Chapter Five
Ema was so stirred up and stressed out about her date that night and going to Knox’s ranch on Monday, she got nothing out of the church service she found a block away from her hotel. She’d been in dozens of celebrities’ homes and after the first six months she stopped getting the jitters beforehand, but Knox was different.
She wondered if Knox was a churchgoer. Probably not. He hated people and would get too much attention going to church. She wondered what they were going to do on their date. She wondered what in the world she was thinking, going on a date with the Hulk. She wondered so much she had no clue what the preacher’s subject even was.
Knox had texted that he’d meet her in the lobby of her hotel at seven. That was it. No indication of where they were going, what to wear, or how long they’d be out. Ugh, men! Didn’t they understand a lady needed to dress differently depending on the situation?
She put on a white sundress with pink-and-white-striped canvas shoes. Maybe it was too casual. Maybe it was too dressy. Who knew?
She walked out of her hotel room and bumped into Mike in the hallway.
“Hey, pretty lady.” He grinned. “Joining me for dinner?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m going out with Knox, remember?”
He frowned. “How could I forget? The private date with no cameras.”
Ema didn’t remind him that he’d acted like he had forgotten ten seconds ago.
Mike took a step closer, and Ema tilted her head up to look at her film guy. He was a nice guy, but was she really going to have to draw boundaries again? She’d stopped counting how many times she’d done that over the past two years. Maybe she needed a sign on her forehead: I’m not playing hard to get. I am actually not interested. That would be a long sign, but if it worked, it would be worth it.
“Are you sure you want to go with him?” Mike asked. “He doesn’t seem like a very nice guy.”
Ema held her ground and tightened her grip on her small purse. “I’m going so I can get us into his ranch tomorrow.”
Mike’s eyebrows dipped. “So you’re selling yourself for an exclusive with a cocky, buff jerk?”
Ema almost slapped him. She clenched her fingers and tilted her chin up. “I’m not selling myself, and he isn’t cocky. He’s protecting his daughter.” Knox had lots of secrets and she wanted very much to get to the bottom of them—for reasons that had nothing to do with her show. She walked around Mike. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning at eight-thirty in the lobby.”
She made it to the elevator with his gaze heavy on her back. Punching the down arrow, she refused to look back. Just because he wasn’t being professional didn’t mean she couldn’t be. Selling herself? It hadn’t been like that at all. Knox wanted to spend some time with her without the cameras. Ema didn’t know what that meant, but it didn’t make her a sell-out.
The elevator finally came. She escaped inside and waited impatiently for the descent, giving herself a pep talk that everything was working out. When she reached the lobby, she was confident and ready for what the night could bring, but then she spotted Knox. The breath whooshed out of her and her steps faltered. He was in an untucked white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled and a few buttons undone at the top. Between that and the dark jeans that encased his strong legs, she had to remember that oxygen was necessary for survival and pulled in another breath. He glanced her way and his face lit up with a smile. That didn’t help matters at all.
The elevator doors shut on her as she stood immobilized, halfway in, halfway out. The doors hit her arms and bounced back open. It didn’t hurt anything but her pride. She’d just stopped in the opening of an elevator and gawked at a full-grown man like a teenager. Heat crawled up her neck and into her cheeks. Barely able to hold Knox’s gaze, she saw his grin deepen before he burst out laughing. He crossed the lobby toward her. She stepped out of the elevator before it nabbed her again, and tried to walk casually toward him.
“Are you all right?” he asked as he reached her. Even though he tried to hide his laughter, it was still in his eyes and on his lips.
“Stupid elevator just reached out and grabbed me.”
That did it. He started laughing again, a deep, beautiful laugh, and she couldn’t help but join him. People stopped and stared at them and she heard a few murmurs of, “That’s Knox Sherman.” Then she heard a lone voice say, “That’s Ema Kahue from Live Like a Celeb.” She ignored them and focused on Knox’s laughter and the rare connection she felt to this enigma. He was drawing her in, and it had nothing to do with his handsome face and perfect body.
