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"I have your fudge for you now, Miss Monroe." A friendly face, she reached out to link her hand through Peter's bent arm, feeling better to be with someone she knew. She even reached out to pick up the smallest bite-sized piece of the luscious dessert and popped it into her mouth, letting the sweet chocolate melt in her mouth slowly. It was heavenly. Her low groan of delight lit the coffee-boy's face up in a lopsidedgrin.
"That was without a doubt the best fudge I've ever had. Thank you,Peter."
He had picked up another piece and was holding it out for her to take another bite when Jaxson wrapped his arm around and pulled her away fromPeter.
"I let it go before the movie because I knew you were nervous enough, but you've lost too much weight. We're gonna take you out for a big, healthy dinner and try to put get some good food in you. Let's headout."
Peter looked crestfallen as Jaxson pulled her away. She barely had time to call out to him, "Thanks again," before trying to pull away from Jaxson and his heavy-handedcrap.
"I'm not a child, Davidson. I think I can decide what I'll eat and when," shecomplained.
He stopped them long enough to lecture her quietly. "You called us for our help. Sorry, kiddo, but this is how I help. If you can't take better care of yourself, I'll be happy tohelp."
"But––"
He cut her off, leaning in to talk against her ear. "Chase told me about your past eating disorder. I understand how being stressed can trigger oldhabits."
"Chase has a big mouth," shemuttered.
Jaxson's naughty grin disarmed her anger. "Yes, he does, but it feels oh so good." It took her a second to realize his meaning, but when she did, she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as she broke out into a full-body blush. He teased her. "You're almost as adorable as Emma when you blush. Now come on. Let's find you somefood."
Trevor met them in the lobby of the theater. The party was in full swing with drinks flowing freely as fans, studio personnel and the media mingled. The scowl on her bodyguard's face as he caught up with her told her he wasn'thappy.
"I thought I told you to stay put in the theater until I could escort you out. I lost sight of you for almost five minutes. You gave me a fucking heartattack."
"I'm sorry. The crowd was too heavy. I kinda got swept away there for a few minutes, but Jaxson was withme."
For the first time Trevor had to acknowledge the only man as tall as he was in the room. "I was with her when she phoned you and Chase for help." He stopped talking, but she knew the words he'd left unspoken; 'I tried to talk her out of it because I don't need your damn help to protecther'.
Jaxson was unfazed by Trevor's grousing attitude. "Being old friends with Khloe, it was great that we could be here on her big night. We're on the same team, afterall."
Trevor took the bait. "What team isthat?"
Jaxson took a step closer, leaning in to answer. "The 'keep Khloe safe from assholes'team."
The tall men stood chest to chest, sizing each other up for a few long seconds before Trevor sighed, stepping back and replying, "Yeah, I guess I'm good with getting help from people we can trust for that team." He finally looked back at Khloe before adding an emotional, "I'll do anything to make sure she stayssafe."
Memories of his kiss... his declaration of love... they flooded back, making her feel uncomfortable. She loved Trevor like a brother, but the look he was presently devouring her with was anything but brotherly. Of course, Jaxsonnoticed.
"Is there something going on here I should know about?" her friendasked.
To his credit, Trevor answered in unison with her in their joint, "No."
The emotional ups and downs of the night were taking their toll on her. She'd had exactly one glass of champagne and a bite of chocolate fudge in the last twelve hours. The thought of eating the heavy food of the party terrified her because she knew it would be followed by a nearly uncontrollable urge to purge. She fought to remain calm as a waiter stopped with a tray of appetizers, waving him off before Jaxson could lecture hermore.
The press of the crowd grew worse, but she was grateful for Jaxson and Trevor working together to help her weave through the throng of guests, stopping for photos and quick hellos as they slowly made their way towards the exit. They eventually met up with Chase and Emma near the door to the outdoor red carpet. Remembering she was supposed to be in love, she looked around the crowded lobby, but Dean was nowhere to beseen.
He's probably off banging some groupie. That'll be a great headline in the tabloids. Good thing I'm not counting on him to protectme.
Trevor peeled off to meet Darius who had called to bring her limo around, leaving her in Jaxson and Chase's care. She kept her celebrity smile plastered on her sweaty face as they finally made it out into the now cooler evening breeze. Her three famous escorts were garnering as much attention as she was, making forward progressslow.
She was shocked that the studio hadn't made the public crowds disperse. If anything, there were more people crowding the sidewalk and entry plaza as they tried to make their way to the curb. The stanchions that had held fans back on the way in were now pressed aside, allowing shouting admirers to surround her–touch her– as she made her way through thethrong.
Within minutes, things went from packed to mild chaos. Trevor shouted to her from the curb, but she lost sight of him as people pressed in. Remembering that any one of these people could be her stalker filled her with renewed terror. She took comfort that Jaxson, Chase and Emma were pressing through the crush alongside her. A stalker would have to go through them before they could whisk heraway.
When the paparazzi pressed through the mob to start taking photos, Trevor shoved the aggressive photographer aside sending his expensive camera to the concrete. The cameraperson lashed out, trying to tackle her bodyguard. Darius jumped into the fray as all hell broke loose. Women screamed, not knowing what was happening. Men either moved out of the way, or a few aggressors joined in the fisticuffs, happy for a littleexcitement.
Jaxson yelled to Chase, "Stick with Emma! Don't let anyone touch her." He then stooped to pick up Khloe in his arms before pressing through the crowd assertively, making a path for them and his lovers who followed close behind. She could feel her flowing satin gown hanging down, trying to trip up Jaxson as he made slow progress through the pushing and shoving. All she could do to help was grab up her dress, trying not to flash the swarm in theprocess.
