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Before he could get trapped again with more questions, Jalen slipped out of the room and unlocked his suite. The kid left a few minutes later, and Jalen breathed a sigh of relief. He really couldn’t stand it when people tried to get him to tell them who Shadow Walker was.
Sir Barks whined, and he dug out the dog bowls from his suitcase, filling them with food and water. It didn’t take much to make the little guy happy. He wagged his tail as he munched on his supper.
Jalen opened his briefcase and pulled out his notebook with the latest lyrics he’d been working on. His obligations at the resort didn’t start until tomorrow, so tonight he could relax and get some work done. That is, after he gave instructions to the part-timer he’d hired. He checked his phone. The temp should be arriving any minute now. He always hired a temp when he had week-long gigs like this. He needed help with food delivery to his room and other minor things. And if the kid was tall enough, he might be able to use him as his double on the way out.
He relaxed into the chair by the patio door. The view of the ocean was nice. Too bad he wouldn’t be spending much time out there. Even though he was used to hiding in his room, he did wonder if the sand would feel as powdery under his toes as it looked. He pushed away the thought. He didn’t like it when children screamed at the sight of his scars. It was best to stay behind the scenes. He reached up and pulled the blinds closed.
The song he’d been working on had stalled, and he needed to focus so he could get the lyrics right. He subconsciously chewed the end of his pen.My heart is cold as ice. Got no feeling left. Not since she took it all away.
He tried to get back into the headspace he needed to be in to finish the lyrics. Scorned by love. Left alone. He could relate. Not that he’d ever had a long-term relationship. No, those didn’t come his way. Women weren’t looking for a man like him.
He’d tried dating in the past before he’d become jaded. He just wasn’t in the mood to see the look of shock on another woman’s face. The one where they couldn’t imagine what might have happened to him to leave his skin in such a state.
He worked on his song for a while before he realized the errand boy had never come. He picked up his phone and frowned at the screen. He’d been waiting over an hour. Ugh. This wasn’t the first time this temp agency had lost his request. What were they doing over here? He’d have to call if no one showed up soon.
His dog barked, and a knock sounded on his door. Finally. He closed his notebook and took a glance around to make sure none of his Shadow Walker things were lying around the room. After making sure it was safe, he opened his door.
A woman stood before him, her dark hair pulled back in a severe bun, a pair of large glasses on her nose, making her look owlish. She was wearing a grey skirt and blazer and looked at him expectantly. “Jalen Carter?”
“You’re not a boy.” The stupidity of his words smacked him in the face, and his neck heated. Duh. Of course, she wasn’t a boy.
She blinked. “No, I’m not.”
He waited for her gaze to land on his scars. For the flinch that so often came. But she didn’t flinch. She simply stood there, smiling. Behind him, Sir-Barks-a-Lot was doing his best to pay tribute to his name. “Hush,” he said to him.
“Are you the one they sent to be Shadow Walker’s assistant?”
The woman hesitated for a split second, but then she nodded and smiled. “Yes. That’s me.”
Jalen motioned for her to enter his suite. “All right. Come in.” He wasn’t thrilled they’d messed up his instructions and sent a woman instead of an errand boy, but he wasn’t about to send her away. He was against gender discrimination. Plus, he’d look like a real jerk. He pulled one of the chairs over to her and motioned to it.
“Have a seat. Let me get the instructions for you.” He rummaged through his suitcase, looking for the paper schedule he’d typed up. Unfortunately, it wasn’t there. “Sorry, usually I’m not this disorganized,” he mumbled as he tried to find it.
The woman scratched behind Sir Bark’s ears. “That’s okay.” She smiled at his dog. “He’s sweet. What’s his name?”
“Sir Barks-a-Lot.”
She laughed. Not some high-pitched polite thing, either. She laughed like she meant it. “That’s a cute name.”
“You think so? Most people think it’s odd.”
“Well, I like it.” She lifted his dog onto her lap. “Yes, I do, Sir Barks-a-Lot. I think you’re a handsome chap.”
Jalen’s face heated as he continued to search for the paper that obviously wasn’t there. Maybe he’d left it in his printer at home. Great. He gave up and turned to the woman, sticking out his hand. “As you already know, I’m Jalen.”
“Riley,” she said as she took his hand. Her skin was soft, and he wasn’t expecting the electric feeling that skittered up his arm from touching her. He pulled his hand back.
“I’m sorry, I can’t find my sheet. But what I need you to do is simple. Shadow Walker is booked to make appearances and do shows here all week. I’m his manager, but I’ll be busy, and I can’t take care of the small details, so that’s what you’re here for. He’ll need meals brought to him. Laundry picked up. Make sure his fridge is stocked with bottled water. Things like that. You’ll basically be at my beck and call for whatever he needs.”
Riley nodded, and then her eyebrows knit together. “So, he’s going to be doing shows? Is he a magician?”
Jalen stared at the woman. “You don’t know who Shadow Walker is?”
Riley shrugged. “I don’t. Sorry.”
How can there be anyone that out of it? Was she from a different planet? He cleared his throat. “He’s a singer.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Ooh,” she said, dragging the word out. “Sorry. I don’t listen to that rap stuff.”
