Page 5 of About Last Night

His voice was deep, and my stomach did a swirl as I placed my much more delicate hand in his large, callused one and shook it firmly. A zing of electricity went through me at the touch, but I tried to keep myself composed so he wouldn’t pick up on the way his handsomeness affected me. I knew better than most that looks didn’t determine if someone was good at heart. His eyes widened with what looked like appreciation as he gave my hand a quick squeeze like he was impressed I gave a firm handshake. If he thought I’d give a wimpy handshake just because I was a girl, he was sorely mistaken.

I was a businesswoman and I’d built an empire—even if most people downplayed my success by saying I just wrote clever songs and got on stage in glittery outfits. I knew the truth. I was a force to be reckoned with, and I’d learned long ago a firm, solid handshake could set the tone early on in a meeting. I was not a weak woman who was a pushover.

“Brynn Davis.”

I pulled my hand back and didn’t miss how he squeezed his hand once before relaxing it at his side and turning his attention to Stella who had started talking to him. I should’ve been paying attention, but all I could do was stare down at his hand and think about that moment in the Kiera Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice when Darcy helps her into the carriage and then walks away, seemingly composed until he flexes his hand.

I hadn’t fully appreciated the hype around that moment, but I got it now. There was something that made your insides turn to mush when you watched a stoic man show even the slightest sign of weakness.

I swallowed hard and scanned over the definitely tailored suit up to dark eyes that carried a hint of amusement. My cheeks flushed at being caught checking him out, but I knew I was wearing enough makeup that he likely wouldn’t be able to tell.

“Do you still have the letter?” he asked Stella.

“Yeah. We’ve kept all the physical items in the safe and printed screenshots of the text messages. The police said there wasn’t much they could do but document everything. A lot of good that’ll do us if he gets to her,” she mumbled.

Stella was not a fan of how the police department had—or in this case, hadn’t—handled the situation. Hence, why I shouldn’t have been surprised that she’d gone straight to hiring a full-time bodyguard. I was even relieved she hadn’t decided to go with the usual company we used because I was getting less and less pleased with their “protection” with each event they’d been hired to attend with me. I couldn’t imagine feeling safe with them.

But of all the bodyguards in the world, did she have to hire the company with the sexiest bodyguard I’d ever seen? Surely there were men available who wouldn’t eviscerate my panties with just one look.

DON’T LET ANYONE GET UNDER YOUR SKIN

Brynn

There was something so attractive about this man’s mouth. If only he wasn’t being a domineering asshole.

For the last hour, all he’d talked about was what I couldn’t do, where I couldn’t go, and who I couldn’t see unless he was with me.

Any attraction I’d felt had dried up, slowly but surely the longer he talked. I understood he was here for my protection, but for fuck’s sake, couldn’t he at the very least discuss it with me instead of laying down the law like I was some petulant teenager on house arrest? Yes, he was the expert, but it was my life.

“Could we add additional security personnel instead of cutting out the meet and greets? Those are important to my fans, and I don’t want to disappoint them.”

“I think they’ll understand if you tell them it’s a safety concern,” he answered.

“You didn’t answer my question.” I held firm. Truth was, those meet and greets reminded me why I put myself out there the way I did. Meeting people who shared with me how my words had gotten them through a bad breakup, depression, or even saved their life was the only thing that made giving up my privacy worth it. They were the reason I kept recording music instead of hiding in a cabin in the mountains. I needed that reminder or else I was afraid the loneliness might eat me alive.

“You don’t just do what you’re told, do you?”

He wasn’t going to like this, but it was better he learn early. “I’m not a puppet. I will work with you but I do not work for you. I would appreciate if we could discuss things instead of you just laying down the law. I understand and respect that this is your area of expertise, but at the end of the day it’s my life and I’ve only got the one. I will not completely surrender my independence because of this psycho. Nor will I compromise what my fans have come to expect from me.”

I wasn’t going to needlessly sacrifice my safety. He probably thought I wasn’t taking this seriously, but I was. There were just some things I couldn’t give up if I wanted to keep my sanity intact throughout all this.

“We can hire additional security personnel and limit the number of the people in the room with me,” I stated, making clear this was my decision to make.

Stella piped up. “Oh, we could even pitch it as an exclusive one-on-one instead of the usual groups. Each person can be vetted prior to entering the room.”

My heart lifted with hope and I glanced back at Wyatt. His prominent brows were furrowed, his dark gaze staring intently at my face. “This is really that important to you?”

“Her fans live for it,” Stella said, likely thinking that would sell the idea.

But I heard him clearly. He’d picked up on what I hadn’t said—it wasn’t just for the fans, but for me. If he was that observant, then he deserved honesty. “Yes, it’s that important to me.”

He scrutinized me, and despite always getting picked apart by the press, I’d never felt so exposed as I did sitting across from Wyatt.

He dropped his gaze to the tablet he’d brought with him. “Fine. I’ll add additional security, background checks for all VIP guests, and screenings prior to entry with you.”

Stella stood up. “I’ll go call the tour manager and explain the changes.” She left the room, leaving Wyatt and me alone together for the first time since I’d met him.

Silence weighed down the air.