Page 98 of The Stalker

Her brain formed the words, but her mouth said, “Yes, I am.”

He smiled at her, and she firmly ignored the arousal flooding through her body. As they walked back through her room, she grabbed a hotel bathrobe from the closet and put it on to cover herself up. Then she turned and led the way out of the hotel suite. Ethan was in the hallway with Michael, and they both looked up when she and Hayden exited the suite. Tatiana noticed Ethan take in her attire at once, and Michael’s eyebrows raised.

Good job, Tatiana. Make sure that your colleagues on this contract are all completely aware of how unprofessional you are.

She wanted to tell Ethan where he could shove his judgment. She would’ve been dressed like this with any other client. It’s not like she put on this swimsuit and bathrobe for fun. The whole point was to fit in with the people around him, and she definitely belonged in the swimming area of a high-end hotel right now.

Still, she was grateful when the elevator arrived, and she could leave the other two bodyguards behind. She cringed internally as she wondered what they might be saying about her, but returned her focus as the elevator stopped on another level. Two couples, both in their sixties, with graying hair, entered the elevator and took them in with their swimming attire, before one of them pressed the button for the lobby.

Tatiana shifted closer to Hayden, and she caught a whiff of his scent. Coffee, and that woody and aromatic cologne he always wore. She looked up at him, and he smiled at her. She quickly snapped her eyes forward. Being this close to him was bringing back memories of kissing him, and she couldn’t be thinking about that.

Partially, because it should never have happened, but mostly because she was currently unarmed and needed to keep her wits about her at all times. Being this close to Hayden was not conducive to that at all. She was relieved when the elevator opened at the lobby and the other guests got out.

Tatiana shifted away from Hayden and she heard him chuckle, but he didn’t comment. Her cheeks flushed with heat and she hated herself for moving, as though she wasn’t strong enough to stand next to the man for fifteen more seconds.

Well, you’re not. I approve of moving away.

The elevator opened at the basement level that contained the hotel’s pool and gym. Tatiana led the way through to the pool, where they signed in and got towels. It was an indoor pool, nothing particularly fancy, but it was a very large rectangular pool with steps at the end. There was also a spa at the other end of it and a sauna next to that, as well as changing rooms. Around the outside were a combination of tables and chairs, along with sun loungers for people to lie on.

Tatiana was relieved that because it was early, there weren’t many people in the pool area. There were two men and one woman, who looked to be in their early twenties, floating in the deep end of the pool.

They looked up when she and Hayden entered the room, and Tatiana knew immediately that they’d recognized Hayden. They started whispering and glancing over at them repeatedly. She walked over to one of the sun loungers and dropped her towel on it before she turned around.

Hayden stopped directly in front of her and dropped his towel on the lounger next to hers. She tilted her head up to look at him, her heart pounding in her chest as he looked down at her.

She scrambled in her head for something to say and asked quietly, “Does it get weird having people looking at you all the time?”

“It depends who’s doing the looking,” he told her in a husky voice. “I definitely prefer you to them.”

“Hayden,” she said in a warning tone, and he smiled.

“Yes, it’s weird. I don’t like it, but I’m used to it. I’ve never been a person who liked having a bunch of attention on me.”

“But you became a rock star?” Tatiana scoffed.

Hayden laughed, and arousal flooded through her body at the sound of it. “Because I love music. Also, that’s what I’ve got Gabriel and Sebastian for. They take the attention off me.”

Tatiana thought about the dynamics of the band. When she’d seen them in interviews, those two took the lead. It was the same on stage or during interactions with fans. Gabriel and Sebastian at the forefront, Hayden and Harrison allowing them to lead but still being an integral part of the team. In behind-the-scenes business discussions, it was almost the opposite.

“I can see that. Sebastian certainly has no problem with everyone looking at him,” Tatiana smirked.

“Indeed.” He glanced over at the pool and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”

He did that on purpose. Don’t fall for it.

She could see the amusement in his expression and knew he’d purposely worded his question that way. It didn’t stop it from having the desired effect as images played in her brain of her coming with him.

“I wouldn’t possibly let you out of bed unless you were completely and utterly satisfied.”

“No, thank you. Unless I think those people pose a threat, I’m fine watching you from here.”

“Okay. Have fun watching, then.”

Tatiana groaned softly as he walked away. He was going to be the death of her. She lay back on the sun lounger, her entire body tensed to spring up at any moment. Hayden walked down the steps into the pool and then began swimming laps.

The other hotel guests watched him as he did. If Hayden noticed, he gave no sign of it. Occasionally, they would look over at her with interest as well. No doubt trying to figure out her association with Hayden, and she ensured that she didn’t catch their eye.

After a while, Hayden stopped in the deep end near the group and held on to the edge as he caught his breath. Tatiana watched the three people and saw the woman consider approaching him before she chickened out. Her disappointment was obvious as Hayden began swimming his laps again. The two men laughed, and she pulled a sad face at them.

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