Chapter 8
CHAPTER
EIGHT
ROB’S POV
The volume of noise on the hotel's rooftop bar grates on my nerves more with each passing minute.
This isn't really my scene–a loud party full of women gawking at me.
A few tried to approach me when they first walked in, but they quickly realized I wasn't interested once I responded to them solely in grunts and unenthusiastic, one-word answers.
I stayed near Sara's side all day, signing books and forcing smiles for the readers who managed to resist the urge to try to touch me. I'm not interested in playing nice with the authors, assistants, and volunteers at the party.
There are only two people I want to be nice to. One of them is my sister, who is off getting a drink at the bar. The other should be here by now. I didn't get the impression earlier that there was a chance of her standing me up.
Daisy must be running late. Why didn't I think to give her my number?
"You look even grumpier than usual," Sara says as she rejoins me, handing me a beer. "Still no sign of Daisy?"
I shake my head.
As a romance author, my sister loves the idea of me living out my own love story at one of these events she dragged me to. The fact that I'm even here is incredibly out of character, much less that I managed to meet a woman I felt instantly attracted to.
I'm an accountant in my normal life. No one at my day job has any idea about my side project as my sister's book cover model. I would be teased mercilessly at office lunches if anyone found out.
"Look, here comes the two authors that Daisy is here assisting. I bet they can tell you where she is." Sara points to where the Temptation Sisters are flashing their event badges at security.
I can't help but sneer as I watch them flounce into the growing afterparty without a care in the world. "Based on how they treated her earlier, I'm not sure they'll tell me anything. Guess there's no harm in trying, though."
"I'll tag along," Sara offers. "This situation is shaping up to be great inspiration for my next book."
Knowing my sister, she's not joking. Sara's name will be on the byline of a romance novel about a book cover model and a curvy, redheaded author assistant by the end of the year.
My jaw tightens as I make my way toward the Temptation Sisters.
I have no clue who they are, other than what Nina, this weekend's host, told me about them when I asked her who brought an assistant named Daisy.
Nina warned me they're high maintenance and attention-seeking; my brief interaction confirmed both things about them.
When they notice me approaching, their carefree expressions falter slightly.
"Where's Daisy?" I ask, straight to the point.
They both glance at each other before one of them answers, "Who?"
"Your assistant. Daisy. She's meeting me here, and she hasn't shown up yet. Are the three of you sharing a room? Was she still there?"
The sister that seems slightly more put together than the other rolls her eyes and feigns a casual laugh.
"She's in the room next to ours, but I know for a fact she's not in her room.
She probably started to come to the party and got distracted.
She does that a lot; she gets distracted and just wanders off. She has the worst ADHD, you know?"
My hands curl into fists at my sides. I don't care if Daisy has the worst case of ADHD a medical professional has ever seen, that doesn't give this woman any right to disclose that info to me.
"Watch how you talk about her," I warn through gritted teeth.
"Why?" The other woman laughs and quirks an eyebrow. "Our stepsister isn't exactly a prize, and you don't even know her. You met, what... yesterday?"
My annoyance doubles. "This is how you both talk about your own stepsister?"
Sara grabs my arm and tugs.
When I glance over, she lowers her voice to a whisper to explain, "We're starting to make a scene, and I don't think these two are going to tell you anything genuine."
A quick glance around confirms people are starting to stare and whisper as I make a scene with the Temptation Sisters.
I'm not interested in bringing this kind of attention to myself.
If I'm not careful, we'll end up in a viral social media post that gets passed around my office.
Or worse, people will pin my bad behavior on Sara and stop inviting her to signings.
I take a deep breath and walk straight past the sisters. They both call after me, trying to continue our small conflict now that I'm sure they've realized all eyes are on them. I don't know anything about their books, but I'm already not a fan of them as people.
And to think, romance authors are usually some of the nicest people I've ever met.
Sara hurries to keep up with me as I walk past security, out of the party and toward the bank of elevators bringing everyone up. As soon as one empties, I step on and press the button for the ground floor. Maybe Daisy misunderstood and will be waiting for me in the lobby where we first met.
If not, maybe someone from the hotel can help me track her down. I'm sure they won't give me her room number, but there must be some way to get a message to her.
