“I made a point to learn about it as soon as I was assigned to be your bodyguard.”
Haylee leaned back with a sigh. “I’ll call in the morning. I should be able to talk to Evan by then. He doesn’t complain, but when I leave it’s hard on him. Once I’m finished with travel, I have hopes that his condition will improve.”
Lucas didn’t make a move to leave, and she was glad about that. Having company, especially his, was welcome. He didn’t tell her that it would be okay or try keep her from worrying. Lucas seemed to understand how she felt, without needing an explanation.
“I don’t mean to keep you,” Haylee said. “It’s late.” But looking at Lucas, her feelings contradicted her words. She needed comfort, and more than that, she needed him.
Lucas smiled. “I think I can handle it.”
His look of concern touched Haylee’s heart, and she was tempted to ask him to hold her. Instead, she looked at her lap and clasped her hands. Yet the connection between them was strong, and she could still feel his gaze.
Then Lucas stood. “But you need sleep.” He walked toward his suite. “I’ll just be right here if you need me.” He left the connecting door open, without her asking.
Haylee thought about Evan, her brave boy. She wished that he didn’t have to suffer, and hoped that once she was home permanently, she could figure something out. The doctor had told her that it wasn’t her fault that Evan was sick.
But emotions could trigger an asthma attack. Stress might aggravate Evan’s condition, and what young boy wouldn’t miss his mother? Haylee was boxed into a corner. She needed to be home with her son, but she had to finish out her contracts.
It would be heroic to quit and rush home to her son—but heroics wouldn’t pay the bills. If she cut and run, her sponsors would cut her off just as quickly. She only had a few more weeks, then she could leave with the ability to support Evan and take care of his medical needs.
After Haylee got ready for bed, she made tea and paced for a while, not ready for sleep. She glanced at the open door, feeling drawn to Lucas. It was a bad idea. She needed to stay tough, but that wasn’t so easy. Alone in a hotel suite, she felt lost. So many others counted on her, but who did she have to count on?
A soft glow from the other room reminded her that Lucas was next door—not that she could have forgotten. His presence drew her, and Haylee wasn’t inclined to resist. She needed a friend, and even more, she needed Lucas.
Haylee cinched her robe and stepped across the carpet to the open doorway. Hesitating only for a moment, she went into the other room. In the semi-darkness, Lucas was stretched out on his bed in a t-shirt and underwear, altogether too male and alluring.
Despite his state of undress, Lucas didn’t move to cover up. He kept his eyes on Haylee, and she made her decision. “Can I lie down with you?”
Lucas drew back the covers next to him. “Please, it’s a king-sized bed.”
“I just don’t want to sleep alone tonight,” Haylee said, slipping off her robe and crawling under the blanket.
“You don’t have to.” Lucas watched her snuggle in beside him, then he opened his arms.
Haylee didn’t need more encouragement; she accepted his embrace. His warm body was all muscle and strength, making her weak all the way to her toes. She put her head on his shoulder, and Lucas held her. He smelled so damn good.
Haylee closed her eyes and imagined that this was the way it should be. She thought of what it would be like to fall into his arms every night, but she was getting ahead of herself. Sharing his bed after a traumatic evening didn’t mean it was a permanent arrangement.
Lucas brushed her hair back. “I’m here. Just sleep, honey.”
In his arms, Haylee felt good. Next to him, she felt safe.
*****
The next morning, Haylee opened her eyes to an empty bed. She stretched her arm out, feeling the warm spot where Lucas had been. She must have slept like the dead, because she couldn’t remember anything after snuggling next to him.
Haylee rolled onto her back, draping her arm over her eyes. She had to face Lucas after intruding on his space. He was her bodyguard, but that didn’t mean he didn’t deserve privacy. Yet she didn’t regret it. The feel of Lucas beside her was a memory to cherish, a special moment they shared.
Whether the relationship would progress, Haylee didn’t know. She had every reason not to pursue him. There was too much going on in her life. But that didn’t stop the attraction. She might as well get out of bed and face the music.
