Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 131459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Only Nora would think that.
“This is why I always dress to impress,” Chloe declared.
Nora gave her an approving nod.
“It is not. You look like a model when you change clothes after work to park it in front of the TV,” Judge retorted.
For a second, Chloe’s face froze, then warmth infused it, and she announced, “God, I love you.”
One side of Judge’s lips tipped up.
“Our cars are at the front,” Hale reminded Jamie.
“And I, personally, am not walking through an alley,” Nora declared with a scrunch in her nose.
“I’m not either,” Mika agreed. “We can go out front. It isn’t a big deal. Unless anyone else is concerned about it.”
“You and Tom are out, darling.” Nora waved her hand between Tom and Mika. “No use hiding this light under a bushel.”
“The women will all go in Dru’s car,” Jamie decreed. “Hale, you can go straight to the airport. I’ll drop Judge and Tom where they want to go.”
“It’s a plan,” Hale agreed.
While Jamie and Hale strategized, Tom had pulled out his wallet and he discreetly passed a fifty to him when he turned to the manager and said, “Thank you for the heads up.”
The man nodded, smiled and stepped away.
They finished what was left to be finished and headed out.
But even with the warning, they were ill-prepared.
The manager had said a large group.
However, although Tom was experienced with paparazzi, even rabid paparazzi from the time he and Genny first started to date, he’d never seen anything like this.
And it wasn’t just paparazzi.
It was fans.
As such, the plan changed.
Because the minute they started out of the restaurant, there was a surge toward them. The feeling was excitement. Names were shouted, questions hurled.
It didn’t feel malicious.
However, it did feel dangerous, and as such, it caused a spike of adrenaline for Tom, and his first response was fight and flight.
Fortunately, the drivers of Hale’s and Jamie’s cars had seen what was brewing, and they were out, helping to push back the throng and form a path to the cars.
Jamie took hold of Dru and Nora and shoved them into one of the three vehicles, folding in with them and shutting the door.
Judge grabbed Chloe and strong-armed his way to another car.
Tom took hold of Mika, and reached for Cadence, but Hale already had her, and they struggled into the last limo.
Once safely closed in, the drivers pushed their way through the crowd who were taking pictures through the windows or pressing their hands and faces there.
Jesus.
Genny could cause a stir, but this was insane.
The driver got in their limo and didn’t hesitate in setting them to moving.
At first, the crowd moved with them.
Fortunately, the light at the cross street was on their side, they got into a free flow of traffic and lost them.
“You good?” he asked Cadence.
She was wide-eyed and obviously shaken.
Tom’s adrenaline spiked again.
Hale threw an arm around her and tucked her in his side.
“We’re safe now, sweetheart. Yeah?” he assured her.
“It’s never been that bad,” she whispered and looked to her mom. “Has it ever been that bad?”
Tom had Mika’s hand tight in his, and her hold was just as strong.
“No, honey. It hasn’t,” she replied. “But we’re safe now. Do you feel it? We’re safe.”
She gave a slight nod.
Tom shook Mika’s hand in his, and she turned to him.
“Okay?” he mouthed.
She nodded too.
Their phones chimed with texts.
Tom pulled his out.
It was Jamie.
Contacting my security team. We’ll have coverage at both houses. And two men will be sent to Saks. Security will also contact the store and warn them the women are on the way and share what just happened.
Good, Tom texted in reply.
He then turned his attention to Hale. “Is this you? Are you dealing with this escalation when you’re out?”
“I have attention, it’s not that bad,” Hale replied.
“You don’t have a bodyguard,” Tom pointed out.
A moment of hesitation before Hale said, “Sometimes I do, if there’s a threat.”
Mika pulled his hand to her thigh, her hold intensifying, as Tom clipped, “A threat?”
“People are strange, Tom,” Hale said.
“You need security,” Tom retorted sharply.
Before Hale could reply, Cadence butted in.
“It’s not just him. It’s, well…you and Mom.”
She had her phone up and turned to them.
“You have a hashtag,” she said. “Tomikaperfection.”
Tom dropped his eyes to the phone.
Cadence was scrolling the hashtag.
It wasn’t just about today.
There were mashup graphics with text created from older photos of Tom and Mika. There were a lot of riffs on the pictures of them at the Hermosa Inn.
And there were shots of them entering the restaurant they just left and more of them talking and eating inside it.
“Word moves fast on social media,” Cadence shared.
She was dropping her hand that held her phone, but Tom reached out and asked, “May I?”
“Sure,” she said, giving it to him.
He let Mika go, scrolled up with Mika leaned into him to see the screen, and he heard her sharp intake when he stopped at what he’d seen as Cadence was scrolling.