His laughter finally calmed and he smiled down at her. “You look beautiful, Ema.”
“As do you.” She bowed slightly to him, and he chuckled again.
Offering his elbow, he said, “You ready?”
“Yes, sir.” She started toward the front entry, but Knox gently pulled her back.
“This way.” He gestured toward a side entrance. “The paparazzi somehow got wind of our date and they’re camped out in the front.” His forehead wrinkled and he glanced sharply down at her, all trace of levity evaporating. “You wouldn’t …?”
As the implication of his question sank in, Ema yanked her hand from his arm and planted her fists on her hips. “You think I would do something scummy like tip off the paparazzi?”
Knox’s eyebrows drew together. “Well, it would bring a lot of attention to your show.”
Ema tossed her long hair. “You want to end this date before it even begins?”
“Why would I want that? I went to all this effort.” He gestured toward her and pushed a hand through his hair. “I never make an effort with women. And people wonder why.”
Ema’s neck and cheeks flushed. “I’ve been telling myself that you act like jerk-bait because you want to protect your daughter, but maybe it just comes naturally to you.” She whirled on her heel and stomped toward the elevator.
Knox was at her side before she got two steps. He wrapped his arm around her waist and ushered her into an open elevator, away from all the watching eyes and wagging tongues. Ema noticed several phones pointed their direction, probably snapping pictures. Great.
The elevator door closed and she whirled on him as the elevator ascended without either of them pushing a button. “Escorting me back to my room? That’s very gracious of you.”
“Ema.” He stared down at her with an unreadable expression. “I’m sorry, okay?”
She arched an eyebrow at him. If he wanted to take her out tonight, he needed to do a lot better at groveling than that. Then she remembered that she wouldn’t get into his house to do her show if they didn’t go on the date. Dang it! Well, sacrifices must be made. She wasn’t going to go out with a jerk who thought she’d tipped off the press to get exposure for her show.
Knox was studying her, waiting for her response.
“You’re going to have to do a lot better than that, big guy.”
Knox glowered for a second, but then a smile played at the corner of his lips. “The Hulk again?”
She lifted a shoulder. “You want me to stop referring to him? Stop acting like him.”
The elevator door opened at the sixteenth floor and an elderly couple walked in. The lady smiled at the two of them. The man’s eyes went up and down Knox as the woman pressed the button to take them back down to the lobby. “You’re Knox Sherman.” He said it reverently, worshipfully.
Knox gave him a pained smile and stuck out his hand. “Yes, sir. Pleasure to meet you.”
Ema was impressed. Knox was obviously not happy with her right now, or with the reporters staking out the hotel, but he was respectful to an elderly fan. She didn’t have a clue how he treated his fans, but she really wished she had a camera picking this up.
“I served our country in Vietnam,” the old man proudly told him.
“Thank you for your service, sir,” Knox said. His smile turned genuine, boasting the power to knock the breath out of a woman.
“Thank you, ma’am. That means a lot to me,” Knox said.
The door opened at the lobby, and the elderly couple said their goodbyes and slowly made their way out. The doors closed with Knox and Ema still inside. He glanced at her and his shoulders rounded. “I’m really sorry that I asked if you tipped off the reporters. Paris would’ve pulled something like that for sure. I don’t know you well enough to say you wouldn’t do that, but I know you’re not like Paris, and I would like to get to know you better.” He pushed out a breath and waited.
Ema stared at him, then leaned forward toward the buttons, not sure which one she wanted to push. Paris. That woman had left scars on him deeper than any he’d gotten in the army. Did he care for her in some twisted way?
“It’s okay if you don’t want to go on the date,” Knox rushed out. “I’ll take you back up to your room.”
Ema made a rash decision and pushed the button to open the doors instead. She walked past him and out into the lobby. Some of the same people who’d been watching them before lifted their phones back up, obviously ready for more of a show.
Knox walked up close behind her and leaned down so only she could hear. “I’m guessing this means you’ll go?”
She nodded. “You went to all this effort.”
He smiled.
