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

side so they could hold hands and enjoy the party with him as a boyfriend instead of a bodyguard. But they couldn’t do that, especially after the conversation they had earlier at his apartment.

Moving through the crowd, waving hello to the fans who were still maintaining their distance at this point, Peyton found herself thinking about what he’d said…and how it had nearly crushed her heart.

She knew Noah hadn’t meant to be hurtful. And he hadn’t said anything she didn’t already know. But there was a drastic difference between understanding that being a SEAL was dangerous and looking at photos of a real person who’d paid the price for doing the job. The calm way Noah talked about friends who’d been injured and those who’d been killed had rattled her so badly she hadn’t been able to think much less talk until they got back to her place.

She was sure Noah had taken her stunned silence as confirmation that she wasn’t ready to live in his world and while that wasn’t necessarily true, she didn’t know how to tell him how she really felt. Mostly because she wasn’t sure. Maybe it was better to stop seeing him altogether after this bodyguard thing was over since it seemed like that’s where this was all headed anyway.

Peyton was so wrapped up in that depressing thought she didn’t realize they’d reached the green room until Laurissa and Tabitha were in front of her, smiling like crazy and going on and on about the number of fans waiting for her in the main ballroom. That was when she noticed other people in the small space, looking at her expectantly.

Crap. She needed to get it together.

Hugging Laurissa and Tabitha, she then did the same to her editor, Gwen Williamson, asking how her flight from New York was. Tall and reed thin with blond hair, Gwen hugged her back, murmuring something about turbulence over the Midwest, before stepping back to let Peyton greet her assistant editors, Hannah Anderson and Scott Moore. Hannah was right out of college and still learning the business, while Scott was an old hand who’d been with Peyton from the very beginning. Lately, Scott had been less involved in her series because he was busy taking on new writers. She hated not working with Scott as much, but that was the way it worked in publishing. Besides, it was definitely time for him to take on new authors of his own.

As Claire ducked out to check on something for the party, Peyton introduced Noah to everyone, saying he was a friend. No one except Gwen knew he was her bodyguard and she intended to keep it that way.

“He’s never been to one of these things and I thought he’d enjoy a look behind the scenes,” she added.

She was going over the evening’s schedule with Laurissa and Tabitha when Kiki Rowe, the artist who did the covers for her books, walked in. Instead of running over and hugging Peyton like she usually did, Kiki stopped and stared at Noah. It was difficult not to. He was standing there looking like the best dressed Adonis that ever existed.

“I don’t know who you are, but have you ever considered doing any modeling?” Kiki studied Noah, looking at his face from all angles, like she was imagining what she could do with him on a cover. “You’re incredibly attractive, but still ruggedly masculine. I put you in a military uniform and the cover alone will sell a thousand copies before anyone bothers to see what the book is about.”

Peyton almost burst out laughing at the startled expression that crossed Noah’s face. She wasn’t sure if he was offended at the idea of being looked at like a piece of meat or that he was only guaranteed to sell a thousand copies.

“I’m guessing that’s the bodyguard Em hired to protect you?” Gwen said, gently moving Peyton to the side so they could talk privately while Noah fended off Kiki. “The one who insisted that give whatever we give whatever we pay him to a military charity? Where the heck did you find him, Chippendales?”

Peyton smiled. “Yes, he’s the bodyguard. And no, he’s not a male stripper. He’s an active-duty Navy SEAL who agreed to help because he’s Laurissa’s brother.”

Gwen squinted at Noah over the top of her glasses, nodding her approval as if pleased with Peyton’s choice of bodyguards. Then again, Gwen could simply be mentally undressing Noah. Even the extremely quiet Hannah had gone all dreamy-eyed.

The only one who didn’t look impressed by Noah was Scott, and only because he was a straight guy. Instead, he stood there looking bored, twirling that pen he always carried between his fingers the whole time. She might love working with him, but crap, that was an annoying habit.

“The ballroom is packed and there are still more readers waiting to get in,” Claire said, hurrying into the room with a grin. “I seriously think we might be in danger of actually running out of books this time. Do you need to run to the ladies’ room or anything before going into the ballroom? You might not get another chance after everything starts.”

Peyton smiled. “No, I’m good. Let’s do this.”

She glanced at Noah as they headed inside, almost laughing. He looked like he was walking into enemy territory rather than a room full of what she knew for a fact were the best readers in the world. None of them would ever try to hurt her. She tried to convey that to him with a smile, but he was already surveying the room for potential threats.

Peyton sighed. If Noah had his way, he’d probably whisk her into the ballroom through a service entrance and keep everyone half the length of a football field away, only letting them approach to have a book signed. Even then, he’d likely want to keep them at arm’s length. But she would miss out on interacting with her readers and that wouldn’t be fair. She’d