Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
KODIAK
A low growl leaves my throat when, not for the first time, I’m stopped while doing my duty and asked if I’m a male model.
“Absolutely not” , has been my answer every single time I’ve been approached, and it hasn’t changed this time around either.
In the beginning I was polite, but now I’m at the end of my rope, that shit has shredded and I know that I need to remove myself from this group of women before I lose my cool.
“If you’ll excuse me, ladies,” I say as I side step them.
Deciding the main room isn’t where I want to be right now, I wave my hand at Stixx and call him over. “What’s up, pres?” he asks as he steps up beside me.
“I’m taking my break, watch out for the ladies. They’re adamant we’re models in disguise. Why they’d think that, I don’t understand. Whatever their reasons are for thinking this, don’t entertain it. Be courteous, but keep them at an arm’s length,” I warn, giving him a stern look as I shift on my heels and march my way to the exit doors.
When I hit the smoker’s section, my head hangs when I witness my brother taking selfies with a few rambunctious attendees.
“Hey, Marcum,” Xavier greets me, using my given name since we’re on the job and there are people within hearing range. “This here is Marissa and Talia.”
“Ladies,” I say, trying to sound as polite as possible through my gritted teeth. “Xavier, what are you doing?”
“These lovely women think I’ve got the right looks to be on covers,” he proudly tells me.
“Seems to be a lot of that going around,” I reply.
“You too, huh?” he asks, a sly smirk aimed back at me.
“Apparently,” I mutter, pulling out my pack of smokes and a lighter. “You on break?”
If he’s not and he’s socializing and trying to pick up a bed buddy for the night, he’ll find himself in the ring with me.
“Yeah,” he answers, “Hemi relieved me so I could grab a smoke since we can’t walk the parking lot with one lit. Supposedly, it’s unprofessional.” Using his fingers, he air quotes the word ‘unprofessional’ while rolling his eyes, causing the two women hanging on his every word to giggle.
Fuck’s sake, he’s acting like he didn’t have a piece of tail in his bed two nights ago.
Placing the bud of my cigarette to my lips and lighting it, I remind him, “Lunch will be passed out soon so keep an eye on the authors who’ll be coming out to grab themselves some fresh air.”
“We’ll rearrange our positions and make sure we’re watching in case they need us,” Xavier says, nodding his head.
I’m not a sociable person, so I decide to walk up and down the sidewalk near the smoking section so I’m not dragged into any conversations.
The most I’ve spoken to anyone outside of my brothers is the gorgeous brunette whose bag exploded in the corridor. Fuck, her sugar brown eyes will haunt me from here until eternity.
Looking down at my wristwatch, I notice there’s only three minutes left before boxed lunches begin being passed out and that’s when I’ll be needed. It’s unclear if they’ll ask the readers to leave while the authors eat or not, so we’ll be there to assist if necessary to escort everyone out of the ballroom.
The coordinator advised me that they don’t kick out the crowd while the authors eat since they only have so much time reserved for the signing, and they sold out. So my job here will be to keep the peace and watch for anyone needing help.
Simple enough.
Not for the first time, my eyes travel over to the woman who makes me drool and causes my dick to go ramrod stiff. She has a friendly smile for every person she speaks with. I memorized her name the first time I spotted her.
Her banner proclaims her name to be Luna Crane. I let that name roll off my tongue and it feels right being in my mouth.
Although, it’s my understanding that most of them use pseudonyms.
Can’t blame them really, I’d do the same thing if I were in their situation. Especially after finding out that nine-tenths of them end up being on the other end of some vicious keyboard warriors, cyber bullies, and stalkers.
Childish and reprehensible behavior.
That shit was high school and these are grown assed adults we’re talking about. But envious people have hate flowing through their veins and don’t have a considerate bone in their body.
As Luna’s table clears, I watch as she gulps down an entire bottle of water. Knowing she must be parched, I hit the coolers at the front of the room and walk one over to her.
“You seem thirsty,” I say as I hand over the ice-cold bottle.
“Parched,” she responds, her eyes widening to a comical size. I think I make this little pixie nervous. For some damn reason, that has me wanting to puff out my chest. She uncaps it and brings the rim up to her lips and takes a few sips before sitting it down behind the stand holding her paperbacks.
“You wrote all of these, huh?” I ask, not wanting our discussion to end. I pick one up and start thumbing through it. When I land on chapter eight, a cunning grin grows on my face. “Porn?”
“No!” She gasps, her cheeks blushing. “It’s romance.”
“You ever tried this?” I ask, teasing her as I place my thumb over the page and marking the scene I’m curious about. Her arms tremble as she reaches out and takes it from my grip.
My eyes trail her facial movements, zoning in on her mouth as she bites her bottom lip in contemplation. With bravado she hasn’t shown before, she leans over the table, wiggling her finger to draw me in, and whispers, “I’ll never tell.”
“Fuck,” I grit out, rearranging myself in my jeans. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?”
In response, she shrugs her shoulders and turns away from me, hiding whatever emotion she’s feeling.
One thing I’ve observed, and that’s the fact that she’s got no poker face. Everything she feels is right there on display.
When a few ladies sashay around me, and begin to form a line behind me, as well as around me, I take that as my cue to leave. “I’ll come back when it’s time to pack up and help you get your things to your car,” I offer.
“That’s okay, I don’t want to impose. I can get it,” she rebuts, but I shake my head at her and take a few steps back.
Mouthing, I remark, “Not happening.” Her face flames, but when she sees the seriousness etched on my face, she nods her head in acquiescence.
For the rest of the event, I walk around with a satisfied smile on my face. I’m determined to peel her out of that tight layer she’s swathed herself inside of and find out what she’s been hiding from me behind that cellophane wrapping.
After all, the center is always the sweetest part of any candy.