by Apryl Baker
Becca shot him a grateful look and slipped behind him to start working on the table, leaving him to chat with the ladies. He noticed Sara Jane’s gaze followed her, her expression curious. She did say something about her kid having anxiety problems. She might understand a little of what Becca was going through. He’d talk to her about it later.
Sara Jane’s phone rang, and she pulled it out, her face morphing into agitation. Now, that was curious. She excused herself to take the call. He hoped nothing was wrong. He kept up the conversation with the other authors, but his attention remained divided between Sara and Becca.
“Here, make yourself useful.” Becca shoved another banner at him. “This one is more important than your other one.”
“Why?” Why the fuck would she order two of the damned things?
“This one is your Hunter series banner. This is the series fans love. I couldn’t not design one specifically for it.”
He eyeballed the thing with as much hate as he could muster up. Damn banner.
Becca smiled when she saw his glare. “You need to learn to do it. Sara isn’t going to be at all your signings to rescue you.”
He took the box grudgingly. “Sorry, ladies, the boss is putting me to work. I’ll chat with you later when we come look around the room.”
They all laughed good naturedly, and he turned to find Becca with her back to the room once again. “Hey, babe, you okay?”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t like the quietness of her tone. It said no, she wasn’t okay.
He stepped up behind her, his head by her ear. “You aren’t a good liar, sweetheart. Do you need us to leave? I can come back later and finish.” Not that he knew what he was doing, but he was betting he could talk Sara into helping him, unless her husband was being an ass again.
She shook her head and stepped back, forcing him to do the same. “I’m fine, D. Really. I just need to finish this, and you’re in the way. Put the banner up, please, and let me get this done so we can get out of here.”
Instead of listening to her, he wrapped his arms around her, his lips ghosting over her jawline. Distraction was the key with Becca. Another thing he’d need to ask his mom about.
“What are you doing?” she hissed, and he grinned. She was getting all mad and embarrassed. Just the reaction he was hoping for.
“Kissing you?”
“Stop it!”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“Dimitri Kincaid, I swear to God, I am going to hurt you!”
He laughed and stepped back. “Fine, I’ll put up the damn banner.” Several of the other tables were watching them, amused. He winked at them and went about trying to make the banner stand up. It kicked his ass so much it even had Becca laughing at him. Hell, he’d let the damn thing do it all over again as long as it made her laugh.
“You still haven’t figured that thing out?” Sara Jane stood to his left, hands on her hips, laughing for all she was worth.
“No. Save me, please.”
“Don’t you dare do it for him!” Becca looked up from arranging the bins she’d put on the table. “He needs to learn to do it.”
“Or you need to learn to do it,” he grumbled.
“Nope. I’m doing all this.” She swept her hand at his table. “Your only job is the banners. Stop being a baby and get the shit done, D.”
“Someone’s not happy with you,” Sara whispered conspiratorially. “What did you do?”
“Kissed her.” He shrugged. People would know soon enough, including Becca.
Sara Jane grinned. “’Bout time you two figured it out.”
“Figured it out?” He watched her put the banner together and growled when she pulled it apart. “Why did you do that?”
“Becca said you needed to learn to do it, so you’re going to learn. As for your first question, I’m glad you figured out that the two of you are perfect for each other. I’ve known it for over a year, listening to you talk about each other.”
“It’s not that simple, Sara.” He kept a watchful eye on Becca as he lowered his voice. “I’m not the relationship kind of man, and she deserves that.”
“So, what? You’re just going to treat her like you do your other women, Dimitri? I thought better of you than that.”
The reproach in her voice was so like his mother’s he cringed. “No. I wouldn’t do that to her.”
“Then, what?”
“I don’t know. I just know I can’t get her out of my head. Maybe try the relationship thing for real? Go into it knowing something might come out of it besides amazing sex?”
“Make sure that’s what you really want, Dimitri, or you’ll hurt her. A hurt neither of you can come back from.”
