AllFreeNovel
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We’re finally in the hotel lobby now and I feel like I’ve made it to the promised land. Not because the place is incredible (though it is) but because I know a bed is only minutes away. I need food. And then sleep. And after those things, I’ll be ready to address whatever this is between me and Nora.
Even though it’s late, the resort is brimming with wealthy energy and people in white linen clothing. Nora keeps getting distracted by the opulence as we walk.
“Now that is a lion sculpture! We’ve got to get you one of those. It could be a daddy lion to your baby lion.” She gasps. “Mufasa for your Simba!”
“I don’t need any more lions.”
She laughs one sardonic laugh. “As if anyone can own too many lions. Come on, Pender, use your head.”
“Would you just keep walking?” I put my hand to the small of her back, ignoring the way it fits like a lock and key. How I never want to remove it.
The deeper we get into the resort, the more attention we gain because unfortunately my size doesn’t allow me to fly under the radar all that easily. Even if they don’t know exactly who I am, peoplegenerally assume I’m an athlete of some sort and start googling. Doesn’t take long after that.
The elopement post going viral hasn’t helped either. I opened my social media for ten seconds, and that was all I could take. Most people were supportive, and then a lot of ignorant assholes called Nora terrible names I’d like to jam down their own throats. I guess that’s why I’m feeling protective of her now.
As we walk over the marble floors, we both notice two couples milling around the hotel bar staring at us. They have the look of intoxicated fans about to swoop in and ask for autographs and pictures.
Nora notices them too and steps in front of me—her small hand splayed out behind her in the air like she’s projecting an invisible shield.
“What the hell are you doing?” I ask the back of her head.
She cuts a look at me like I’ve lost my mind and pulls herself up to as tall as her five-foot-seven stature will allow. “Um—protecting you. What does it look like?”
She’s…oh my god.This woman.“Why are you protecting me?”
“Because I’m your agent. That’s what we do.”
“That is not what you do. Bill never once acted as my bodyguard.”
She shrugs a single shoulder. “Not my fault Bill wasn’t as great an agent as me. Why? You don’t think I can do it? There are female bodyguards, you know.”
I snag her hand, intertwining our fingers and tucking her against my side. The lock-and-key sensation flares all over again. “Yes—but they’re trained. You have arms like spaghetti noodles. And besides, this”—Igesture to our clasped hands—“will keep people from approaching better than your bodyguard scowl. People don’t usually talk to me while I’m on a date, for some reason.”
“Interesting logic. You should have made Bill hold your hand.”
I grin down at her. “Who says I didn’t?”
Nora halts and doesn’t laugh like I expect. She studies me as her mouth curves into an intrigued smile before those eyes drop to my lips and stay there for one long moment.
“Nora. You’re staring at my mouth.” It comes out unplanned and maybe a tad too hopeful.
She doesn’t look away. “Because you finally smiled. I don’t want to miss it if it happens again.”
I roll my eyes and tug her with me toward the check-in counter. She talks with the receptionist, but I don’t hear a word of it. My mind is stuck back there where Nora stared at my mouth like it was something wonderful that belonged to her.
—
After checking in, we decline help from the bellhop (because honestly, I’m just sick of people) and step into the elevator with our two suitcases. Unfortunately, a random guy follows us in, and I don’t miss the way his gaze rakes over Nora from head to toe. It’s been happening all day today actually. She’s wearing a pair of tight black leggings, white Nikes, and a boxy purple crop top (all items we acquired this morning on our shopping spree).
Nora is all beautiful curves, strong-looking legs, and soft pale skin that I’m trying with all my respect not to notice but failing miserably. Especially when I’m able to remember—hazy as it is—what all that soft skin felt like under my fingertips.
And it doesn’t help that when she reaches up and adjusts the ponytail sitting high on her head, her shirt hikes up, showing a few extra inches of her stomach. At the sight of her navel, a memory rockets back to the front of my mind. Us playing on the couch while watching a movie (using the termwatchloosely) and her shirt riding up just like this. I smiled and then lightly sank my teeth right therein the soft side of her stomach—just enough to make her gasp and then laugh from her own reaction.
A little white horizontal scar that wasn’t there when we dated lives on the side of her abdomen. My nails bite into my palms to keep from reaching out and touching that thin mark.
Nora has lived a whole life I know nothing about, and I hate it.
She catches me staring at her stomach, and I wonder how transparent my desires are.Pretty damn transparentgiven the way she raises her eyebrows.
