Virtuous(103)

“You’re the only one I know who’d call winter in New York ‘magical.’”

“If you knew how hard I worked to get there, you’d think it was magical, too.”

His phone rings, and he goes still.

“What?”

“That’s Addie, and she wouldn’t be calling me today unless she really needed me for something.”

“How can you tell it’s her?”

“She programmed in her own ringtone, so I’d always know when it’s her.”

“That’s awesome. I love her.”

“So do I, but I don’t love her quite as much as usual this morning.” He reaches for the phone. “Yes, ma’am?”

I can’t hear what she’s saying, but I can see his expression tighten and the pulse in his cheek kick in. Something’s wrong.

“Have you spoken to the hotel? What did they say?” He runs his fingers through his hair until it’s standing on end. “Yeah, that’ll work. I’ll call them when we’re ready. Thanks, Addie.”

“What’s wrong?”

“The hotel is surrounded by press, and they all want to know more about you. Liza is being slammed with calls. Fuck!”

“Hey.” I wait for him to look at me. “We knew this would happen, so don’t stress. They’ll lose interest in a day or two when we don’t give them anything.”

“I don’t think they’re going to lose interest that quickly. Addie said they’re ravenous to know more about the gorgeous ‘kiss girl’ who has changed my life so completely. We’re going to have to leave through the loading dock to avoid them.”

“I know you’re upset and worried about me, but please don’t let this ruin what was the best night of my life. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. It was…”

“For me, too, sweetheart.” He kisses me before we get up to take showers and get ready to leave.

When we’re set to go, hotel security works efficiently to get us out of the building and into a waiting Cadillac Escalade that Addie arranged.

Flynn doesn’t relax until we’re safely on our way to LAX. He spends much of the ride on the phone with Addie, ensuring the security detail someone named Gabe hired for me is ready to meet us in New York. I’m hoping that will be a temporary thing, until the interest in us dies down.

I take the time to read texts from Leah, who says I looked A-MA-ZING, and Aileen, who loves that I kissed Flynn after Tina and Amy’s comments about him. Very well done, Aileen proclaims. You looked beautiful! (And so did he! Haha!). Both of them ask me to convey their congratulations to Flynn on his big win.

We’re on the plane before Flynn finally ends the call with Addie, satisfied for now, anyway, that everything is in place for our return to New York.

“Sorry about all that,” he says when he stashes the phone in his pocket.

“It’s not your fault.”

“Well, it kind of is. I knew if I brought you last night, it would turn into a bit of a circus. But from what Addie said, it’s an even bigger circus than we expected.”

“I was warned, so no worries. I had the best time. It was well worth any aggravation we have to deal with now.”

He laughs at my choice of words. “Aggravation is one word for it. I hope you’ll understand if I’m a little overprotective where you’re concerned.”

I send a side-eye glance his way. “Are you planning to be my personal bodyguard?”

“You bet your ass I’m going to be guarding your sweet body.”

The low growl that accompanies his words sends a shiver through me.

“You can start now if you’d like.” I wonder who this new Natalie is, but I can’t deny that I like her.

“I’d love to, but I’m not touching you until you have time to recover from last night. I can’t bear the thought of hurting you in any way.”

“You could never hurt me.”

“It would hurt if we had sex today, so we’re waiting, and that’s nonnegotiable.”

“You’re not the boss of me,” I say with a teasing smile.

“In this case, I am.”

As the plane taxis toward the runway for the trip back to New York, I reach for his hand and hold on tight for takeoff.

“Thanks for the best weekend of my life.”

He kisses my hand. “It was for me, too. Thanks for coming.”