“I know that, Sara.” He rolled his head, trying to ease some of the tension in the muscles, and changed the subject. He didn’t want to talk about what was going on with him and Becca before the two of them had a chance to discuss it. “What’s going on with you? You looked pissed earlier when you took that call. Your husband throwing a fit over you being here?”
She sighed like the world’s sorrows had landed at her feet. “That was Roger on the phone. He’s pissed I brought Delia with me. My mom’s here watching her, but he’s still mad. Said she doesn’t need to be around anything that promotes sex.”
“He’s fucking stupid.”
Her laugh came out hollow. “Well, considering I filed for divorce and a restraining order in the same breath, he’s doing everything he can to make my life a living hell right now.”
“Restraining order?” What had the fucker done?
“Yes.” Sara nodded. “Roger could be…abusive. He never touched Delia until three weeks ago when she didn’t put her toys away fast enough for him. He hit her, Dimitri. So hard it knocked one of her baby teeth out.”
“Motherfucker.”
“I slipped one of my sleeping pills into his dinner. Once he was out, I grabbed Delia and called my mom. She drove us to the ER. I filed the restraining order the next day. The judge took one look at Delia’s face and granted it. The only problem is Roger won’t leave us alone. He keeps harassing me, showing up and violating the order. He does it when there are no witnesses around and I can’t prove he’s violating the order. I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid he’s going to hurt us. It’s why I brought Delia with me to this. I don’t want her out of my sight.”
“My brother owns a security company. He can provide you with a bodyguard, help you catch this motherfucker in violation of the order, and get his ass thrown in jail.”
“I can’t really afford private security…”
“No, you need this, Sara. I’ll deal with the cost.”
“You will not deal with the cost.”
“Yes, buttercup, I will. No arguments. That fucker needs to be taken care of. No one hits a kid and gets away with it.”
“Let him do this for you.” Becca made them both jump when her quiet voice startled them. “Sorry, your whispering carried over to where I was. Your soon-to-be ex sounds dangerous, Sara Jane. Let Dimitri help you and your little girl.”
Sara looked torn, but Dimitri was pretty sure the thought of her daughter was what made her agree. “Okay, thank you.”
He pulled out his phone and called his brother for the second time today.
“Hey, brat. Something happen?”
“I’ve got another job for you. A friend of mine’s ex is causing her problems. Motherfucker needs to be put in his place, and she can’t catch him breaking the restraining order where there are witnesses around.”
“Yeah, the police’s hands are tied in those situations. Witnesses have to see him. How dangerous is he?”
“Very. He likes to use his fists.”
The low growl that sounded over the line could be heard by both women standing next to him.
“Hit their kid. It’s what made her leave. Sara’s a friend of mine. You bill me with the cost. She needs the help.”
“She can’t afford us?” Viktor
asked.
“No, that’s why I’m paying. She’s a good friend.”
“Tell me she’s not one of your exes.”
“Fuck, no. I don’t mess around with married women.”
“You said it was her ex…”
“She filed for divorce…how long ago did you file?”
“Two weeks. He’s fighting it tooth and nail.”
“That her?” Viktor asked.
“Yeah. Can you send someone out here to help her? Her ex is harassing her, and she’s afraid he’ll try something. She has their daughter with her.”
“Yeah. I’ll get the first flight out.”
“You?” Dimitri asked, surprised.
“I won’t charge you a damn thing since she’s a friend, and I can’t abide a man hitting a woman or child. I won’t ask the other guys to work for free, either, so I’ll handle it myself. Should only take a few hours to get down there. I’ll book a hotel room and meet you and this woman for breakfast. Sound good?”
“Sounds great. Thanks, Vik.”
He didn’t even bother to say goodbye, just hung up on him. A bad habit of Viktor’s. He’d learned it from Conner.
