Page 24 of Never Date a Celebrity

“Okay,” he said slowly, in a tone that implied that he was wondering what it had to do with him.

She was getting to that part. “My management team is insisting that I bring someone from security with me. On my date.”

“And they’re right to insist on that. There’s danger everywhere,” Steve said seriously. That’s what Amelia should call him, Serious Steve. “You want me to go with you?”

Amelia tilted her head from side to side because she did, but it wasn’t that simple. “Well, yeah, kind of. I would like you to be there for my security, but I was also hoping for some privacy. It’s a date, Steve,” she reiterated and raised her eyebrows at him. “Know what I mean?”

“That I’ll cramp your style in some way?” he asked facetiously. It was the closest thing to a joke she had heard come out of Steve’s mouth yet. Serious Steve had layers.

“Something like that,” she said light-heartedly.

He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “It sort of comes with the territory of your job though, doesn’t it? Having security trailing along.”

She leaned forward. “I’m going to level with you here, Steve.” Amelia explained all about hiding who she was. “So, you can see why your presence might seem a bit odd.”

“What are you suggesting?” His face remained neutral, but the way he said it sounded more like where the hell are you going with this?

Amelia flashed him a hopeful smile. “I was thinking that maybe you could just drop me off and pick me up? Let me disappear for a few hours in between? No one would have to know but us.”

“Unless something happened.”

“Which I’m sure it won’t.”

He frowned. “I can’t take that chance. I’d feel better at least keeping an eye on things from a distance. I can be discreet.”

“Like a tail?” Amelia didn’t love the idea, but did she really have another option?

Steve almost smiled. Almost. “More like a guardian angel, tagging along behind.”

“That has a nicer ring to it.” It wasn’t exactly what Amelia had planned or wanted, but Steve had compromised more willingly than she expected. She didn’t want to push her luck. “Let’s do that. Thank you.” He was a good guy.

“Sure. Saturday then.” He nodded and went to walk away, then stopped. “Where is it you’re going?”

“Ballyluck.”

“What the hell are you going to do in Ballyluck? You already saw the whole place yesterday.”

Amelia grinned. “How do you feel about hiking around Ireland’s beautiful countryside?”

Steve broke character for once and sighed deeply. “Not good, Amelia. Not good at all.”

She laughed. “Well, don’t worry if you can’t keep up. I won’t purposefully try to lose you or anything, but if it happens, it happens.” She threw him a cheeky wink to show that she was only teasing him. But a girl could hope, right?

Chapter Five

“I think I’m going to be sick.” Imogen paced back and forth behind the bar, aggressively breathing in and out.

“You’re going to be fine,” Niamh reassured her for about the twenty-seventh time that morning. “How long is it until you meet her?”

Imogen checked her phone. “Twenty minutes.” She closed her eyes and covered them with her hands. “Oh, God.”

“Jesus, I’ve never seen her this nervous before,” Piper stage-whispered to Niamh.

“I’m not sure if I’ve ever been this nervous before.” Thankfully, the bar was empty—Piper and Niamh hardly counted as witnesses. “Why do I feel like this? I’ve dated before.”

“Like a decade ago,” Piper reminded her.

Imogen glared at her. “It has not been that long.” She froze to calculate how long it had been. Over four years. So, a while. “Half a decade, not even,” she shot back before continuing her pace.