“But please don’t accuse me of something without having any facts. I’m not like Paris, at all. Ask me nicely if you have a question.”
“I’ll try to mind my manners.”
Ema laughed at that. Knox Sherman might—and it was a big might—have a heart in that big body, but he definitely could learn to mind his manners better.
He took her elbow and escorted her past the people staring and out a side door. There was nobody around in the alley. Knox cursed.
Ema whirled to him. “Now that is not minding your manners, big guy.”
“Sorry.” He blew out a breath. “There was supposed to be a car waiting for us right here.”
“A getaway car?” She winked.
“No, a limousine.” He cracked a smile as he registered what she’d said. “Maybe my friend Batman will show up with the Batmobile.”
“Wrong superhero series,” she said. “Batman isn’t part of the Avengers.”
“Oh, yeah.” He pulled out his phone. “Excuse me for a moment, please, and I’ll figure out where the car is.”
Ema nodded and watched as he walked a few feet away and dialed a number. Her own phone buzzed, and she pulled it out of her purse. She almost didn’t answer it when she saw Mike’s name on caller ID, but she decided she would be a professional even if he wasn’t. “Yes, Mike?”
“I just don’t feel good about you going with this guy.” No hello, just flinging that at her.
“Did you alert the paparazzi that Knox and I were leaving the hotel?”
“What? No. I wouldn’t do that.”
Ema thought his voice sounded guilty, but then she remembered how upset she’d been when Knox had accused her of the same thing a few moments ago. Maybe someone followed Knox, or it could’ve been Claire who alerted them. Ema walked farther away from where Knox stood; he was busy talking with someone and didn’t notice. “Okay. Hey, I’m going to be with Knox, so please don’t call me again tonight.”
“Ema.” Mike’s voice bordered on desperation. “Please. Don’t … kiss him or anything. I really like you, you know?”
“Don’t do this, Mike. Act like a professional, please.”
“I will if you will.”
Ema sighed. “I’m not going to kiss him. We’re going on a date, we’ll do the show tomorrow, then I’ll never see the guy again.” She glanced over her shoulder guiltily. Thankfully, Knox was far enough away he didn’t appear to have heard her. He’d walked to the front of the alley and it looked like he was searching for their car. Maybe their driver got lost. So far this date wasn’t going anything like he’d probably planned. Maybe he’d turn into a green monster in frustration. Ema smiled.
“Okay. See you in the morning.”
Ema hung up and said a quick prayer for patience. Maybe when ABC picked up their show and she had a full camera crew, Mike wouldn’t be so close to her and so invested in everything she did.
An arm snaked around her waist and as she cried out, a hand clamped over her mouth. Ema’s breath shortened and her stomach twisted with horror as a person who reeked of marijuana lifted her off her feet and pulled her back into the shadowy recesses of the alley. They pushed through a door and it clanged shut behind them. A dim light bulb lit the small landing.
Ema elbowed the guy and he grunted out, but didn’t release her. She thrashed to free herself.
“Listen careful, lady,” the guy panted out. “I’ve got a knife and I don’t mind slicing you up, got it?”
Ema stopped struggling, praying Knox had somehow seen where she disappeared to. She tried to nod that she would listen to the guy.
“Hand over your little purse and then I’ll let you go.”
Ema tried to nod again, not able to move her head much with how tightly he was clamping his hand over her mouth.
The door banged open behind them, slamming into the man’s back. He shouted and released Ema. She scurried away from him and up a couple of stairs, turning to see Knox filling the doorway. His eyes were darker than ever and his entire body was taut. He grabbed the guy around the neck and slammed him into the wall. The door banged closed behind him.
The guy tried to scream, but it came out as a gurgle. Knox released his neck, jammed his left fist into the guy’s abdomen, and then slammed his right fist into his jaw. The guy crumpled and cried out. “Don’t hit me, please. I just need cash for drugs.”
Knox lifted him up and shoved him against the wall again, giving him a firm shake but not hitting him again. He glanced over at Ema. “Are you okay?”
She nodded quickly.
“Call the police,” Knox instructed her.
