Chapter Seventeen
Luna
Iwoke to the quiet hum of the city outside my window. For a few delicious seconds, I let myself linger in the memory of last night. Hayes, his hands tracing paths across my skin that made my body remember every nerve ending.
And then reality intruded: the conference. My interview. An entire day of socializing and giving the world the Luna they expect. Good thing I was used to running on next to no sleep. I rolled over, expecting to find a hard, warm body beside me, but only found the cold sheet.
Since we’d met, Hayes had basically only been out of my sight long enough for me to pee, so my heart gave a sad little flip-flop when he wasn’t there.
The hotel room would make a shitty place for hide-and-seek. I could tell from just a glance that I was alone.
Where was he?
My heart rate sped up as I reached for my phone. No messages. No missed calls.
Had he left early? That didn’t make sense. He hadn’t said a word about leaving. My chest tightened as a surge of anxiety wormed its way in.
After we had fooled around the first time, he had asked to be replaced, leaving me unsure of where we stood. Now we had sex, and he disappeared.
Had I misread the situation…again?
I wanted to bang my head against the nearest hard surface, but I’d worked damn hard to get my career to where it was. I’d shoved my introvert tendencies aside and spent the last week on display.
I’d had cameras shoved in my face and influencers trying to paint pictures about my love life, but more importantly, I had shown up for my fans.
I would do the same today, and if Hayes was too preoccupied with being perfect to be mine, well, I’d mend my broken heart tomorrow. Today, I had to be Luna Darling, viral author.
After a quick shower, Hayes still hadn’t returned, and the knot in my stomach tightened.
Even so, I dressed in a flowy blouse and skirt, pulled my curls into something resembling an updo, and dabbed on some mascara, blush, and a pretty mauve lipstick I had impulsively bought but never worn.
I checked my reflection and forced a smile.
Future best-selling author Luna. The one who was witty, funny, and polished in front of fans would need to show up today.
Easier said than done, since I knew everyone would ask about him.
Just as I was gathering my bag, there was a knock on the door. “It’s Gray from Lone Star Security.”
I checked the peephole.
Surely, that was one of Hayes’s rules.
I had met Gray briefly at The Ranch in Valor Springs, so I recognized his face and let him in.
“Ready to go?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Where’s Hayes?”
Gray scratched the back of his neck. “I sent him out on an assignment last night. Came up at the last minute, and he isn’t back yet.”
I studied him hard, trying to detect if this was a cover story or not to no avail.
“So this has nothing to do with him asking to be replaced?”
We stared each other down. He had one hell of a poker face, but I wasn’t about to be left in the dark about something that affected my life.
Finally, he took a deep breath. “Whatever happened between you two on that trail ride or in the hotel rooms is none of my business. Until it affects Lone Star Security’s operations.
Hayes asked to be replaced, so I replaced him.
If you want answers on what comes after today, I don’t have them. ”
I mulled that over. This was a conversation I needed to have with Hayes, and conveniently, he wasn’t here. “Fine, let’s go.” I pulled the door shut behind me.
We stopped in the lobby café for a caramel macchiato, extra large because fuck rule five, before heading to the venue.
I set up at my conference table to sign books as I had so many times this week. It was a blur of names, introductions, polite smiles, and nervous small talk.
I answered questions from fellow writers, media, and, of course, fans. I laughed when expected, nodded when necessary, but the absence of my usual shadow was so potent I could feel it.
When someone asked where Hayes was, I joked that he was off making sure there was nothing on stage I could trip over or being cornered for autographs by rabid romance fans.
It stung less to pretend he was here somewhere.
Gray wasn’t exactly hard on the eyes, so fans were happy to ogle him instead of Hayes.
Then, finally, it was time. The interview. Lights blinding, stage set, audience murmuring, all eyes on me. I stepped up, smoothed my skirt, and breathed deeply. Professional Luna, she could handle this.
The interviewer read my author bio and showed a copy of my latest book. Then the questions started. “Your fans are dying to know, Luna, what are you working on next?”
Writing had been part of my world for my entire life.
Hayes had only been here a few days. I might not like him being gone, but I could still do what needed to be done.
I cleared my throat. “I’ve been really inspired since I arrived in Texas.
It is so beautiful here. I even got to ride a horse, which I had never done.
I’m going to use that as inspiration in my next series. ”
There, nailed it. No mention of bodyguards, not too much info, but enough to intrigue the crowd.
“Can you give us any more hints about what to expect from the characters?” My eyes shot sideways to where Hayes should be standing, then back to the crowd. “Well, you know me, the women will be quirky, the men will be alphas, and the spice will be hot.”
The crowd laughed.
“I’m not used to seeing you without your shadow. Where is the famous Hayes today?”
The crowd chuckled, and my throat instantly tightened.
I had answered the same question to at least a dozen fans today, but suddenly, I had a hard time explaining his absence.
“Oh, uh, Hayes?” I echoed, a half second too late.
I searched for a joke. Something easy. Something to fill the silence pressing in. Then my brain kicked in with a quick, easy line. “He’s around. I think I’m safe with this wonderful crowd of fans.”
A few people laughed and hooted. The moderator smiled and moved on.
I continued with the interview, but something in my chest twisted. I had been able to put on a public face and do what needed to be done, but saying the words he’s not here was more than I could manage.
The questions kept coming, and I gave the best answers I could. I don’t think anyone could tell, but I felt off. As the questions continued, my palms started to sweat.
He wasn’t supposed to matter this much. He had made it clear where he stood in terms of dating a client. I had told myself I was okay with whatever came after this, but here I am sweating and distracted during the biggest event of my career.
Finally, the interviewer ran out of questions, and I stood to walk off the stage. I felt him before I saw him. That electric pull, the charged air.
Hayes was waiting beside the stage.