Chapter 6
IAIN
FRANCE
“Iain, wake up. You’re going to miss breakfast.”
The deep rumble of a familiar voice teased my ear.
I blinked and found myself face-to-face with Dawson. Or rather, my cheek was squished against his massive shoulder. His green eyes were amused for a change. I liked it when he got that wicked glint in his eye. It was rare, but it changed his entire face.
And turned a handsome man into something so stunning my breath caught.
Fuck, no, it’s Dawson. Stop thinking about him that way.
Breakfast. And then I realized that I fell asleep on him—all night.
Why did that feel so fucking good?
Probably because he ran hot, and the air in this plane was freezing cold.
Instead of leaning away like I should have, I burrowed my face back into him and closed my eyes again. God, his smell—man sweat and the hint of a spicy soap—was amazing. He never wore cologne, and I was a fan.
Dawson grunted, but I couldn’t tell if it was a good one or a bad one. Knowing him, knowing me, probably the latter.
“Iain, we’re landing in an hour. Do you want coffee?”
Reluctantly, I opened my eyes again and eased myself from his person.
“Oh, yeah.”
Dawson motioned for the cabin steward. I mumbled my breakfast order, a latte with lots of brown sugar and an omelet, and shook my head, trying to wake up.
I looked around and noticed everyone else was already eating and talking. And not paying us any particular attention.
I shivered and grabbed the fleece blanket that the steward had placed over me and pulled it tighter around my body.
The last thing I remember from last night was Dawson reaming me out for not telling him sooner about those stupid messages. Then we bickered, and I closed my eyes for a moment… I guess I fell asleep. Strange, since I rarely slept on airplanes.
Even at home, I was restless.
Maybe it was the relief of finally telling him about those texts. Or maybe it was something else…
Memories of last night floated through my mind. Dawson had been talking to his son, and I overheard my name. The next thing I knew, I’d sat beside him and introduced myself to his family. My nosy brain just wouldn’t let up.
There was something about glimpsing a part of Dawson I’d never seen before that had me finally spilling my guts. The guy rarely smiled or laughed, and I admit, watching him talk to his son, the look of unmistakable happiness on his face, it made my stomach swoop.
Or maybe I was just reacting to air turbulence.
Whatever the case, the next thing I knew, I was blurting out my secret.
I thought for sure it would’ve taken me another week.
“Now that you’re done drooling on me, let’s go over the plan for our arrival. Regan is going to—”
I held my hand up.
“Wait. I need caffeine and carbs before any serious conversation can take place.”
“Sorry, I forgot how testy you are first thing in the morning.”
“I’m not testy,” I groused, then sighed when I heard his snort of laughter. “Okay, maybe a bit until I have caffeine. And you’re one to talk.”
“I’m not always grumpy. In fact, I’m a morning person. Always have been. I love being up early.” He grinned and then sipped on his coffee.
Dawson was smiling. At me.
“Who are you right now? And who enjoys getting up early?” I grumbled.
“Do you know that you talk in your sleep?”
I shook my head. “No way.”
“Yes, way.”
The steward returned with my latte, and after thanking them, I took a grateful sip. Hot and perfectly sweet, I let out a porn-worthy groan and noticed Dawson shifting in his seat.
“I don’t talk in my sleep,” I muttered.
“You do. It’s cute.”
Cute? Dawson was calling me cute? I’d been called a lot of things but never that. I stupidly wanted to hear more, and at the same time, I knew he was just bugging me. If I were a cat, I’d be hissing at him by now.
I didn’t like this role reversal at all. I was the teaser, not the one who got teased.
“Can we go back to talking about my stalker, please?”
“Technically, we shouldn’t be calling them a stalker yet. They’re a person of concern.”
Instead of grinding my teeth, I took another sip of coffee.
“And the plan?” I bit out.
Dawson set aside his cup of coffee and sighed.
“Like I said last night, we’re getting you a new phone.
Regan will have it at the hotel. I’ll monitor this one, so if there’s anything you don’t want me to see, you better delete it now.
You’ll have one of the team with you at all times.
And I’ve contacted the hotel we’re staying at to ensure you and I have connected rooms.”
“That’s overkill.”
“It’s already done.”
“Fuck!”
I was gonna talk to Regan about all this. Connected rooms?
“But if I’m getting a new phone as soon as we get to the hotel, I don’t need this one. As much as it irks me to have you rifling through my personal business, I have nothing to hide.”
“Let’s get one thing straight.” Dawson leaned in closer. “I’m only looking through your phone to find clues about who might be targeting you. That’s all.”
“People store everything on their phone, their whole life. How would you feel if the situation were reversed?” I bit back.
Dawson shook his head but said nothing.
Then he pulled out his phone, pressed his thumb on the home button, and offered it to me. “Go on.”
“What?”
“I unlocked it. Take it.”
“I’m not gonna look through your phone!”
“It’s only fair. You feel, and rightly so, that your privacy is about to be violated. So, this is the best I can do.”
I was about to snap at him again when the steward returned with my breakfast.
“Eat first,” Dawson commanded. “It’s going to be a long day.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Iain,” he warned.
Finally, I had the upper hand again.