With her robe on, Haylee went back to her suite to find Lucas making coffee. He was already dressed, looking every bit the bodyguard, not the lover. Yet the look in his eyes told her otherwise.
“Good morning,” Lucas said. “Cream and sugar?”
“Please.” Haylee studied him for any sign that something was amiss. But Lucas acted perfectly normal, as though last night had been like any other. But when he handed her the coffee, his copper eyes were filled with emotion.
“Did you sleep well?” Lucas sat across the table from her.
It was good to know that Lucas wasn’t going to make a point of her moment of weakness. “Yes, I did.” She would have asked the same of him, but he looked fit, refreshed, and ready for the day.
Over coffee, they talked about everything but sleeping together. Haylee brought up the weather, and how to dress. Lucas talked about security, a subject that wasn’t likely to arouse her desire. It was still early, but she wondered about how her son was doing.
“I’ll call in a couple of hours to check on Evan.”
Lucas glanced at his watch. “That should work. I’m sure your brother will be up.”
Haylee excused herself so she could shower and dress. “Amy will be here shortly to go to breakfast with me.”
“Sounds good. I’ll go check in with your security about the Coney Island setup.”
After Lucas left, Haylee couldn’t get him off her mind. It was going to be tough to be together day after day. Self-restraint wasn’t her strength. But she had to think of Lucas, as she didn’t want to put him in an awkward position—any more than she already had.
Chapter 8
Escorted by two of her security, Haylee went to breakfast with Amy. The meal was served in a lovely room, reserved for Haylee. There was a wall of windows with a lush garden outside in an enclosed courtyard.
The hotel offered an extensive tea bar and a full breakfast menu, including pastries, parfaits, and a selection of egg-based dishes. Haylee had the vegetable omelet, a smart choice for her health and energy. She would have preferred the buttermilk pancakes with chocolate chips, but those were a treat she couldn’t afford during a rigorous tour.
Amy wore comfortable travel clothes and had her blond hair tied back. She went over travel plans and the schedule leading up to the Brooklyn concert. Her efficiency could be counted on, which Haylee very much appreciated.
“You’re all business today,” Haylee said.
“That’s all I have for now,” Amy said, with a smile. “I’ll eat while you talk.”
“I actually slept last night, if you can believe that.”
“You look rested,” Amy said. “I assume your bodyguard is taking good care of you.”
Haylee didn’t miss the gleam in her eyes. “You know too much for your own good.”
“I just know you,” Amy said. “You have a glow that I recognize. And Lucas is a stunner.”
“I like him…a lot,” Haylee said. “Am I wrong to indulge?”
“If Lucas is good to you, and you enjoy his company, then I don’t see why not.”
“You’re always on my side,” Haylee said. “But he’s my bodyguard. It would be scandalous.”
“I’m not telling you to sell photos of you together,” Amy said. “But what you do privately is your business.”
“You know it’s not.”
Amy took a sip of tea. “It was worth a try. I just want to see you happy.”
Haylee nibbled on her
eggs and toast, keeping track of the time. As soon as it was late enough, she called Tyler.
“Good morning,” Haylee said. “How’s Evan?”
“He is much better,” Tyler said.
“Should I come home?”
“You can’t do that,” Tyler said. “You need to finish the tour.”
Haylee took a deep breath.
“I’m taking care of Evan,” Tyler said. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Haylee said. “That’s not the point, and you know it.”
“I’m telling you that he’s better,” Tyler said. “Here, you can talk to him and see for yourself.”
After a moment, Evan said, “Hi, Mommy.”
“Hi, honey. How are you?”
“Nina visited yesterday, and she brought me a new truck.”
“I can’t wait to see it.” Haylee loved his childhood innocence. The morning after a trip to the hospital, Evan was already focused on more important things—such as toy trucks.
“I asked her to come back and bring her kids to play with me.” Evan sounded so excited. “Can you tell Aunt Meri that it’s okay?”