As the elevator descends, Sara steps in front of me with an obnoxiously wide smile. "You really like this woman."
"No shit," I mutter. "She's warm and funny. She didn't fawn all over me when she realized who I was. There's something about her that tells me she's unapologetically herself in the ways that count. I'm fascinated. I want to know her. Really know her."
"Wow." Sara's eyes grow wide as her smile fades. "I sort of thought this was a passing crush. That sounds like you're looking to get to know Daisy beyond just this weekend."
"I am. If I can find her. She just keeps disappearing on me, Sara. Every damn time."
Finding the woman that I think might turn out to be the woman of my dreams is turning out to be more complicated than I would have guessed.
When I track Daisy down this time, I swear I'm going to have to put a tracker on her or something to keep her from getting away.
.. in a sweet way. Not a stalker way, I swear.
"There's one way to find her for sure." Sara retrieves her phone from her purse and begins to scroll through obnoxious social media clips. All of the voices and background music blends together as I squeeze my eyes shut until we reach the lobby floor.
For some reason, I can't picture Daisy plastering herself all over social media.
"Here she is!" Sara yelps as Daisy's voice begins to project from her phone. We barely manage to make it three steps off the elevator before we're both bowing our heads to watch Daisy on the small screen of my sister's phone.
"Let me introduce myself: I'm Daisy, the book blogger behind the Your Favorite Anonymous Reader Friend blog. Wow..." She laughs breathlessly. "That's a mouthful."
I guess I'm wrong on this one, Daisy's active on social media after all. I snatch the phone from Sara's hand as the video continues streaming.
"I'm attending The Lover's Lane Experience this weekend with my stepsisters–one of the best events I've ever attended, by the way–and I'm supposed to be meeting someone really important at the after party right now.
Instead, I'm spending my last evening here locked in a bathroom.
That's right, my stepsisters helped me get ready for tonight's party.
.. only to lock me in their bathroom so I would miss my date.
Why? Your guess is probably as good as mine. "
Her smile is self-deprecating. Defeated. She's grown used to them treating her like this, that much is clear.
"Obviously, I never expected to be revealing my face on any of my social media accounts.
I've enjoyed finding creative ways to keep my identity a secret over the years, but I think I'm done hiding now.
This weekend, I got a taste of what it feels like to finally be the main character in my own story. "
An anonymous book blog... Now that sounds like the Daisy I've just started to get to know. I hate that she feels forced to let the truth out like this, though I'm glad she's still getting to reveal herself on her own terms. Much better than being doxed by some internet asshole.
"The books never warn you that being a main character is really hard work.
" Daisy laughs onscreen as her eyes get a faraway look.
The tears that threatened to fall initially seem to have dried up.
"Hey, Rob?" My ears perk at her addressing me by name.
"If you're out there, this would be a really great time for a third-act rescue of the love interest. She really wants to have that drink with you before she sets off on her next adventure. .. to slay a couple of dragons."
I throw my head back with a laugh. An apt way to describe her stepsisters, based on what I've seen.
"If you're watching this video, Rob or anyone else at the event, I guess the lobby must be pretty busy because no one has picked up my calls.
Please ask the front desk to check their voicemail.
This main character doesn't really want the role of damsel in distress, but just this once, I don't think I'm going to be much good at rescuing myself. "
She wrinkles her nose and flashes a wry smile before the video cuts off.
"I'm going to kill her stepsisters." I turn back toward the elevators, but Sara smacks my shoulder with the back of her hand.
"Rob, that's not the most important thing right now."
"But they hurt her," I snap. I feel unsteady, out of control, and like I'm unraveling. Daisy is in distress, and I need to do something for her. Anything.
"I know." Sara wears genuine sympathy on her face. "But right now the most important thing is to get Daisy out of that bathroom. There will be plenty of time to deal with the wicked stepsisters later. Let's make sure your woman is safe first. She posted this video more than twenty minutes ago."
My stomach turns as I give a curt nod, letting Sara lead the way to the front desk in the lobby where a busy receptionist seems to be short-staffed and working all alone.
She does all the talking as I stand back, torn between brainstorming revenge plots or embracing the feeling of relief sinking in.
Daisy didn't run. She's been waiting for me.