Page 106 of Unguarded

“Thanks.”

I watch him leave, shutting my eyes after the door slams closed. My heartbeat is thundering in my chest. She needs me right now, but I don’t want to reveal myself just yet. My phone buzzes with an incoming text. I look down to see the text from Brooks with Katherine’s contact information.

I tap the number and listen to it ring twice.

“Katherine here.”

I getthe hype with tuxes now. As I stroll over the red carpet in an all-black one with my black felt cowboy hat, heads turn toward me. Cameras flash, and murmurs fill the night sky.

“Is that Monroe Blue’s bodyguard?”

“What’s his name, Cash?”

I’m intentionally late to the party because I didn’t want Monroe to see me too early. The award ceremony has already started. Katherine said to meet her near the paparazzi tent since I’ll need her help to get in. With the way the cameras are pointed at me and how my name is being whispered, I think she might be wrong about that. An eerie tingle crawls up my spine to the back of my neck when I hear the wordsRedford Ranch,bodyguard, andoutdoor shower.

This is what she goes through on a daily basis. I don’t know how she does it.

My eyes focus on Katherine’s dark head of hair. She’s raising her arm in the air toward me, dressed in a bright blue pantsuit. When I approach, her brows rise in interest and approval.

“If I’d known you cleaned up this nice, I wouldn’t have taken no for an answer to you two as a couple.” She waves her hand over me. “Iconic.”

The corner of my lips twitches up. “Thank you, ma’am. Is everything in order?”

She sighs, shaking her head. “They want him to do it. I’m sorry. I explained the situation, but they’re not budging.With their history, the tour, his new movie … I’m sorry. I did all I could. There are contracts involved.” She presses a hand to her forehead.

“Does she know?” I grit my teeth, trying to remind myself that Katherine only has so much influence, and in this world, I can’t use excessive force when some asshole needs to be taught a lesson.

She nods, offering a sympathetic smile. “She’s a professional. This is where she shines, okay? She’ll get through it, and you being here for her will mean a lot.”

A woman with a video camera approaches me, her companion holding up a microphone to my face. “Cash! So good to see you here. May I just say that you really know how to fill out a tux? Wow. Is this your first time on the red carpet?”

I want to turn and walk away, but I know that’s not the right way to handle this. A few more cameras join the circle, all crowding in around me and flashing in my face. Resisting the urge to bolt, I dip my head down and clear my throat.

“Uh, yeah, I guess it is.”

“And are you here escorting anyone?”

More cameras and interviewers join the group, which is beginning to turn into a small crowd. I’m the tallest of the group by a few inches. Katherine takes a step back, grinning from ear to ear and giving me a thumbs-up.

“Well, if she’ll give me a chance, I’m here to escort Miss Monroe Blue.”

A round of gasps travels through the crowd. They press in even closer. I try to take a step back, but there’s no room.

“Are you and she dating?”

“How long has this been going on?”

“Why did she arrive before you?”

“Is Monroe aware that you’re here?”

They all speak at once, the volume of each question rising as they try to talk over each other.

I hold up my hands. “She doesn’t know I’m here yet. I’d prefer to keep it that way.”

“What are you going to say to her when she sees you?” a man asks, pressing his mic up to my face.

I clear my throat, leaning down to make sure he gets it. “I’m going to tell her that I’m madly in love with her and there’s not a woman on this planet who compares to her. I’m going to ask her if she’ll be my girlfriend and, when she’s ready, more than that.”

---