“Looks like you’re going to get the services of the CEO himself.” Dimitri grinned, thinking about what Viktor was going to think of Sara. The man was always after his forever kind of love, searching and testing the waters on a regular basis. Sara Jane wasn’t his usual type, but he had this nagging feeling fireworks were going to soon explode. Romance writer’s instincts kicking in and shouting, “New book idea coming soon!”
“I appreciate it, baby doll. Thank you.”
Dimitri gave her a quick hug. “You set up yet?”
“Sure am. I’m way back there in the corner.” She pointed off to the side, snickering. “I swear someone hates me, sticking me back there where I can’t find an air vent. I’m going to burn up tomorrow.”
“Everyone loves you, doll.” Dimitri looked over the room, noticing it was really starting to fill up. Best to get this shit done and out of here quickly. “Hey, you wouldn’t know where we can get some good seafood, would you? I’ve been dying for fresh seafood since I got here.”
“It’s the Cali in him. He’s forgotten what it’s like to eat anything but fish.” Becca stood back to assess the table. She’d purposefully done it in tones of silver and blue, with lots of black to make it look sexy yet manly. None of his swag was too over the top, and the black jewelry boards showcased all the charms she’d ordered for him as well. It looked damn good.
“Wow.” Sara Jane came to stand beside her, ogling the table. “This is gorgeous. Where did you get the cloth banner?”
“Small shop on the south side of Chicago. I gave them the logo graphic, and they worked magic. I wanted this to be a table banner that didn’t cover the front but was draped over the middle of it instead. They did a great job.”
“You have to give me the name of the place. I’ve wanted one of these for a good year, but every place I tried, it didn’t come out right.”
“Sure. I’ll message you later.” She straightened the wooden rack to the right angle so the books were the first thing people would see when they entered the door.
“See? You wanted me to try to do this by myself?” Dimitri eyes widened in the most exaggerated way. “It would have looked nothing like this.”
“Hush, you would have suckered Sara into helping you out, and you know it.” She shoved him playfully, purposely keeping her back to the crowd. That was helping more than anything, but tomorrow? That had her nervous.
“I would have too. I’m a sucker for that smile.” Sara winked at Dimitri. “Now, seafood…Mom and I were going to try Hyman’s Seafood, but I got pulled into lunch with the girls. Now, I’m so tired, all I’m going to do is go order some takeout and relax until tomorrow.”
“Becca and I will check it out and let you know. Vik will be here in the morning and wanted to meet you at breakfast. That cool?”
“Yeah, as long as he doesn’t mind my six-year-old. I promised to take her out to breakfast in the morning.”
“That’s fine. You get some sleep and stop worrying. Kincaid Security and Investigations will get you sorted. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
Becca watched him from beneath her lashes. Strangely, when it came to Sara, she felt not a twinge of jealousy. She never had. His other women were an entirely different matter. She’d hated them and on occasion had printed out a photo just to shred it. She’d been best buds with the little green monster for a long time.
“You ready, babe? Or do we need to do anything else?”
“I’m set. All you have to do is sign books when we get back to our room.”
“Our room?” Sara’s eyebrows did that wiggly thing, and Becca felt heat blooming onto her cheeks.
“I wasn’t supposed to come this weekend, and there were no more rooms available, so I got stuck bunking with the crybaby.”
“Crybaby?”
“Yes, the crybaby who pitches a fit until he gets what he wants. What would you call it?”
“Temper tantrum.” Sara winked. “Delia does it all the time.”
“I swear. I can’t take you two anywhere without you trying to make fun of me. You, Sara Jane, get gone, and you and me,” he pointed at Becca, “we’re going to eat and talk.”
Sara laughed and started walking back toward her table. Becca’s nerves started to fray thinking about what Dimitri wanted to talk about. Not a discussion she wanted to have. He was going to tell her while he wanted to fuck her, that was all it would be. He didn’t do relationships. They could have fun, but it wouldn’t go past fuck buddies.
And, honestly, she might give in. She’d wanted him so badly for so long, and her body betrayed her every time he got close, so why fight him? It would hurt her like a train wreck, that was why, she told her subconscious. But it might be worth the heartache to have those memories.
