Page 33 of Speechless
“Yeah.” He grimaced. “Things are still a little crazy around here after the show. Apparently, they’re afraid I’ll be spotted and it’ll create a mob scene.”
“Oh, of course. That makes sense.” Sometimes it was still hard to reconcile the fact the boy who’d driven me around in a beat-up pick-up truck, always low on gas, was an award-winning Platinum-selling country music artist.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be discreet. Keep his distance.”
“It’s fine, Mav. If you have other things to do, maybe he could just follow me back to the hotel? But I really don’t mind walking alone. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
A dark look crossed his face and I knew it would be pointless to argue. “Like hell you’re walking alone. There’s nothing else I have to do.” His eyes met mine as he extended his hand. “And no one else I’d rather be with, so come on, let’s go.”
ChapterTen
Maverick
We were walking down the street, my ball cap pulled low over my eyes, with Codie wearing my jean jacket and her hand in mine. I felt like I was dreaming. A hundred times I’d woken up over the years with a scene just like this one playing over and over in my mind. Real life, simple moments with this girl. It was all I’d ever wanted.
“Must seem surreal,” she whispered. “Needing security to go for a walk.”
“Yeah, it does. But this is what I signed on for, so I’m not complaining.”
“Best and worst parts of this crazy famous-musician life, so far?” she asked, gut-punching me with her smile.
“Uh, best parts would have to be the fans singing my songs back to me. I don’t think that’ll ever get old.”
“I bet. It must be the best feeling ever.”
My eyes skimmed her body, taking in her fitted distressed jeans, long-sleeve black t-shirt and high heeled boots. “I don’t know about that. I can think of one or two things that feel better.”
“Wh—?” Her eyes met mine and she blushed before laughing and squeezing my hand. “Keep your mind out of the gutter.”
“You don’t make it easy, girl.”
“Worst part?”
I didn’t even have to think about it before I said, “Not knowing who wants to be your friend, or more, because they think you’re on your way up and they want a piece of your action.”
“You, uh, must get a lot of girls coming on to you.”
I could hear the edge to her voice, like maybe she was jealous, but I wasn’t dumb enough to call her out. “Those that do are only after one thing.”
She laughed. “Now you know how pretty girls feel, getting hit on by guys who are only after one thing.”
“Mmm.” I held the glass door open for her, before signaling to security I’d be out in five minutes. “You must get a lot of that in your business too? Guys coming onto you.”
“You learn to deal.” She stopped in the lobby before we reached the elevator. “I can take it from here, Mav. You don’t have to walk me to my room.”
“Would you mind if I did?” I didn’t want to push, but I wasn’t ready to say good-night yet.
“Sure, if you want to.”
We walked towards the elevator and she punched the button. I was grateful when we stepped on and an older couple greeted us.
I didn’t trust myself being alone with her in an enclosed space. Being on my bus with her, even for a few minutes, had been sweet torture. Trying to resist the temptation to drink every day was bad enough. But trying to resist Codie? No man was strong enough to do both.
“I’m at the end of the hall,” she said, stepping off the elevator before turning right. She took the keycard out, preparing to slide it into the lock before I snagged it, doing it for her.
She smiled as I slipped the card into her back pocket. “I don’t remember you being such a gentleman,” she teased, as I held the door open for her.
“That’s because I was a dumb kid when we dated. I had no idea how to treat a lady. Now I do.”
