Bodyguard SEAL (SEALs of Coronado Book 8), Paige Tyler [best classic books txt] 📗

Was this what it would be like for the rest of the time he was guarding her?

But the mood changed drastically once they got home and spread the containers of spicy chicken and brown rice around the kitchen table. It was almost like Peyton had let go of whatever emotion had taken hold of her after the discussion at his place. By the time they sat down to eat, that sense of intimacy they’d shared before returned, and Noah almost convinced himself the distance he’d felt between them during the drive home had been his imagination.

While she got dressed for the party, Noah sent a quick group text to Wes, Sam, and Lane, asking if any of them were available for backup at the release party. All three of his buddies replied right away, saying they’d be there.

He took a quick shower in the downstairs bathroom then put on his suit. He was tying his tie in front of the mirror above the vanity when he heard Peyton’s high heels echo on the wood floor in the living room. He walked out to meet her and almost fell over his own feet at the sight of her standing there.

The blue gown she wore didn’t show any cleavage or have a slit that showed a flash of leg, or anything remotely like that. Yet Noah had never seen a woman look sexier in his life. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“You look gorgeous,” he said.

She looked him up and down, her lips curving into a smile. “You clean up pretty nice yourself.”

If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was mentally undressing him right now. That was an image he didn’t need. Not if he had any hope of keeping his mind focused on keeping her safe tonight.

Noah tore his gaze away from her and slipped into his suit jacket, then grabbed his keys, phone, and wallet off the coffee table, shoving the latter into his back pocket.

“Ready to go?” he asked.

She nodded. “I am if you are.”

As they walked out to his SUV, Noah couldn’t help thinking this felt a lot like a date. No doubt that would change when they got to the release party and there were hundreds of fans screaming Peyton’s name.

“So, what are one of these release parties like?” he asked as he turned onto the street outside her home and headed for the bay.

“Fun, crazy, and exhausting all at the same time.”

“That doesn’t tell me much,” he said drily. “I was more interested in the tactical details. Things that are critical to your safety.”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t know a tactical detail if I fell over it. What exactly do you want to know?”

“For starters, how many people will probably be there?”

She thought a moment, starting to count on her fingers. “Well, counting my publisher, editor, assistant editors, publicity people, Laurissa, and Tabitha…maybe five or six hundred.”

He did a double take so fast the SUV swerved a little. “Are you serious?”

“Uh-huh.” Peyton flashed him a smile. “Don’t look so alarmed. Since most of my readers tend to be under twenty-one, there won’t be any alcohol served, so things won’t get too wild. Unless we run out of books.”

Noah had visions of readers trampling each other to get the last few books, like a crazy Black Friday sale, punches being thrown when they realized there weren’t enough to go around.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Of course, I’m kidding. We won’t run out of books. Even if we did, no one is going to get into a fight over it,” she said. “My readers aren’t like that. They’re there to hang out and have a good time. Some of them even come dressed up as the characters from my books.”

He gave her a sidelong glance. “Now you really are pulling my leg.”

“I’m not,” she insisted. “You can’t spell fanatic without fan, you know?”

“That’s crazy.”

Peyton shrugged. “I think it’s fun.”

Noah turned onto the road leading to the hotel. “How close do fans usually get to you?”

“Close enough to take selfies, along with copious amounts of hugs, jumping up and down, and squealing.”

He frowned. After seeing how Tabitha reacted to Peyton, he should have figured that. In his mind, that was a little too close for comfort.

Peyton put her hand on his arm. It felt nice. Especially after their earlier conversation and the way things had been left. “Stop worrying so much. I’ve done lots of these parties and nothing ever happened.”

“Someone wasn’t trying to steal your book then,” he pointed out. “And where is your book? Still in your purse?”

She nodded, but her happy mood dimmed a bit at his reminder, and he cursed himself for being so damn practical all the time.

Noah saw the crowds before he even pulled into the hotel driveway, and that familiar tension he felt before going into combat began to fill his stomach.

“There’s been no other attempt to steal the book since that first break-in, so you probably think that means you’re no longer in danger.” He weaved through the other cars toward the valet stand. “But the opposite is true. It means they know the book isn’t in your house and that you keep it on you. This release party would be the easiest place to get to you. The fact that there are hundreds of people around to use as cover will only make it easier for whoever this person is.”

He came to a stop in front of the valet stand, then put the SUV in park and turned to look at her. “If someone or something at the party looks suspicious, they probably are, so don’t do anything foolish tonight. And don’t put yourself in a situation where we get separated, okay?”

She gazed at him for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”

CHAPTER TEN

PEYTON’S RED-HAIRED, freckled publicist, Claire Newton, met her and Noah at the front door and escorted them through the lobby toward the main ballroom. Noah was a reassuring presence behind them, but Peyton would have preferred him at her