I tucked into my breakfast and ignored Dawson and his phone even though my curiosity was dying for me to learn more about the man. The bits and pieces I’d already discovered in the past twelve hours were more than I had gathered in the several years we’d worked together.
But my inquisitiveness would have to wait.
Brodie sauntered down the aisle and stopped by my seat. I knew by that shit-eating grin on his face that I was about to get razzed.
“Is Dawson as snuggly as he looks?”
“Better,” I quipped and gave my best friend a choice finger.
“He took good care of you. Even tucked you in with a blanket.”
“You did what?” I turned to Dawson.
His cheeks pinked up, making the freckles on his face stand out.
“You looked cold! What was I supposed to do?”
“I don’t need taking care of.”
“Anyone sitting beside you would have done the same thing,” Dawson snapped. “If the steward offered you a blanket, would that be okay?”
“Yes, but that’s their job.”
“So, I should have just let you sit there and shiver? I’m in the wrong?”
“I didn’t say you’re in the wrong—”
“Uh, guys,” Brodie interrupted.
“Yeah?” I looked up.
Brodie shook his head. “I’m gonna give you the same advice you once gave me. Just fuck already and give the rest of us some peace and quiet.”
Brodie turned around and headed back to his seat.
Dawson cleared his throat and then pulled out his laptop.
I stood up, set the blanket down, and walked down the aisle to reclaim my original seat.
Distance was what I needed. Away from him. from the reminder that my life would be out of my hands for the next while.
Grabbing my headphones, I blasted the loudest, angriest rock music I had in my downloads and drowned out any more thoughts of Dawson or our discussion.
An hour later, we descended into Charles de Gaulle airport.
Dawson and the rest of our security team moved us through the terminal quickly, but fans spotted us when we went through customs.
As soon as we cleared, we were bombarded with requests for autographs and selfies.
“Keep moving,” Dawson bit out.
“No.”
I stood my ground and glanced at Brodie, and he nodded.
“A few photos, and we’re done,” Brodie declared.
Dawson’s hand gripped my bicep, and I looked up at him. “Dawson?”
He had his sunglasses on, so I couldn’t see his eyes, but he gave a curt nod.
One woman began to talk, first in broken English and then French, proclaiming how excited she and her friends were to meet us.
This was the type of thing I loved. That I lived for.
When a total stranger from the other side of the world connects with the music you created, when it brings them joy, it makes all the other shit in this business worthwhile.
We signed the T-shirts they were wearing, someone’s bag, and, in one case, a guy’s arm. He said he was going to have the signatures tattooed. Now that was a superfan.
More people stepped forward and asked for selfies.
We posed for photos, but I noticed that the crowd around us was swelling.
Flashes went off.
Someone yelled out Brodie’s name. Another voice screamed for Ronin and Faise. Cheers and yells echoed in the arrivals area as more and more people began to push around us.
Then I heard my name being chanted. Everything got louder, and I got jostled. A tendril of fear sparked, and my ears started to ring. Fucking hell, not here, not now.
God damn those messages for fucking with my head.
“Okay, that’s enough. Too many people,” Dawson barked as he and Lennie took hold of me.
I felt immediate relief at Dawson’s words and his quick action. And for the first time in a long time, I was grateful to have him at my side. I forgot how fast these situations could spiral.
Our fleet of security ushered us away, cutting through the mass of people. We filed out of the terminal to the pick-up location.
More flashes went off as we passed the final doors and exited to our SUVs.
“Holloway, I love you!!” someone screamed, and I turned my head, but I couldn’t see who was yelling.
“Arretez! Stop,” Dawson yelled out and turned to Lennie. “Get him in the vehicle.”
Lennie opened the back door of the first SUV, pushing me, then Brodie and Van, inside.
Ronin and Faise were usually in the second car, with the rest of our group in car number three.
The doors slammed shut, but then I heard someone pounding on the window. The glass was tinted, so all I could see were vague shapes.
Then Lennie’s earpiece crackled.
“Step away from the vehicle!” Dawson yelled out.
The door opened, and Dawson jumped into the passenger seat.
“Go!” Dawson ordered our driver.
We peeled out of the airport and headed for the highway.
“Everyone okay?” Dawson asked.
“We’re good,” Brodie replied. “Man, that escalated so fucking fast. Not sure why, but that kind of thing still surprises me.”
The ringing in my ears had ceased, but my heart was still pounding away.
I reached inside my denim jacket with a shaky hand to grab my cigarettes, then realized that smoking probably wasn’t the best idea since Brodie was in the car with me.
No smoking around our lead vocalist, or he would justifiably take my head off.
“Holls?” Dawson asked and turned around.
“Fine. I’m fine,” I answered with a quick smile.
I wasn’t. I hadn’t had a panic attack in years. Make that fifteen. Fuck.
“Next time, let security decide whether it’s a good idea to stay and sign autographs.”
Dawson’s comment had me snapping out of my headspace, and I finally made eye contact with him.
His gaze didn’t waver from mine. He knew. He goddamn knew how shaken up I was.
Why could I fool everyone but him?
Surprisingly, Dawson reached back and gripped my knee.
The reassuring touch didn’t help my racing heart in the least.