“Sure, honey, let me talk to her,” Haylee said. Since Evan had forgotten about the trauma of the night before, she didn’t bring it up. The sad part was that it hadn’t been the first time for him. He was probably used to the routine, so didn’t dwell on it.
Haylee spoke to Meri, who had already planned the playdate. It was heartwarming that her son was having a good time. He didn’t object too much when she had to travel, although he was always thrilled to see her when she got home. As soon as she got the chance, she would shop for a gift to delight Evan.
It was too bad that Haylee was leaving Manhattan before she’d had a chance to enjoy it. Tours seemed like all work and no play, but she couldn’t complain. She adored being on stage and interacting with her fans. The next venue was Coney Island, an audience that she had previously entertained. Performing there was exciting, and she looked forward to it.
She would even have a day to relax and adjust to the locale before the concert. And Amy was taking a day off to see her sister, who lived in the area. Haylee felt better knowing that Evan was recovering well, and she felt more secure with Lucas around. It would be too easy to get used to having him in her life.
*****
Lucas had to get back to business. A new location meant new security challenges. Yet he couldn’t get Haylee out of his mind. The feel of her in his bed would be something he wouldn’t forget. It was best not to make more out of it than it was.
Haylee had been through a lot, and she was concerned about her son. Her appearance in his room hadn’t surprised him all that much. He didn’t view her as needy. Haylee was a warm person and craved closeness. Lucas viewed those as good qualities.
The public didn’t see Haylee like he did. When in the limelight, she was all fire and strength. Yet she was human like anyone else, a lovely woman with a kind heart. Lucas wished that he could look forward to holding her every night, but he had best not get carried away.
Haylee had become more than a vision from his past; she was a friend. Lucas admitted that he wanted more, but his desires weren’t what mattered. He had a job to do, and until Haylee had completed the concert and was safely home, he couldn’t give in to temptation.
Lucas discovered that touring was stressful. Problems arose and tempers ran short. Coordinating the crew, security, and the star was no small feat. Jeffrey had shared details about the challenging logistics of arranging the musicians and a long list of preparations required for each concert.
Haylee experienced the most pressure, despite all those around her trying to handle things for her. Maintaining her performance at a high level over a long concert tour was a source of psychological stress. Performers often used drugs or alcohol to deal with it. Haylee had gone through a period like that, but to her credit had overcome substance abuse.
As her bodyguard, Lucas tended to her emotional security as well as her physical safety. Close protection put him in the position of being with her around the clock. He had been trained and prepped for that role when his client was a celebrity.
As if the demands of touring weren’t enough, Haylee also had to face a stalker. That was a situation that Lucas needed to handle. The intrusion on her privacy and threat to her safety could not be tolerated. The instant Your Destiny—whoever he really was—showed his face, Lucas would make him wish that he hadn’t targeted Haylee.
While preparing to leave, Adam waved Lucas over and held up his phone. “Have you seen this?”
Each morning, Lucas checked social media. “This just appeared, because it wasn’t there an hour ago.”
“It already went viral,” Adam said.
Word had leaked out that Haylee’s tour was her last one. The fans had gone crazy and pleaded with Haylee not to stop performing. Lucas didn’t know if she had seen the posts yet, but there was no way to keep them from her.
The fervor would make it difficult for Haylee to maintain any privacy. The fans were demanding explanations, as though they owned her. Lucas guessed that she wasn’t anxious to discuss her son’s issues or her reasons for leaving the business.
Haylee would probably have to respond to the fans, but Lucas suspected that there was no way to satisfy them. He understood the passion they had for her music, but it went further. Lucas had new insight into Haylee’s decision to quit touring. She adored her fans, but it had become too difficult to live her life in the public eye.
Accompanied by two other security guards, Lucas went up to Haylee’s suite to escort her to the limousine. It was about a forty-minute drive from Midtown Manhattan to Coney Island. The team was moving Haylee to Gramercy Park Hotel so she would be conveniently located to the amphitheater on the Boardwalk.
