don’t know if you’ll be able to walk later.”
“No. People will know…”
“Haven’t you figured it out yet, D?” Becca resisted the urge to smack him. “People don’t care about your physique or if you’re the sexiest eye candy ever. They care about the books, about the words, and in turn, they care about you. If you let them in, no one is going to judge you. That’s the best thing about this community of readers. They rally around their favorite authors. Give them a chance.”
