blocking their view of her. “Those kind of fans are great. I love them. It’s the vultures who come next that I can really do without. They’re usually rude, pushing in to get a piece of me or my autograph to sell on eBay. They don’t care about me, my work, my time or anything about me other than how it benefits them. They have this deluded notion that since I’m a public figure I owe them in some way. All they care about is what they can get from me…how they can use me.” Micah shook his head. “It only takes one person to get the courage to say hello and then, well, it’s better if I leave before things escalate and I get swamped. So I’ll show you a quiet evening in. Just you, me and dessert.”
“If dessert is anywhere near as mind-blowing as the appetizer before we got here…”
The frown creasing Micah’s forehead faded, his eyes darkening with sinful promise. He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.
Paul placed a fancy black bag with a devil decorating the bottom corner on the table and handed Micah his card and a pen to sign the bill. “Donnie’s got your car ready, sir. Again, I’m sorry—”
“It’s cool, Paul. Really.” Micah finished the transaction as Jenna ducked back into the booth to grab her purse. She snatched the doggie bag too, already salivating over the idea of sharing chocolate with Micah. Alone. Behind closed doors. No interruptions.
Micah held out a hand for Jenna. “Are you ready?”
Lifting the bag of velvety chocolate cupcake goodness, she swung it teasingly in front of Micah. “Are you ready?”
“You have no idea.” His million-dollar smile coming out to play, he settled his hand on her back and guided her through the restaurant. This time, Jenna managed to mostly ignore the whispers, gasps and flashes from cell-phone cameras as she and Micah passed. It didn’t matter anymore. The only thing she planned on focusing on for the rest of the evening was Micah. And chocolate. And maybe a little chocolate on Micah.
Ohh, that was a nice thought. Hopefully he didn’t live too far away so they could get started on the taste testing pronto.
One of the same valets from earlier opened the front door, and Jenna walked through ahead of Micah and stepped outside. Streetlights and the lights from the restaurant and other surrounding businesses illuminated the sidewalk, keeping the night at bay.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jenna saw someone rushing toward the front door. No, make that some ones , plural, a whole group of them. Who would need to get inside so fast? Something bright flashed in her eyes, and she blinked, sidestepping the barrage coming her way.
“Nice dress, honey. What’s your name? Roxanne?”
“Hey, sweetheart, show me your best side. No, the other one. The one you show Dr. Dale.”
White spots danced in her vision, blinding her to the faces behind the taunting, condescending voices. She spun around, but she was boxed in, cameras clicking no matter which way she turned. Years ago, she’d gone to see a friend’s band perform at a small club, and she’d ended up in the center of an impromptu mosh pit. That’s what this felt like, jostled, surrounded, noise and lights and a struggle to escape.
A camera was shoved inches from her nose, flash bright enough to send her stumbling backwards. Her ankle went left, her shoe went right, and she went down, butt hitting the concrete in a hail of jeering laughter and white bursts of light.
“Get the fuck away from her,” Micah roared, and the nearest cameras turned from her to him as he barreled his way through the mob. Jenna hadn’t seen him this angry before, jaw tight, body rigid as he shoved one particularly aggressive guy aside to get to her. Just like when they first met, cameras rolling, her landing on her ass, him helping her up… Her hand disappeared into his larger one, his arm going around her protectively as she got to her feet. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Her pride hurt more
“If dessert is anywhere near as mind-blowing as the appetizer before we got here…”
The frown creasing Micah’s forehead faded, his eyes darkening with sinful promise. He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.
Paul placed a fancy black bag with a devil decorating the bottom corner on the table and handed Micah his card and a pen to sign the bill. “Donnie’s got your car ready, sir. Again, I’m sorry—”
“It’s cool, Paul. Really.” Micah finished the transaction as Jenna ducked back into the booth to grab her purse. She snatched the doggie bag too, already salivating over the idea of sharing chocolate with Micah. Alone. Behind closed doors. No interruptions.
Micah held out a hand for Jenna. “Are you ready?”
Lifting the bag of velvety chocolate cupcake goodness, she swung it teasingly in front of Micah. “Are you ready?”
“You have no idea.” His million-dollar smile coming out to play, he settled his hand on her back and guided her through the restaurant. This time, Jenna managed to mostly ignore the whispers, gasps and flashes from cell-phone cameras as she and Micah passed. It didn’t matter anymore. The only thing she planned on focusing on for the rest of the evening was Micah. And chocolate. And maybe a little chocolate on Micah.
Ohh, that was a nice thought. Hopefully he didn’t live too far away so they could get started on the taste testing pronto.
One of the same valets from earlier opened the front door, and Jenna walked through ahead of Micah and stepped outside. Streetlights and the lights from the restaurant and other surrounding businesses illuminated the sidewalk, keeping the night at bay.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jenna saw someone rushing toward the front door. No, make that some ones , plural, a whole group of them. Who would need to get inside so fast? Something bright flashed in her eyes, and she blinked, sidestepping the barrage coming her way.
“Nice dress, honey. What’s your name? Roxanne?”
“Hey, sweetheart, show me your best side. No, the other one. The one you show Dr. Dale.”
White spots danced in her vision, blinding her to the faces behind the taunting, condescending voices. She spun around, but she was boxed in, cameras clicking no matter which way she turned. Years ago, she’d gone to see a friend’s band perform at a small club, and she’d ended up in the center of an impromptu mosh pit. That’s what this felt like, jostled, surrounded, noise and lights and a struggle to escape.
A camera was shoved inches from her nose, flash bright enough to send her stumbling backwards. Her ankle went left, her shoe went right, and she went down, butt hitting the concrete in a hail of jeering laughter and white bursts of light.
“Get the fuck away from her,” Micah roared, and the nearest cameras turned from her to him as he barreled his way through the mob. Jenna hadn’t seen him this angry before, jaw tight, body rigid as he shoved one particularly aggressive guy aside to get to her. Just like when they first met, cameras rolling, her landing on her ass, him helping her up… Her hand disappeared into his larger one, his arm going around her protectively as she got to her feet. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Her pride hurt more
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