A Wilde Night (Old Town Country Romance Book 3) (3 page)

The saddest part, though, is that I haven’t seen one person touch any of it. It’s almost like it’s there to look at, but not to eat. Or maybe they’re all on the carrot sticks and celery diet so they’ll be thin enough for their next movies.

“What are you doing?” I hear a voice say as soon as Katie has a roll in her hand.

It’s that asshole Devon Black.

Katie looks over to him and freezes with the roll in midair.

“I thought you were off carbs.”

I know I probably should mind my own business, but I was charged with Katie’s safety and I think this falls under my jurisdiction.

“She’s had a little too much to drink. She needs to eat som
ething.”

Now Devon’s beady little weasel eyes are on me. “And who are you?”

“Hunter Wilde.”

“What kind of name is that?”

“Well, if I was named Devon Black, I wouldn’t be too quick to make fun of anyone else’s name.”

For this I’m actually rewarded with a smile from Elsie.
Score.

“You didn’t answer my question. Who are you?”

“You’re wrong. I did answer your question.”

“Then what are you doing with my girlfriend?”

“Maybe if you spent more time worrying about your girlfriend and less time worrying about whose skirt you’re going to get into next we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

I know this is way over the line, but the prick deserves it
. Both Elsie and Katie are wide-eyed and they look like they’re in shock. Maybe no one has ever talked to him this way before because I seem to have rendered him speechless. His jaw is moving, but nothing is coming out of his mouth.

Six months ago I probably wouldn’t have been so bold, but I spent a lot of time with my older brother, Tucker, in the gym and he toughened me up physically and mentally. If he hadn’t I probably wouldn’t have made it through the police academy.

Devon looks like he wants to hit me, but I don’t think he’s that stupid. I’m about six inches taller than him and I outweigh him by at least fifty pounds.

Finally Katie pipes in. “He’s a security guard, Devon.
Chill.”

“I am chill, Babe.” He gives her an arrogant smile that I’d like to punch right off his smug little face.

I have to physically restrain myself when he takes the roll out of her hand and tosses it into the trash.

Katie looks completely defeated, but I think it’s more than just the piece of bread. I suspect it’s that she no longer has control of her life. Everyone else in the world seems to be making decisions for her. Even something as simple as eating a crescent roll isn’t her choice. I can’t even imag
ine what that’s like. I’ve always done exactly what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. 

When Katie exclaims, “I think I need another drink,” Elsie and I glance at each other.

Elsie looks like she wants to say something but refrains.

“I’ll get you one,” Devon says as he plants a kiss on Katie’s cheek.

I notice that she flinches, but Devon doesn’t seem to have a clue.

“Are you really going to have another drink?” Elsie half whispers. She looks concerned.

“I really am,” Katie shoots back.

“But…”

She cuts Elsie off. “I just want to greet all the people I’m supposed to greet. Have photos taken with everyone who’s expecting a shot and get the hell out of here.”

“Okay.” Elsie removes a list from her pocket and reads off a bunch of names. I recognize a few of them—celebrity athletes—two basketball players, a football player and a professional golfer.

I’m a little surprised when Devon returns with a bottle of beer. Not only didn’t he ask her what she wanted, he didn’t even bother to have it poured into a glass. I realize I may be a little particular because I’ve worked in the family bar all my life, but the guy doesn’t even act like he has one ounce of class.

He hands the bottle to Katie. She looks at it for a few se
conds, shrugs, and then lifts the bottle to her lips and chugs. 

Just like the glass of wine she only breaks to take in a breath before she downs the rest of the bottle.

Even Devon looks a little surprised when she hands the empty back to him.

“Who’s first on the photo list?”

I try to keep an eye on Katie while staying out of the photos. It proves to be a little more difficult than it should be.

I’m not sure how Katie can handle the pace of this meet and greet. I’m exhausted and I’m not even the one who’s in the spotlight. I’m just following her. But Katie seems to be handling it like a trooper.

“Is that it?” Katie asks Elsie.

She glances at the list. “That was the last one.”

Katie lets out a big breath. “Did you see where Devon went?”

Elsie points to the other end of the room where
he’s chatting up another large-breasted blonde. It makes me wonder what he’s doing with Katie since he seems to have a thing for girls who look like they just stepped off the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

There’s nothing about Katie that’s like that. And maybe that’s why I’m starting to like her just a little more than I should. It’s becoming a lot clearer
why people call her America’s Sweetheart.

“Will you take me back to my room?” Katie looks up at me and her eyes are pleading. My heart swells in response.

I glance over at Devon and he’s now got his hand planted firmly on the blonde’s ass and he’s whispering something in her ear. The guy is a piece of work.

“Aren’t you sharing a room with Devon?” I’m not sure if I’m crossing the line with my question but
she doesn’t reply. She just laughs and starts to walk toward the door.

Elsie and I hurry to catch up to her.

Katie is doing more wobbling than actual walking, but the combination of her high heels and her somewhat inebriated state are making it difficult. I take a couple of large strides and arrive by her side just in time to catch her before she topples over.

When she glances up at me, and our eyes lock, a wave of pure heat rushes through me and it takes my breath away.

Instead of putting her back on her feet, which I have a feeling may end up in disaster, I sweep her into my arms.

“You’re like Prince Charming,” she mumbles right before she falls asleep against my chest.

