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The car rolls to a stop in front of a hotel with a white facade, and I wipe my eyes. I look out the window and gasp. Christmas trees adorned with lights and decorations line the walkway to the door. Stanchions are set up on the sidewalk, and a small crowd of people wait outside. Some have cameras while others look like fans, bundled up in coats and wearing Titans hats on their heads.
“It’s beautiful,” I say.
“Goddammit Dallas,” Shawn mumbles, and he adjusts his tie. “He was doing a live stream on some app earlier and told his two million followers where the party would be. I’m surprised it isn’t more of a clusterfuck out here. I swear I need to confiscate his phone from him.”
“Guess we better get inside before that happens,” I say. I turn to face him, and I giggle. “Hang on. You have a piece of hair that’s sticking straight up. You can’t go out there looking like that.”
“What?” Shawn pats the top of his head, and my giggle turns into a laugh. “Where?”
“Not there.” I take his hand in mine and brush it over the small strands by his ears. “Here. That’s better.”
“Thanks,” he says, and his gaze meets mine. His fingers wrap around my wrist and his eyes bounce over my face. “Your hair, for the record, looks perfect.Youlook perfect.”
“Oh.” I exhale softly, and the blush on my face deepens. “Thank you.”
The limo door opens, and the driver holds out his hand. “Mr. Holmes, we’re here,” he says.
It’s for the best we’re getting out of this car, because Shawn is looking at me like he did two nights ago at his apartment; with longing on his face and hunger in his eyes.
We know howthatended.
“Ready?” he asks me.
I nod and climb out of the limo, gratefully accepting the driver’s assistance as my foot lands on the street. Before I can blink, Shawn is around from the other side of the car, and he takes over helping me make my way to the sidewalk.
“Thank you,” I whisper, his hand in mine and his arm around my waist.
Fake, my brain screams.This is all an act.
Then why does it feel so real when he kisses the top of my head and leads me past a group of photographers, ignoring the flashes of their cameras because he’s too busy looking at me?
TWENTY-SIX
SHAWN
“Shawn!”
“Coach Holmes, over here.”
“Oh my god, he looksso hot. And so does she. Talk about the ultimate power couple.”
I keep my arm around Lacey and lead her up the sidewalk toward the hotel. The mob of fans has grown, and I want her close by my side. I doubt anyone is going to do something stupid at a Christmas party on a Wednesday night, but I’m not taking any chances.
I stop us in front of a small group of reporters, and I smile at them. “Thanks for coming out tonight,” I say. “We only have a minute before we need to head inside. There’s talk of a nacho bar, and I’m a sucker for anything with queso on it.”
Lacey’s shoulders shake, and I glance down to find her laughing. She tries to cover it up with a cough, but it’s obvious she has something to say.
“Sorry,” she whispers. “Forget the champagne in your apartment. I’m picturing you walking around with a bag of Taco Bell at midnight.”
“I fucking love Taco Bell,” I whisper back. “The BellGrande nachos are my favorite.”
“Another installment in my NFL coaches: they’re just like us series.”
“Ms. Daniels,” a reporter says, and Lacey whips her head to the right. “This is your first official outing with Coach Holmes. What are you looking forward to tonight?”
“Um.” Lacey’s posture straightens, and she lifts her chin. “I’m excited to spend time with the team and learn about the toy drive they’re doing for the holidays. There’s a list of drop-off locations on the Titans’ website where people can donate gifts for children in need this holiday season. I encourage everyone to check out the information, and to contribute if they can. Besides that, the guys are so fun. Any evening with them is a good time.”
“A kiss on national television is quite the way to announce your relationship. How have the last couple of weeks been?” someone else asks, and Lacey relaxes against me.
