Page 87 of Kill Your Darlings

“I have to admit, I’m not thrilled hearing this,” I remarked.

“We blew him off, which I think offended him.I haven’t seen him since.That doesn’t mean he’s not out there.”

I glanced at Adrien.His gaze was somber in the lamplight.

“I’ll keep an eye open.Thanks for letting me know.”

“Maybe you should alert hotel security,” he said.“The guy’s name is Troy Colby.He keeps his badge turned over most of the time, but he was drunk the first night and accidentally introduced himself to Christopher.”

“I’ll think about it.I don’t want to make it into a thing if he just wants to pitch his manuscript.”

Adrien gave me an odd look, but left it there.

When we reached the hotel, I said, “I was going to join Finn and some other writers on the terrace.Did you want to—?”

He smiled, shook his head.“Jake should be arriving in an hour or so.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

“It is, yeah.After the conference we’re driving up to San Francisco to stay with Christopher and J.X.for a few days.”

“You and Christopher have become pretty close these last couple of years.”Frankly, it surprised me.They were very different—not counting their propensity for getting themselves into hot water.

Adrien grinned.“I think he enjoys mentoring me.”

I chuckled.“Very droll.”

“I thought so.”

We strolled to the elevators, still chatting.Adrien said goodnight and disembarked on the third floor.I was on my own the rest of the trip.

On the fifth floor, the elevator dinged and I stepped out.

At the sound of the service door down the hall, I glanced back and my heart froze at the sight of a tall, silvery figure coming my way.

My gasp must have carried, because Rudolph called, “Keiran, my boy.Did I startle you?”

Hell, yes, he’d startled me.

After my conversation with Adrien, I’d leaped to a horror movie scenario with Colby, butcher knife in hand, lying in wait, ready to pounce.In fact, it was only Rudolph, damp hair in tufts, wearing a navy hotel robe cinched neatly at the waist.A towel was slung over one shoulder, and he carried a pair of swim goggles.

“I’m getting nervous in my old age,” I said lightly.

“Old age!”Rudolph scoffed.“Believe me, your best years are yet to come.”

Hopefully, I wouldn’t be spending them in a maximum-security facility.

But no.I was not going to give into those thoughts.I was not going to indulge my fears.

“Did you have a nice swim?”I asked.

“Excellent.The view from the pool is magnificent.Like swimming in the stars.”

“I’ve been swimming most mornings.”I nodded down the hall.“It’s chilly on the terrace tonight.I’m going to grab a jacket.”

Rudolph hesitated.“I was just about to fix myself a nightcap.Would you like to stop in for that drink?”

At the moment?No.I wanted to get down to Finn.I wanted to spend every possible minute I could with Finn, seeing that there was some uncertainty as to how many minutes were left.