Chapter Eleven
Lana
He’s the only thing in my life that makes sense. -Lana
“He’s looking over here again,” Bella stage whispers.
I giggle, feeling like a teenager again. “He’s my bodyguard, Bella. I think he’s supposed to be watching me.”
Kate grins and shakes her head. “That’s no protector look he’s giving you. That’s a “you’re hot as hell and he can’t look away” look. She sighs. “I wish I had a guy look at me that way. Especially one as tasty-looking as your guy.”
I almost protest. Kate has almost every man in the country captivated.
I can’t stop the small twinge of jealousy that flows through me.
Kate is one of the sexiest women in America.
I’m considered cute and lovable, America’s sweetheart.
That’s why I’m so relatable as my ever-struggling character in the show.
Bella props her chin up on her hand. “I would just kill to be noticed by any guy.” Bella Porter was once Kate’s roommate.
They’ve remained close friends despite their different careers.
Bella is a photographer looking for her big break and Kate is already beloved by millions.
Bella is gorgeous but doesn’t seem to notice that about herself.
She has massive red curls that frame her small, elfin face and a sprinkling of freckles across the pale skin of her cheeks.
I wave her concern away. “Bella, you’ll meet your guy one day. You’re beautiful and smart so I know you will.” I glance over at Grainger again. “As for that handsome man, I’m not quite sure what to do with him.”
“If you’re not sure what to do with him, I can suggest a few things,” Kate says with a wiggle of her eyebrows.
I throw my head back and laugh at her ridiculousness. “No, I mean I know what to do, as far as that goes.” I lean forward and throw them both a wicked look. “In fact, that is incredible.” I close my eyes, thinking of last night. “Not to kiss and tell, but the things that man can do…”
Bella lets out a long breath. “And here I spent last night trying to make sure my client didn’t look like they have a unibrow in her pictures.” She takes a long sip of her mimosa. “Sometimes life isn’t fair.”
“So, what’s the problem, Lana? I mean, besides the obvious stalker issues you have right now…” Kate adds that last sentence in a somber tone and I feel my spine stiffen.
That’s the problem. Things with Grainger are so damn good they’re making me forget that someone is hunting me down out there. That someone wants to harm me simply because I exist.
“What happens once this is over? Once the threat of danger has subsided? Do I try to make something last that maybe wasn’t meant to be?
He’s got other people to protect. I have jobs all over the world once this series is on hiatus.
Where do we go from here?” Anxiety creeps into my voice.
“I’m no damn good at making people stay. ”
And I’m not. My mom and dad never truly wanted me around. I grew up poor as a church mouse. If we’re being completely honest, I think my mom looked at me more as another mouth to feed and another thing to get in the way of her drug habit.
I feel Bella’s hand on mine. I turn to look at her and see sympathy in her green eyes.
“If it’s meant to be, it will, Lana. And maybe he cares enough about you to stay.
Or to go with you if need be.” She cuts her eyes to where he still stands with the man he calls O’ Roarke.
“I’ve never had a man look at me that way.
This could be something worth holding onto. ”
I glance over at Grainger. His dark eyes are filled with heat and possession. I send him a flirty wink and watch as a blush spreads across his cheeks. He tosses a grin my way and I feel satisfaction flow through me.
Maybe, just maybe, this is something worth holding onto.