Tonight was her night, and I’d give this woman everything her beautiful, unselfish, huge heart desired.
CHAPTER30
AUSTIN
The limo ridefrom Harry Reid International Airport to the Strip took about ten minutes. The fundraising event was being held at the MGM Grand hotel. Security would be tight, and the tickets had cost me close to five thousand each because I wanted the best seats possible. Thankfully, I had connections. The concert had been sold out for months because of the list of popular bands playing tonight.
The crowd was immense as we entered the hotel, and immediately, I noticed the familiar flashes of the paparazzi.
“Hey, man, will you be playing this season?”
“Austin Callaway!”
“You’re looking good, dude.”
“Hey, aren’t you the shirtless girl from the video?”
Sydney’s face turned beet red.
I wrapped an arm around Sydney and ushered her inside the hotel. The concert was in the arena of the hotel.
I hadn’t thought of getting security, not today. Setting up all the logistics of tonight’s events and booking a charter plane had kept me occupied.
Damn it.
This could get chaotic real fast.
I pulled her into me and moved us to the side. “This was a stupid idea.”
“Sorry …” She looked sad.
I shook my head and tipped up her chin. Bad idea because my gaze flickered to her lips. “Not the concert. Taking you here with me without security. The concert starts in an hour, but I gotta make a few calls first.”
“Callaway? Can I get an autograph?”
I turned my attention to a few men, one looking like he was at his bachelor party, given that his shirt said,Almost Taken.
Yeah, being in the middle of the lobby is not the best idea.
“Sure.” I scribbled a few lines on the paper that he’d shoved in my face, reached for Sydney’s hand, and walked us through the hotel.
Usually, I could handle a crowd. I was a pretty big guy. Crowds didn’t scare me. Only tiny female super fanatics who watched me sleep did.
But, shit, today, the crowd was rowdier, and what had my nerves shot was the fact that Sydney was with me.
Walking farther into the hotel, we hit the casino.
Flashing lights and hundreds of backlit gambling machines lit my view.
I pulled us into the high-rollers area, where, thankfully, there weren’t a lot of boisterous fans. When the minimum was a hundred dollars a hand, that cut the list of players down real fast.
“Callaway, I got your seat right here.” An older man with salt-and-pepper hair motioned me over to the blackjack table, which was five hundred a hand.
“I’m good.” I waved a hand, indicating I wasn’t here for a game. I was only here to hide out for a bit.
In front of us, the dealer was calling out bids at the craps table.
The tension in my shoulders eased now that we weren’t mobbed by a crowd.