Page 10 of Reverb
Except for people like DSLR Dude, who followed them up to the street. Probably got some good photos of him and Mish walking, too. Well, David had known when he said yes to Ray Van Zeller that this job would come with lenses trained on him.
“Snap, snap, fucking snap,” Mish muttered.
“I could have a conversation with him.”
She shook her head. “I’ve had one. He doesn’t care. They pay him to get photos of my lovers, which—” She came to a dead stop on the sidewalk. “You know what really ticks me off about that?”
Her voice was louder now, probably for the benefit of the dude following them. David played along. “What bothers you about it?”
“He’s gotten photos of me with my tongue down the throats of people of multiple genders, and they still pull the whole ‘is she straight or not’ shit on those sites.” She turned to stare at the photog. “I’m so sosonot straight.”
Man had the decency to look uncomfortable.
David laughed to cover up the heat in his body at the image of Mish lip-locked with another. “That has to be fucking annoying.”
“You have no idea.” She continued walking down the sidewalk until they came to an older, high-end apartment building, complete with doorman. “Hey, Lorenzo,” she said as they reached the gentleman, who opened the door for them.
“Miss Sullivan.” There was a twinkle in his eyes when Mish rolled hers, but her smile said this was a friendly interaction.
“This is David. He’s working with the band, so if he stops by, he’s fine.”
Lorenzo looked David up and down and raised an impeccable black eyebrow. Well, only one thing to do. David stuck out his hand. “David Altet.”
After they shook, he dug out his wallet and offered his business card.
“Private security.” Lorenzo rubbed a gloved hand over his clean-shaven face. “Watching over Miss Sullivan?”
“Well, the band in general, but yes.”
Lorenzo handed his card back. “Best if you let the security desk know.”
“Yeah, I will. Thanks, Lorenzo.” Mish nodded at the building. “Let’s go.”
Once inside, David stripped off his sunglasses and tucked them in his shirt.
The movement seemed to catch Mish’s eye, and she gave him a smile that was—he didn’t know. Friendly. Flirty. Something. David pushed it aside.
They stopped at the security desk. A card, a handshake, and Mish’s explanation garnered David another once-over. The woman behind the desk was pleasant and proficient, and kept the card. After she noted his name in a log, he and Mish headed to the elevators.
“Whole thing is key fob controlled. Can’t get to my floor if you don’t live there.” Mish pulled her keys out and jingled them, showing off a small black fob. “And they don’t let anyone up unless I give them permission, or I come down to get them.”
Not bad security. Load off David’s mind, at least until they hit the road. “Pretty good, for an older building.”
“Yeah. It’s one of the reasons I chose it.”
The elevator was also older, but smooth, and when they were deposited on Mish’s floor, it closed quietly and slid on its way. There were only three other apartments. Given the size of the building, Mish’s had to be downright spacious. And indeed, it was. They entered into a small foyer that led into a sizable living room, complete with terrace. Potted plants swayed gently in the breeze.
A jolt of envy ran through David. He made good money for what he did—but nothing like the amount Mish must have to afford a place likethis.
He must not have hidden his feelings that well, because Mish twisted her lips. “Yeah, I know. It’s huge, especially for one person. And yeah, it cost a lot.”
“I didn’t...” He caught himself. There was remorse, not mocking in Mish’s tone. “You’re a star. If you can afford it, you can afford it. Why not?”
“I can afford it because Ray nearly died, and sometimes...” She tossed her keys on the coffee table by the couch. “Sometimes it’s a reminder of that. Of everything.”
There was more than the troubles with their former band manager and label in that statement.
“From what I’ve seen of Ray Van Zeller, I don’t think he’d be upset that you spent some of your settlement on a nice place to live.”
