Page 54 of Gluttony
“I’d rather take you out to dinner,” he said, voice low and conspiratorial. “Or we can eat at my place. I can call Heaven and have something sent up.”
“I’d like that. Dinner, I mean.”
He mustn’t have expected her to agree, because his head snapped up, his eyes locked onto hers and he blinked. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”
“Car’s out the front.” She ushered him out of the room and took him down to the lobby. A tingle of anticipation traveled up her spine.
I’m going to have dinner with him.
Hiding her smile, she slipped her sunglasses on to help her eyes adjust to the glare of the sunset shining through the foyer windows. When they stepped outside and onto the driveway, Bailey’s instincts went on high alert. There were too many people. The paparazzi hadn’t left and there seemed to be more than the usual hotel patrons and staff milling about. General public. She couldn’t get eyes on her car.
Anything could happen in a crowd like this.
She nabbed a valet walking past. “I called for my car, but I can’t see it. It’s a Ford Explorer.”
“Sorry ma’am. There’s been a hold up. If you wait over there, I’m sure it won’t take long.”
Over therewas a growing line of put out looking businessmen and posh women in pantsuits.
Bailey took Tony’s elbow. “I don’t like this crowd. Let’s find another way out.”
But it was too late. A shout from the paparazzi alerted everyone to Tony’s arrival, and every camera, flash and person was turned their way.
Lights popped in their face, and voices bombarded them with questions.
“Tony, care to comment on the rumor that your agent is going to dump you?”
Tony stiffened beneath Bailey’s touch. The journalist must have hit a nerve.
She whispered in his ear, “I can shoot them if you like. Got my Taser and my firearm.”
He smirked then shook his head, dipping close to say, “Thanks for the offer, but it’s cool. Best to not engage with the animals.”
“Tony, is that your bodyguard?” a short man wearing a brown suit asked.
“Why do you need a bodyguard?” someone else chimed in.
Bailey frowned, at first rejecting the notion they’d somehow learned of her role, but then realizing it was obvious. She wore black slacks, a Nightingale Securities bomber jacket, and had her long dark hair tied back at her nape in a ponytail slicked down to stop the stray curls. With her Aviators and don’t-fuck-with-me face, it was pretty clear she was his bodyguard.
True to his advice, Tony didn’t answer the journalists. He ignored them until a man shouted, “Or is she your date?”
Bailey winced as more bulbs flashed and more voices shouted at Tony. The mob of attention closed in, literally getting so close they were inches from Tony. They had to get out of there.
“Is she the special one in your life?”
“Have you finally taken the leap?”
“Who is she?”
“Tony!”
“Tony!”
A flash of red pushed into the group, and Maggie O came between Bailey and Tony. She broke the hold Bailey had on his elbow and latched onto his arm, pouting at the cameras with pillowy lips. Shoved behind, Bailey was left out of the circle wondering what the hell had happened.
“It’s me, isn’t it darling?” Maggie cuddled into his side. “I’m the special someone.”
Tony’s brows winged up and he looked over his shoulder to Bailey, stunned.
