I roughly counted. “Twelve. Just finish with them; maybe they’ll leave you alone now.”
He wrinkled his nose and winced. “I’m so hungry. I’m getting a headache.”
“Then make it quick! Dinner is ready when you are.” I tugged on the bottom of his shirt.
Angelica was getting nervous in line; she was shifting her weight from foot to foot. Ryan saw she was next and whispered something into his bodyguard’s ear. Mike unfortunately let Angelica pass. She clutched her little purse in her hand, making me really nervous. I watched her every move, ready to pounce if she tried anything.
She said a few gushing words to Ryan and then started to open her purse. I saw the edge of something silver in her hand; adrenaline coursed through my veins. I was just about to push Mike aside and tackle her when she pulled out a silver camera. Ryan posed with her quickly; now I understood why the photographer was invited along. She looked at the camera and asked for one more picture to be taken but the photographer told her no and moved her along.
Angelica looked distraught when she walked out of the poolroom. I thought she was going to stay inside the bar, so it surprised me when she left the building. Good riddance, psycho.
Several new girls got in line and now the new total was closer to twenty.
“Mike, he’s had enough,” I whispered. “Two more and that’s it. He has a headache and he has dinner waiting.”
“Okay, Taryn.” He turned to the ladies. “You two and then we are done. No more.”
I watched as the bad news was whispered down the line. Quite a few of them left out loud “awes” but I didn’t care. He served his fans enough today. Ryan patted Mike’s shoulder when he was finished. “Thanks man, I owe you one!”
“No problem, Ryan. I’ll see you at six. Go get some rest.”
Ryan smiled and waved briefly to the ladies who were still waiting in line; their cameras clicked like crazy. He turned his back to the waiting fans and quickly darted through our stairwell door.
Chapter 19 - Entrances
“I love you for getting me real soda,” Ryan said enthusiastically. The can hissed when he cracked the pull-tab. “So how was your day, Honey?”
I turned and shoved a taco chip in his mouth, stifling his sarcasm. He smiled and cracked me on the butt.
“I got a birthday card for your mom. It’s on the table.”
He grabbed another chip and dipped it in the salsa. “Oh, cool! I completely forgot to get her one.” He read the card quietly to himself. “Awe!
She’s going to get all mushy on me after she reads this.”
Ryan wrapped his arms around my waist, hugging me from behind.
“Thank you,” he whispered, kissing me on the neck.
I turned in his arms and slid my hands over his shoulders; I was waiting for my proper hello and was relieved I didn’t have to wait a second longer. He tasted salty and tangy, just like taco chips. It made me hungrier but not for food.
“Thank you for defusing your legion of followers,” I said warmly. “I really appreciate what you did, and I was surprised to see how many of them left once they got a chance to meet you.”
He crunched into his taco. “Mmm! Just like I imagined it would taste. I was so hungry for this; I was thinking about it all day.” He had apparently moved on mentally from his previous business mode.
“I got you a present today.” I pulled my purse off of the back of my chair. “Here.”
“Keys?” he asked with a mouthful of food, and then it dawned on him what they were.
“Back kitchen door is silver and the gold one is the apartment door. Now you have your own set.” I tried to hide my smile as I bit into my dinner.
He quickly leaned over the table and gave me a kiss. “Thanks! So what else did you do today?” he asked.
“My bank teller wanted to know if I’m really dating you,” I snickered.
He looked surprised. “What did you say?”
“I told her that we weren’t dating; I said we’re just having unbelievably incredible hot sex with each other instead.” I figured that would make him laugh.
“You did not say that!”
“Oh and I also told her how sweet and considerate you are and how you always make sure I have a mind-blowing orgasm first. I thought that would make her day.”
He smiled at me while he chewed.
“She didn’t seem too happy when I dropped my pants to show her your autograph. I could tell by the way she slapped my deposit receipt down and told me to ‘have a nice day’ through her teeth that she wasn’t pleased.”