“Becca?”
Startled, she found herself surrounded by three guys, two of whom she knew. Models. The third one was a model as well, but she’d never chatted with him on Facebook before. Kyle Moore, Henry Dawl, and Mr. Biceps. Gorgeous eye candy, all three, but none of that mattered to her right this minute.
She took several steps backward to ward off the trapped, closed-in feeling. It didn’t prevent the tremors from starting, though, or the sweat from beading her forehead. A sick feeling began to churn in her stomach, and the walls felt a little tighter. Closed in.
“Hi, Henry, Kyle.” Three little words, but the hardest three she’d had to speak in years.
Henry rushed her, wrapping her in a hug, and she fought not to scream, not to choke on the lack of air getting into her lungs. This was too much, too much.
“We didn’t know you were coming, baby girl. You should have told us. We’d have taken you out for lunch.”
“Let me go,” she gasped, working and failing at stopping the panic from stomping her in the gut.
Henry let her go, confused. Concern replaced the confusion when he got a good look at her. “You okay, Becca?”
“Don’t fucking put your hands on her again.”
Dimitri looked ready to murder them, his eyes ice cold, and his entire body primed to fight. Becca struggled to pull air into her lungs. She knew he was going to hurt someone. Because of her.
“Chill, dude. We’re friends.”
“Don’t fucking care, dude.” He stepped over to where Becca stood and made her bend over a little, grabbing her purse off the table and digging until he found her inhaler. “She’s mine. Don’t touch her.”
“What-the-fuck-ever.” Henry ignored him and stepped closer. “What’s wrong with her?”
“None of your fucking business.” Dimitri’s entire tone went hard and as cold as the ice in his eyes.
Becca took several long pulls of air into her lungs once the inhaler started to work. She concentrated on the carpet and counted to twenty, scared Dimitri would explode before she could stop him.
“It’s okay. I’m fine.” She wheezed a bit, but there was no help for it.
“You are not fine, baby girl. What’s wrong?”
Becca closed her eyes then opened them when she heard the growl leave Dimitri. Henry had inched closer. “I am, promise. I’ll message you tonight and explain it, but I just need to get out of here right now.”
Henry didn’t look convinced but did move back when Dimitri pulled her to him and moved her quickly through the building and out to the Jeep. She was shaking so badly, it felt like her teeth were chattering. She could breathe, but barely, and the nauseated feeling wouldn’t stop. Bile rose, and she barely managed to get the door open before hot liquid went spewing.
“What do you need?” Dimitri fussed as soon as he was in the driver’s side. “What can I do?”
She shook her head and closed the door, turning the AC on full blast and aiming it right at her face. She hugged herself, her nails biting into her arms to try to calm her shaking hands. It was a bad idea. She knew it before she walked in. Why had she thought she could do this?
Dimitri felt helpless watching her misery. He shouldn’t have asked her to do this, dammit. He’d seen what just the thought of it had done, but he’d stupidly thought since she’d handled the last couple places he’d taken them and seemed to be handling the small crowd in the event room, she’d be okay.
Wrong. All it took was getting cornered by three people while he’d stopped to chat with the author at the table beside them. He hadn’t seen the men until it was too late. Didn’t matter if she knew them; she didn’t trust them like she did him. That was why she freaked, and he’d had his back turned, thinking she would grab her purse and join him. He should have known better than to turn his back in a room full of people she knew better than he did.
He started the Jeep and pulled out, heading back to the hotel. She was in no shape to try a restaurant. He’d get her calmed down then go find food for them both.
“Where are we going?”
Her quiet voice startled him. “Back to the hotel.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shot a glance her way and saw her hunch in on herself. No way in hell was she going to blame herself for this.
“You don’t have a fucking thing to be sorry for, sweetheart. I do. I shouldn’t have asked you to come when I knew what might happen. I’m a selfish bastard who doesn’t deserve you.”