Chapter Sixteen
Theping ping pingof something light hitting against the living room window made Emily turn. Had the paparazzi figured out another way to get in? Her shoulders sagged in relief when she saw Nash’s familiar face. His forehead was creased while he attempted to hide from the group assembled outside. A grin played at the corner of his lips when he met eyes with her.
Wow, she adored that mischievous sparkle in those blue eyes!
She didn’t doubt that he was practiced in the ways of sneaking into windows unseen, like a regular Peter Pan.
She hurried to the picture window just as eager as Wendy, fumbling with the latches. As soon as she got the pane opened, he slid through, carrying a cute teddy bear of a puppy.
She immediately stole the little mop from him. His soft fur melted her heart. His eager, licking tongue came next. “Ah, who is this?”
“Lizardman.”
Her nose wrinkled.
“My nephew named him,” he explained.
She nodded, bringing the puppy to her rushing heart. Things had turned a little crazy, and she needed all the comfort that she could get. “Well, I’m glad you made it inside without getting carried away. Those cameras are relentless. Security gets rid of them and then someone tries to deliver a package or makes a flower delivery, and then the paparazzi sneaks in like a flood. This last time was supposedly a routine check from the electric company.”
Mia marched out from the back, bearing a tray of cookies. “We did it! This calls for a celebration.” She handed Nash a little Fourth of July cookie speckled with festive colors. “Just think! Emily’s first concert just sold out! She’s a hit. Everybody loves her.”
Nash swung around to study her face. “The Harvest Ranch concert?”
“Yes,” she admitted. And despite her success after his pep talk from the night before, she didn’t feel ready. After the strains of the day, the familiar weight of terror crushed her limbs and made her want to lose her lunch. “In a week and a half.” To her horror, her voice broke.
And Nash noticed, of course he did. He straightened, his fingers digging into the cookie. He was way too observant for her to be able to hide her feelings.
She attempted a smile, knowing that it was weak and turned back to his puppy, rubbing his sweet little ears. She was doing everything in her powernotto freak out. Losing the last appearance of what she considered normalcy wasn’t helping. Her privacy had been dashed to pieces, and despite knowing that no one else could define who she was, she felt like she was losing parts of herself that she wasn’t sure that she wanted to part with.
“I’ll be there for you,” he said.
Her eyes went to him over the fluffball’s ears, and her smile turned more genuine in her relief. At least that. “Thank you,” she said. “It means the world to me.”
Lizardman shifted in her hands and began to bark at the air like he’d found a ghost. She laughed. Dogs and small children all had a way of making her feel paranoid like that. “Creepy! Does he normally bark at nothing?”
“No?”
Suddenly a light flashed into the living room, followed by the click of a camera going off. Nash rushed over to Emily to cover her and Lizardman with his broad shoulder. Her face flushed at his protective expression. She supposed that her man defending her from the cameras would make for a great picture. Already it was engrained inhermemories.
Mia burst out into a merry laugh as she called over security, who ran in from the other room. “Someone got through!” she cried out. Nash wasn’t the only one with great sneaking capabilities.
Security escorted the man out as he attempted more pictures. Nothing was stopping him, except a Fourth of July cookie. Mia handed the baked good to him on his way out. Obviously she was more delighted with the attention than Emily was.
Emily put a hand to her head while Nash stroked her back. “You okay?”
“I don’t know how to take this.” It would be one thing getting swamped with cameras if Emily liked that sort of thing, but she was still trying to get used to the idea of getting up in front of a crowd. And now, she felt like the world was closing in on her on all sides. She was beginning to understand what losing her personal life really would mean. She didn’t want that to happen yet… if ever! “I think–I think I just need to get away from this.”
Nash’s head lifted at that. His eyes glittered with sudden interest. “You do?”
She’d said it on a whim, but now escaping this sudden pressure felt like the perfect way for her to gain her footing again. “Yes, does that make me weak?” She sagged, feeling defeated. Nash brought her in for a bracing hug. She burrowed into his arms, grateful for the comfort that he always seemed to lend her. “I don’t know, but I need to clear my head so that I can face all of this without freaking out again.”
“I…” Nash seemed to be considering his words before plunging ahead with his usual forthrightness, “I actually have a job out of town at a ranch in a few days.”
So he’d be gone? Disappointment snuffed out her sudden hope. It wasn’t like she had any claim over him anyway. Why couldn’t she remember that?
His eyes were steady on hers. “Why don’t you come? It’ll be nice—some peaceful time in the country away from the city lights.”
Her fingers tightened over him. Nothing sounded more amazing.