Only You (Adair Family #5)(68)

Roe shoved me playfully. “Should I expect to be flattered all day, Brodan Adair?”

“That was my plan.”

“I have a better one.” Her expression lit up upon seeing a burger van. “It’s almost lunchtime, and that cheesecake wasn’t enough. I’m starving.”

“Well, we can’t have that.” I tugged on her arm, pulling her into the queue for the burgers. “What do you want?”

She studied the menu board, and I could practically see her salivating. “What are you having?”

“Preferably you, but I’ll take a cheeseburger in the meantime.”

She let out an exasperated laugh. “You are indefatigable.”

“Ooh, good word, Ms. Sinclair.” I wrapped my arms around her waist, drawing her back to my chest as I murmured in her ear, “And you have no idea just how indefatigable I can be.”

Tilting her head back, Roe snorted. “Oh my God, stop it.”

I shook with laughter against her. “I can’t help myself.”

“Holy shit, you’re Brodan Adair.” The male voice cut through my moment with Roe, and she pulled out of my arms.

Facing the intruder, it took everything within me not to snarl at the young man. He stood with a young woman, and they blinked at me like two deer in headlights. Swallowing my irritation, I nodded hello.

The guy raised his hands to his head and then spread his fingers as he made an exploding noise. “How cool! I mean, we knew we might see someone famous while we were here, but Brodan Adair!” He pulled the woman at his side tight to him. “You’re on both of our lists.”

I didn’t ask because I already knew what they meant. This wasn’t the first time someone had said it to me.

Still, he acted like I asked. “Our sex lists,” he explained.

Shit.

I shot a look at Roe. She stared in astonishment at the couple.

“You know, like, if we met you, we give each other permission to fuck you.”

“Excuse me?” Monroe stepped forward, anger staining her cheeks red.

The young guy looked surprised by her reaction. “Oh, oh, like, it’s a compliment.”

“Is it?” Roe said sarcastically, crossing her arms over her chest. “It’s a compliment to tell a complete stranger that you have permission to fuck them? Because in my world, that’s called sexual harassment.”

“Roe,” I murmured, tugging her gently back. “It’s fine.”

The couple stared at Roe like she was insane. She was right. But some people thought because they’d seen me in a bunch of movies that they knew me. Boundaries they normally wouldn’t cross no longer existed for them. Not wanting the situation to become an ugly anecdote online, I said to the couple, “Would you like an autograph?”

They grinned broadly. “Can we get a selfie with you?” They shoved a phone at Roe before I could comply.

Roe stared at it in her hands like it was a bag of dog shit.

I rubbed her back. “It’s fine,” I repeated.

Thankfully, she took the photo without another word, but the easiness between us was gone. Once we’d grabbed a couple of burgers, it became obvious that any privacy we might have was blown. The tourists at the fair had gotten word I was here. We stood to the side, eating our burgers, but we both felt public attention on us.

“How can you be okay with them talking to you like that?” Monroe asked.

Shrugging, I explained, “It’s easier to ignore it, give them a photo or autograph, and just walk away. It comes with the job. To them, I’m not a stranger.”

“But you are. And they talked to you like you were some inanimate sex toy.”

I snorted at her words. “You are very sexy when you’re angry. That might be a problem for me.”

“Shut up,” she said without heat.

“You’ve always been like this.”

“Like what?”

“Just as protective of me as I am of you. Remember when Michelle Kingsley kept shoving me in the quad? You came running to my rescue.”

“She’s lucky I didn’t break that perfect nose of hers,” Roe muttered, clearly still agitated by the young couple at the burger van.

“Admit it.” I nudged her. “You still care about me.”

Monroe eyed me seriously. “It was never a question of that, Brodan.”

Fuck, I wanted to kiss her so badly.

“Mr. Adair.”

I squeezed my eyes closed in frustration but pasted on a smile as I turned to face our latest interrupters. It was a family of four, all staring at me with shy excitement. I widened my smile. “Hullo.”

The mum said, “Mr. Adair, we’re such big fans. Could we bother you for a photo?”

And so it began.

By the fourth group that asked for a photo, I turned to see if Roe was okay and found the space where she’d been standing empty.

My gut twisted. I conjured my acting skills to smile for the camera with the fan. Just as he nodded his thanks and walked away, two older women eyed me like they wanted to approach. Just as they got up the courage to do so, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and found a text from Roe.

Sorry for leaving you. Just feel a bit sick and didn’t want to interrupt. Have a good day.