Haylee would occupy the penthouse suite, and Lucas would stay in one of the bedrooms. There was no way that he would sleep down the hall from her. The hotel would be quite an experience. Lucas had done his homework when scoping out security.
The hotel was a choice hangout for the famous, including singers as well as movie stars. The hotel had been built in nineteen twenty-five and had attracted celebrities from the beginning. Humphrey Bogart had gotten married there, and the Rose Bar had been a favorite haunt of Babe Ruth.
Lucas was more interested in the safety of the location, so it was good to know that the hotel had been upgraded with state-of-the-art security features. That made sense, due to their VIP clientele. Sharing Haylee’s suite was necessary, but Lucas did not intend to take liberties. The second bedroom was a mini suite of its own, so there would be plenty of room for both of them.
*****
The next day, Lucas had an opportunity to take Haylee to the beach. It was a day off for her, while her team organized for the concert the following night. Due to her celebrity status, Haylee told him that she expected to be confined to her suite.
She had been partially kidding, but the reality wouldn’t have been that different. Anytime she left the hotel, she risked being recognized. That made an outing as simple as going to Starbucks out of the question. But Lucas had an idea.
“I’m not leaving you in this hotel room all day,” Lucas said.
“What do you propose to do about it?” Haylee said, clearly up for a challenge.
“We’re going to the beach.”
“I can’t go to the beach,” Haylee said. “Not unless you want an army of security trailing behind me. And besides, how to you propose to keep the paparazzi away?”
“They can’t photograph you if they’d don’t see you.”
Haylee stared at him, speechless for the first time since he had known her.
“Many times, during my military career, I was deep into hostile territory,” Lucas said. “If I could hide from the enemy, what makes you think I can’t do a simple thing like keep a celebrity out of sight?”
“I’m intrigued,” Haylee said. “What do you have in mind?”
Lucas reached behind the sofa to retrieve a pair of sunglasses and a floppy hat.
“Seriously?” Haylee said. “Those aren’t even designer glasses.”
“Exactly…all the better to make you unrecognizable.” Lucas proceeded to coach her on how to blend in. It was all about how you behaved, how you walked, and who you appeared to be. “People see what they want to see.”
Haylee held up the hat to examine it closer.
“All you have to do is stop acting like a star…just for today,” Lucas said, with a grin. “I realize that will be difficult for you.”
“Okay, smart guy,” Haylee said. “You’re on. I’m just Haylee nobody, but there is one thing that you might have overlooked. I’m going to the beach with a hunky ex-military guy. Don’t you think you’ll stand out?”
“I don’t plan to wear a blazer and an earpiece,” Lucas said. “I’ll even the playing field by wearing swim trunks.”
Haylee laughed. “That will throw them off. I’m sure the female sunbathers won’t give a second glance to your muscled physique—I know I won’t.”
Lucas lifted her up and twirled her around until she giggled. “All right, smarty…go get ready. And don’t take all day.”
While Haylee changed clothes, so did Lucas. He wore faded blue jeans and an oversized polo shirt with his trunks underneath. He had acquired a pair of cheap sunglasses to match Haylee’s and a safari hat to discourage curious onlookers.
Haylee emerged with her hair up under the hat. She wore no makeup, and her cotton shirt and shorts looked like they came from a discount store. In her plastic sandals and carrying a straw bag, Lucas hardly recognized her.
“That’s a pass.” Lucas took her arm. “To the beach, my lady.”
Lucas escorted her down to a scooter that he had rented. Taking the limo would have blown their cover for sure. The weather was warm, ideal for a day at the beach. Haylee was in high spirits about escaping and enjoying the activities like a tourist.
After they got to Coney Island, Lucas walked on the boardwalk with her. Holding hands felt natural, although he told her it was so they would look like a couple. Haylee squeezed his hand and gazed at the sights, looking adorable in the floppy hat.
Lucas (Must Love Danger Book 5) Page 6