Page 50 of Something Reckless
ALBA
“ W here are we?” I ask as Easton pulls the car into the parking lot of a huge convention center. “Isn’t this where they hold those big comic book events? Are you a secret Agent Tornado fan, Easton Raines?”
He scrunches his nose and shakes his head in disgust. “Heck no. Dakota Majestic all the way, baby.”
When Easton told me he was taking me to Sin Valley for the weekend, I thought this was ‘just’ going to be lucky number thirteen on my spicy wishlist, a.k.a.
, the naked getaway. He all but confirmed it when he let me know that we’d be staying in a lavish penthouse hotel suite instead of at the small bachelor pad he owns.
That’s why I didn’t pack a bunch of clothes. My small suitcase is mostly full of the silk lingerie and lace nighties that Jules and Laney helped me pick out.
So when Easton announced that we were leaving the hotel and going somewhere special today, we had to make a pitstop to pick out a new outfit for me. That pitstop quickly turned into a full-on shopping spree inside the tiny boutique Easton dragged me into. But I’m not complaining.
I grin to myself, just thrilled to be here—wherever we are—on this weekend getaway.
“You’re really not going to tell me why we’re here?” I prod him.
Easton beams as he holds the car door open for me in the crowded parking lot. “It’s a surprise. Let’s just say, it’s the perfect way to celebrate you being brave enough to re-take the realtor exam a few days ago.”
He pulls his cap low over his eyes, like he’s trying to go incognito today. As if. The man draws stares with every step he takes. He can’t help it.
Ignoring all the blatant ogling, he grabs my hand and guides me across the parking lot.
When we step inside the convention center, I’m convinced that my first guess was totally right. It almost looks like one of those comic events, with all the tables and posters scattered around the big space.
But then I notice that no one is dressed in funny costumes.In fact, the crowd is mainly full of giddy women, many of whom are clutching piles of romance books in their arms.
“Ohmygod. Ohmygod. Is that…?” My hand clamps down on Easton’s forearm as I stare at my favorite author behind one of the tables. “That’s…that’s…”
“Blakely Hamilton.” Easton supplies with a chuckle. Then he points to the table beside her. “And that’s Emma Stanley-Westbrook.”
I just nod, my jaw on the floor.
He laughs at me some more. “It’s a book signing thing. I think you might recognize a few of the other authors here, too. ”
“You knew about this? How did you know about this?” My head swings toward him, my eyes wide. “You brought me here to meet my favorite authors? How did you…? When did you…?” Right now, I don’t even know what question to ask.
All I know is, I gave Easton a few of my favorite books to read, and it looks like he didn’t just read them. He tracked down the freaking writers and brought me to them. Talk about going above and beyond.
We’ve been speeding through my wishlist this week.
Easton has been making my fantasies come true, ticking them off the list one by one.
He’s been sure to give me bonus lessons, and the opportunity to work for extra credit.
He’s been the dirtiest teacher I could have hoped for, and I mean that in the very best way.
My knees are shaking.
Meanwhile, Easton shrugs, handing me a flyer. “I know a guy who knows a gal…”
“What the hell does that even mean?” My eyes dart over the colorful marketing brochure as I flip it over to read the back.
“My buddy, Ronan, saw me reading one of your books when we were at our hockey team meetings the other day. He started bragging that his fiancée’s best friend is a famous romance writer who would be at a book expo here in Sin Valley today.
I checked through your stash of books the other night when you were distracted with Jagger.
Turns out, you have quite a few Emma Stanley-Westbrook books in your collection so I figured you’d enjoy something like this. ”
Speechless, I continue to gape at him.
His thumb brushes the corner of my bottom lip. He smirks. “You’ve got a little drool right there. ”
“You did this for me?” I say finally, my eyes growing teary.
He shrugs. “Well, yeah. I knew it would make you happy.”
He says it so simply. Like making me happy is a matter of fact. A level-one priority. No further explanation necessary.
I swing my arms around him, right in the middle of the convention center, nearly punching a lady standing behind us. “Oops. Sorry, ma’am!” Then I plant my lips on Easton’s. “Thank you!” Kiss. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.
When he said he had a surprise for me, this was the last thing I ever expected.But as per usual, Easton Raines has found a way to surpass my expectations.
As I pull away, his face is flaming pink from his blush and sticky from my shiny lipgloss. “Don’t thank me just yet, woman.” He playfully squeezes my hip. “Now, go get that sexy butt in line.”
So I do. Line after line. Signature after signature.
Easton is the perfect, supportive sidekick.
He waits with me in every lineup. He buys me brand new books, so I can get them all signed.
He helps beg my favorite authors for pictures when I get too nervous.
He snaps all the photos, sparking conversation and making everyone laugh.
He passes Lincoln’s contact information to the handful of writers who ask him to be on the covers of their upcoming books.
The only time he leaves my side all day is to get me something to drink.
When it’s time to leave, I can’t stop thanking him as we shuffle toward the exit, following the crowd of happy book lovers. I kiss his cheek probably a million times on the walk from the convention center door to the car as Easton hauls my heap of new books in his big, strong arms .
The gifts—he keeps buying me gifts—and that wasn’t part of the deal we negotiated.
Easton saying, ‘I love you’ wasn’t part of our deal, either. And I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind.
Do I want this? Yes. Hell yes. I want all of Easton’s love, all of his body and his heart. And I want to love him right back.
But all the complications are holding me back. Or at least, they’re supposed to. The truth is, my heart is free-falling into love with this man.
My anxiety is starting to creep in. So I bring my focus back to the present moment, rising onto my tiptoes to kiss Easton’s cheek again when he’s done loading the books into the backseat.
“I have a confession,” he says once we’ve climbed into the car. “Remember I was telling you about my friend, Ronan, earlier?”
I nod, my heart already thrumming with anticipation. Ronan Brighton is the captain of the Sin Valley Saints. He’s a stellar hockey player. But not quite as good as Easton, though.
“Well, I ran into his fiancée, Nicky, when I was getting you a snack earlier.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Nicky told me that a bunch of the authors plan to go out to this fancy restaurant in downtown Sin Valley tonight.”
“Wow. That’s pretty neat. Did she say where?” I try not to sound too stalker-ish. But if Easton’s down to be my sidekick, I’m totally not above trying to get a reservation at that restaurant.
Easton clamps his lips shut, but he’s grinning like a goofball as he nods. “She did. ”
“Why are you being weird?” My eyebrow quirks in suspicion.
“I might have pulled some strings and gotten us an invitation to join them for dinner. Turns out, it’s a couples’ thing.”
“What?!” I clap my hands over my mouth. “We’re going to go eat dinner? With some of the most talented people in the whole wide world?!”
I’m hyperventilating. I can’t breathe. I’m hyperventilating so much right now.
“I mean… I’ll be there, so yeah…” Easton jokes, and I laugh through my tears. “Seriously though, are you good with attending? We can bail if that’s too much.” He gently adjusts my lopsided glasses.
“Are you kidding? I’d be crazy to turn this down. I’m freaking over the moon right now.” I lean across the console to kiss Easton again. “Thank you. You’re making every one of my dreams come true,” I whisper against his lips.
He flashes the wickedest grin as he starts the car. “Just wait for tonight, baby. Remember that massive tub in our hotel room?”
I nod, heat pooling low in my belly.
“There’s a bubble bath with your name on it.” With a wink, he swerves out of the parking lot.