Page 99 of Rock Giant

Ronnie, who had been last to enter the vehicle, wedged himself into the space between her and Paul, snapped the strawberry lace necklace he was wearing and proceeded to suck it into his mouth.“Want some?”he asked, catching her watching.

Jodi shook her head.“I’m good.”She did not need to eat confectionery that Ronnie Bush had been sweating on for the last two hours, although, if she’d been any kind of entrepreneur, she’d have taken it and auctioned it.There were definitely enough rabid Ronnie Bush fans out there who’d pay a fortune for sweated-on strawberry laces.

They were barely in the vehicle two minutes before they pulled up at the hotel entrance facing the plaza and lake she and Rock Giant had explored earlier.“That’s us.”Paul pointed up to a span of balconies above their heads.“Well, facing the other way.Fancied a sea view this visit.Where are you?”

“Not sure.”She’d have to text and find out.

Having pulled several items out of her bag and pushed aside several others she had no recollection of acquiring, she found her phone and a message from Brian with her room number.

Brian: Concierge are expecting you.

Xane got out first.He’d been riding up front.Within seconds of hitting the pavement screaming fans emerged from the hotel foyer and ran across the road full of traffic from the plaza to engulf him.“Fuck,” he muttered.“Hi, ladies.Yes, hello.Hello.”

“Where’s our goddamned security?”Spook asked no one in particular, before shouldering his way out of the vehicle and into the crowd.

“It’ll be okay,” Paul reassured her.He got out first, then offered her his hand, and used his body to block her from the press of people.Nevertheless, several members of the crowd shoved phones in her face and snapped pictures.

“Is that your girlfriend?”

“Paul, please,” she said, terrified that he’d say she was his wife.The last thing her relationship needed was the world press announcing her marriage to the wrong man.

Things weren’t any better inside the hotel, which was largely open plan, and had windows in seemingly every direction.They were chased into the lifts, with no opportunity for her to collect her key.

“You can go down later for it.Or we’ll send someone.Give security some time to calm things down.”

“Is it always like this?”

“It is if people know where we are.Someone’s let it slip.My money’s on one of your boys.Our lot know better.”

“It could have been someone from the hotel staff.”

“Doubtful.It’s bad for business.”

He took her up to his room.A king-sized twin with a separate sitting area, and a broad balcony surrounded by glass railings.

“I’m gonna shower.Make yourself comfortable.”

She pointed at the hanging egg chair.

“Go for it.I always figure they look more comfortable than they are.”

Jodi shot off some texts to Nash as she waited.The edge of the swing chair dug into the back of her legs despite its padding, and it wasn’t quite wide enough for her to curl up in comfortably.Maybe if she was as svelte as Mrs Ash, but she’d never been that.Even as a child she’d been chunky.

She kicked off her shoes and bent up her legs so that her feet rested on the basket edge.Better, except now she looked as if she was posed ready for a good railing.Was that the chair’s primary purpose?In a hotel room, that was a somewhat disturbing thought.She relocated to the sofa.

Nash: Yeah, it was mental when we got here too.Glad you’re safe.Gold star to RG, I guess.Sorry we abandoned you.All stinkified and in need of showers.Didn’t want to disturb.Brian said you were enjoying the show.

Jodi: Shall I come down and scrub your back?

Haven’t managed to grab my key yet.

Nash: Not in our room.With Balin and Jez atm.

Give me RGs number, and I’ll find you soon.

Jodi: OK.

She knocked on the bathroom door.“Is it okay if I send Nash your room number?Paul?