When we get to her room Elsie unlocks the door so I can carry Katie inside. I carefully set her down on the couch but she doesn’t stir.

I’m not sure what to do next. I can feel Elsie’s gaze drilling into my back
. When I turn around she has a look on her face like I’m some pervert who’s going to do something to Katie.

“You can go now,” she sneers.

I shake my head. “I’m supposed to make sure she’s okay. She’s doesn’t look okay to me.”

She takes a step closer to me and crosses her arms over her chest. “I’ll take care of her.” She’s trying her best to look intim
idating, but it’s not working. She just looks like a little kid trying to play grownup.

I take a step in even closer and place my hands on my hips. One of the first lessons we
learned at the police academy was intimidation. When I stare down at her I can see her gulp.

“You know you kind of freak me out.” Her voice is shaky, but at least I know that I make her a little nervous.

Now I cross my arms over my chest. “And why is that?”

“You’ve got such
a sweet and innocent looking face, but you’re so big and you’re really not that sweet.”

“I’m a
cop who works as a security guard when I’m not on duty. In which one of those professions do you think it pays to be sweet or innocent?”

She shrugs.

There was a time that I was just as sweet and innocent as I look. But you can’t be a nice guy when you’re a cop. I figured that out very quickly.

Elsie and I are both startled when someone pounds on the door, but neither of us makes a move to answer it.

More pounding. This time it’s louder and more frantic.

“It’s probably Devon,” Elsie says.

“Does that mean you want me to answer it?”

She raises an eyebrow. “Would you?”

I heave a small sigh and then march over to the door. When I open it Devon’s jaw drops.

“What are you doing in Katie’s room?”

“Someone had to take care of her. And it’s obviously not you.”

He points a finger in my face. I know the guy is loaded, but that’s really a dumb thing to do.

“Get out of my girlfriend’s room.”

I cross my arms across my chest and glare at him. “Make me.”

His jaw is flapping, but once again no words are coming out. He looks like a broken marionette.

I narrow my eyes at him. “And I would suggest you remove your finger from my face unless you want me to remove it for you.”

The guy actually starts shaking. I guess he’s only brave when he’s on a snowboard. But he does put his finger down.

“I want to see Katie.”

I continue staring at him.

“It’s okay.” I hear Katie’s voice behind me.

When I turn to face her I notice she looks tired, weary and maybe even a bit defeated.

“You’re sure you want me to let him in?” I want to make sure I understand her intentions.

She shakes her head. “No, I’m not sure.”

“Katie, Baby,” Devon says. “Come on. Don’t leave me han
ging.”

I get the impression he wants to come in
, more to save face than to actually see Katie.

Elsie joins us at the door. “You don’t have to let him in you know.”

Katie heaves a sigh. “Let me talk to him.”

I take a step back so she can have a conversation with Devon, but not so far back that I can’t still knock him out if I have to.

Katie places her hands on her small hips. “Why are you here, Devon? Is it because you couldn’t score with any of the big busted blondes? Or did you screw all of them already?”

He gives a nervous laugh. “Come on. You know it’s not like that.”

“That’s exactly what it’s like.”

Devon places his arm on the doorframe. I’m not sure if he’s trying to look cool or hold himself up, but he’s failing miserably at both.

“It’s not me, Katie. It’s them. They’re constantly throwing themselves at me.”

“And you can’t possibly resist. Anytime a girl throws herself at you, you just have to have sex with her. You can’t say no.”

He tries to bite back a grin. “You know it doesn’t mean anything.”

I can see Katie is blinking back tears. “It might not mean an
ything to you. And maybe it doesn’t mean anything to them. But it means something to me.”

Then she turns her back on him and walks back into her room.

I give Devon a little wave before I slam the door in his face.

“I’m so proud of you,” Elsie says as she gives Katie a quick hug.

Katie swipes at the tears running down her face. I feel like I should do something, but I have no idea what. Is there anything worse than seeing a woman cry and not being able to fix the problem?

When there’s pounding on the door again, all three of us look at each other. Surely, Devon isn’t that stupid.

I open the door and realize I may have given him too much credit.

“She doesn’t want to see you.” I make sure to completely block the door so he can’t see her. I don’t want to give the prick the satisfaction of knowing he made her cry.

He looks beat up even though no one has touched him. “I need to know if Katie is going with me to the wedding tomorrow. Our publicists won’t be able to get a statement out before then and people will ask questions if she’s not there with me.”

“Good.”

He looks like I slapped him. “Good?”

I nod.

“But…” He tries to peer into Katie’s room, but I just move so he can’t see in. “You don’t understand.”

“No, you don’t understand. You’re done. She doesn’t want to see you.” Hopefully ever again, I want to add, but that’s really way beyond the scope of my duties right now.

He heaves a slow sigh. “I really fucked up, didn’t I?”

I nod again.

“The producers of my reality show want at least one episode with Katie Lawrence.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Dude, maybe you can talk to her for me.” He gives me a sly smile. “I could make it worth your while.”

I laugh. “I don’t need your money.”

He looks me up and down. “You sure about that?”

“Yeah, I’m positive.”

“Want to be on my show? Everyone wants to be on television.”

I shake my head. “Not interested.”

“I really need her to be there tomorrow.”

“And I really need you to leave.”

He opens his mouth, but doesn’t say anything more. He just shakes his head as he turns and makes his way back down the hallway.