Ema yanked her phone out. Her fingers would barely cooperate as she held her thumb over the home button, then pushed to make a call. She was shaking so bad she hit 911 wrong twice before finally getting the sequence correct. The operator came on and she started talking.
Meanwhile Knox said to her, “Can you open the door, please? It’ll be easier for the police to find us outside.”
Ema rested the phone in the crook of her neck and tried to answer the operator’s questions, reassured that the police would be there soon. She crept down the couple of stairs she’d retreated up and around the two men, yanking the door open. Knox flipped the guy around in one fluid motion and wrenched his arms behind his back, then shoved him out the door.
Ema followed on trembling legs, but as she watched Knox manhandle the druggie down the alley and she followed, muttering responses to the emergency operator, she realized she had nothing to be afraid of. She’d never seen someone take control of a terrifying situation so completely and efficiently. With Knox around, she didn’t need to be afraid.
She shook her head. They were going on this one date, and then she was videoing his home tomorrow. She’d move on to the next project and realistically she’d never see him again. It wasn’t like he was going to protect her for life.
Knox stopped at the end of the alley and slammed the guy into the wall again. The guy was moaning pitifully, but Knox ignored his complaints. Ema stayed back a few feet, not wanting to be anywhere near her attacker.
Knox looked over at her. His eyes trailed over her body as if making sure she was telling the truth about being okay. “He didn’t hurt you?” he asked.
“No.” She pasted on a brave smile. “Thanks to you.”
Knox gave her his full smile, and the trembling she’d just been able to control resurfaced. Luckily, the 911 operator was talking again, and Ema c
ould use that to distract herself from the force of that smile. If Knox didn’t stop smiling like that, she’d be in danger of never wanting to move on.
They made it through all the police questioning and to the Sloane Kent concert half an hour after it started. The timing worked out fine because their attendee told Knox, while Ema used a private restroom, that the opening act was just finishing up and Sloane’s crew were switching out equipment for Sloane’s backup musicians. Knox loved Sloane’s music, and it was pretty great that the country music star’s brother, Walker Kent, was the Titans’ center. Knox felt a kinship to Walker since they’d both served in the military and they both didn’t want anyone close to them.
The attendee led him and Ema through a private entrance and into the private suite Knox had booked for them. Knox thanked the young man and palmed him a hundred-dollar bill. “You’ll keep this quiet?”
“Yes, sir.” The young man grinned and shut the door.
Knox’s hands had stopped shaking from the rage of seeing that man grab Ema and pull her through the doorway, but his heart rate was still elevated. He wasn’t sure if that was from the anger over seeing her attacked or simply being around her. He glanced down at her and she looked up, rewarding him with a smile.
“Pretty posh, Mr. Sherman,” she said, looking around at the plush suite. It had a few chairs up front with quite a bit of open space to walk around, or maybe dance to the music, if someone liked to do that. There was a counter in the back loaded with food and a leather couch in the corner.
He smiled. “Are you hungry?”
She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m still a little jumpy from … earlier. You eat, though. I’m sure in a minute my stomach will settle.”
“I’ll wait until you’re ready.”
“Thanks.” She glanced out at the stage, which was quiet for the moment. “So, what fantastic event have you brought me to?”
Knox hoped they could put her attack behind them and enjoy their time together, but that might be difficult for someone innocent like Ema. He’d seen more horror and heartache in his years with the military than any human should have to. Yet her attack had shaken him up also. The same part of his psyche that was done with all the violence was also saying he needed to remain detached from this beauty. Her being attacked was one of the reasons he sheltered Shelby so completely and didn’t get close to many people. There were too many bad things that happened to the people he loved. He couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to Ema, and this was only the third time he’d been around her. While Ema had given her statement to the police back at the hotel, Knox had been able to talk to Brig, his head of security. All was quiet at the house and Shelby was fine, but he asked Brig to be extra vigilant. Ema’s attack had him jumpy, even though logically he couldn’t connect the druggie to any threats on his little girl.
The Beastly Groom Page 5