“It’s just that your life is so globally public. It’s bad enough having small-town busybodies monitoring your every move, but when the world knows who you’re with, what you’re doing . . . I don’t think I could ever live like that,” Gemma said as they walked past Gerald the doorman again.
Or subject my son to it.
Travis stopped and held out his hand. “Hey, Gerald. I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your professionalism. What’s your last name?”
Gerald took Travis’s hand hesitantly before pumping it hard, his voice filled with excitement. “Thank you so much, Mr. Bowers. It’s Washington. My wife and I are big fans.”
“And I appreciate it,” he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a card. “This is my publicist’s number. You tell her your name, and she’ll get you front-row tickets the next time I pass through Vegas, plus a couple of backstage passes.”
Gerald’s brown eyes were wider than the Grand Canyon and he started stammering. “But . . . Mr. Bowers, I was . . . just doing . . . my job.”
“No arguments, Gerald. I’ll see ya soon.”
As they walked away from the grinning man, Gemma had a hard time keeping the warm, fuzzy feelings at bay. “That was lovely of you.”
“That guy deserves it. Any other man would have had his camera phone out or be begging me for an autograph,” Travis said as they walked through the lobby toward the elevator.
“Well, I think it was wonderful,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound as gushy as she felt.
“Thank you,” Travis said, smiling.
“You’re welcome,” she said, fighting the urge to reach up and brush back his hair. It was something she had always done, and now it seemed unnatural not to.
Travis said nothing, just kept watching her with that mischievous grin.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, but it’s unnerving.”
“Sorry I’m unnerving you,” he said, not sounding sorry about anything. Suddenly, he took her hand and tugged her away from the elevators just as one was about to open.
“What are you doing?”
“I want to show you something,” he said, taking her down a long hallway and through a pair of golden doors. The green uniforms and gold everywhere made Gemma chuckle a little, especially when they passed another fountain with a gold pot in the middle, lights shining into the water, making it look almost like arching rainbows. The O’Shea Hotel really played up their Irish theme, but it was beautifully done. She hardly had time to admire it before Travis was stopping in front of another, smaller elevator. Gemma frowned.
“Where are you taking me?”
The doors dinged, and Travis tried to pull her in without answering, but she held her ground. “Uh-uh. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me where this elevator goes.”
“To the roof,” he said, his eyes twinkling as he raised an eyebrow. “What, are you scared?”
“No, of course not, I just have things to do, and I don’t have time to go gallivanting around—”
“I promise to have you back to your room in time to finish at least two novels today,” he said, holding out his hand. “Come on. I dare you.”
A thousand reasons rushed through her mind, and at least half of those involved Charlie, but she found herself grabbing his hand anyway and letting him pull her inside.
THE DOORS OPENED, revealing a lush greenhouse-style garden, and Travis watched Gemma’s face break into wide-eyed delight.
“Oh!”
She walked out onto the stone floor, and he followed behind to the sound of rushing water on their left. Very few people visited th
is place, but Callum O’Shea knew Travis liked the peace of the garden.
Gemma clapped her hands and laughed, her eyes bright as she looked at him. “This is amazing! Thank you.”