Page 50 of The Kissing Part
“I invited all our clients. A lot were away for the Memorial Day weekend, but I think we’ll have a nice turnout. Low key, about a dozen clients, mostly single. Dad’s bar has a great rep as a place to hang. Shay and Harper will be there too.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Owen?”
“Yeah?”
“If you could stop hating on her long enough, you’d see she’s still in love with you.”
“No, she’s not. She’s in love with my family. What we had is dead.” I turn on my heel and head toward the door.
“Just keep your heart open!” She gasps. “Oh my God, I sound like my mother.”
* * *
I’m only here because this party is for my company. Not to check on Shayla. Still, I can’t help but notice she’s surrounded by admirers in the back room of Happy Endings. I clench my teeth, my gut burning. Our clients, mostly men, fall all over themselves, flirting with her and taking selfies. Zander is standing just behind her, ready to step in. Problem is, he shouldn’t let her be surrounded.
I’m moving across the room before I even realize it, fueled by adrenaline. Shayla’s in danger. I work my way to the center of the group and take her by the hand. “Excuse me. I need a minute with Shayla.”
“Owen!” She glances around. “Sorry.”
I guide her over to a quiet corner of the room, Zander following at a distance.
I gesture him closer and speak in a low voice. “She should never be surrounded on all sides. You need to practice crowd control. Block access, or pull her from the situation.”
He looks to Shayla for confirmation.
“He’s probably right,” she says. “I’ll work on staying closer to you so I can’t be surrounded.”
“Got it,” Zander says.
She turns to me. “I thought I fired you.”
“You probably should have two bodyguards anyway. He can’t be with you all the time like I was. Ask Olivia about getting another one.”
“This is no longer your business. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She heads over to Mackenzie and Harper.
I stand there for a stunned moment before heading to the buffet. How is her safety not my business? Of course it is. She made it that way the moment she asked me for help. Nothing can happen to her. She’s too important. To everyone, not just me. She’s Shayla freaking Adler, movie star.
I grab a small plate and help myself to a variety of hot appetizers, watching to be sure Zander’s doing his job. He sticks close by Shayla while also scanning the room. I guess he’s okay for the moment.
Mackenzie did a good job organizing the party. Nathan joins the group of women, and Harper abruptly walks away.
She spots me and walks over. “How’s Zander working out?”
“He’s okay, not great. Trainable.”
Mackenzie goes over to the vintage jukebox and plays a slow song. Our client Raj asks her to dance and guides her on to the dance floor.
Harper adds some vegetables to a small plate and joins me. “Mixing business and personal,” she says, watching Mackenzie and Raj. “We talked about this.”
“It’s just a dance,” I say.
But then Nathan asks Shayla to dance, who looks delighted. My shoulders tense. He holds her too close, talking the whole time. I bet he’s piling on the compliments because she can’t stop smiling. They met before when Shayla stayed with us that summer. Maybe she wishes she’d been with him that summer.
“She’s too nice for him,” Harper says.
“Who?”
