Chapter Five
Away from the cameras, her crew, and the spotlight, Lucas finally got to see the real Kate Swanson, and she was a beauty. They’d gone shopping. She wore a hat to cover her raven hair, and dark glasses, and she was wearing one of his old shirts and baggy pants. He’d expected her to go to one of the expensive boutiques, but she’d pulled him into a thrift shop. He watched as she found a pair of jeans and an old checkered shirt that reminded him of lumberjacks for some reason, but on Kate, she looked herself.
She made him take her for long walks in the local parks, where she got a chance to look at the wildlife, and just enjoy the freedom of not being seen. Most of the time she wore hats and glasses. Without her entourage, though, no one recognized her.
Lucas knew she was loving the time away from being the Kate Swanson. It made him wonder if she realized that taking the microphone seven years ago would change her life the way it did.
Kate asked for him to take her on a picnic, and late one Saturday afternoon, he laid a blanket out on the park, allowing her to take a seat.
“This is just perfect,” she said.
He opened up the basket and pulled out the sandwiches, the pasta salad, the potato one for himself, and several delicious treats.
Lucas had gotten a call from her manager, saying that they’d only gotten her time for one month. A week of that was already gone.
“Have you ever gone on a picnic before?”
She shook her head. “Mom and Dad were always working. I didn’t want to go by myself, so it never really happened. What about you?”
“I’ve been on a couple of picnics. Usually I’m the one standing to the side, watching the family enjoy their special day out.”
“Oh, it was part of a job?”
“It certainly was.”
He watched as she took a bite of a sandwich. “Do you love your job?”
“Do you love yours?” he asked.
She paused, and he saw the heat fill her cheeks. “I asked you first.”
“You did. I love being able to protect people, and if it wasn’t for my job, I would never have gotten the pleasure of meeting you, and believe me, Kate, it’s a pleasure to know you.”
Kate leaned forward and gave him a kiss. He loved every second of being with her.
“Now it’s your turn to answer. Isn’t it every girl’s dream to be a superstar?”
She finished her sandwich, and he saw the frown on her face.
“I … loved to sing. I loved holding a brush in front of my mirror or in the shower, and just singing my heart out. There wasn’t anyone to really listen though. I didn’t join choirs or try to put myself into the limelight.” She shrugged. “I don’t even know what came into me that day. Everyone looked bored. So tired of the same old stuff. I guess I no longer wanted to be part of something that everyone was finding boring, so I stood up, grabbed the microphone, and began to sing. I never knew it would become this. Where I’d have to steal moments, hide who I am just to enjoy a picnic. I’m not ungrateful for what happened at all. I love my fans and singing. Some things, though, I’m not so fond of.”
“Like what?”
“The magazines trashing my name, or putting some body shaming photo on the front. It’s not exactly comforting seeing your face with a cheeseburger filling it. Or some horrible diet tips. Being famous has its downfalls. Not to mention that someone wants to kill me. Did I tell you that?”
“You did, a little bit.” He held his fingers together.
She chuckled, and he was pleased that she still had the ability to find some humor.
Once their picnic was finished, he patted the space between his legs, and she climbed between them. Running his fingers through her hair, he stared out across the park.
“I miss this,” she said.
“What?”
“Being me. Not being told every single day what I’m doing wrong, or what I’m not doing right.” She leaned her head back, and he kissed her shoulder. “I sound like a bitch now, right?”
“No, you sound like someone who needed a break, and no one listened to you.”
“I feel like I can be myself with you, Lucas. I probably shouldn’t. I’ve been told many times that you were there to do a job and that I was spending too much time with you.”
“Fuck them, Kate. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.” He held his hands out, and she took them, turning her head. Her lips looked way too tempting. “You’re the one in charge of your life. No one else.” He claimed her lips, plunging his tongue into her mouth, relishing her little moan that only he could hear. “Don’t let anyone take that from you.”
Staring into her eyes, he knew without a doubt that he would never stop loving her. He’d fallen for her all those months ago when she’d been lying in a hospital bed looking strong and vulnerable at the same time, when he’d realized she wasn’t a spoiled little brat, but in fact a beautiful woman who was terrified of what had happened.
She needed someone to lean on, to trust, and that had been him from the start. Over the past year, spending time with her, he’d fallen in love with her, and now that he’d claimed her virginity, he wasn’t going to let her go.
Whatever or whoever the threat was, he’d deal with it. There’s no way he could live in a world without Kate Swanson.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
“That you’ve somehow turned my entire world upside down, and I don’t care. You’ve made me whole again, Kate, and I didn’t even realize that I’d fallen apart.” Kissing her again, he knew there was no out with this.
He loved Kate Swanson. Regardless if she felt the same, he would spend the rest of his life protecting her.
****
Kate stared at the screen in Lucas’s apartment, and the reality set in once again. She wasn’t her old self. She hadn’t somehow found a way to live her old life, the one that she’d given up for this. The news reporter sounded so sure of what she was talking about, the budding romance between Kate and the mysterious bodyguard.
She held the remote tightly in her hand as the footage from a year ago once again played. Staring at herself, she couldn’t believe how stupid she’d been. There was no concern for her life. She just got swallowed up by the crowd, and then she’d felt this wave of absolute pain in her side, and when she’d looked down, touching her stomach, her hands had been covered with blood.
Tears filled her eyes as once again she went down, and her team finally got to her.
“And this is where Lucas Evans came in. He’s the owner of Evans Security, and now it seems he’s got a lot more than security on his mind.”
Lucas moved up behind her, taking the remote, and switching off the television. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. “You shouldn’t watch that.”
“Someone not only took our picture, they were filming us, Lucas. Watching us. I didn’t … I thought no one knew where we were.”
“Your managers knew,” he said.
She spun around, looking at him. “You think one of my managers sent the reporter to film us?”
“You’re out of the public eye for the first time in your life. They’re probably afraid that you’ll be forgotten.” He took her hand, pulling her against him. “I hate watching that. Every time I see that, I get angry. No one stayed by your side. No one protected you.”
“And I can’t remember seeing anyone. Just the pain as I was stabbed.” She rubbed at the spot. “It’s … they’re out there. Whoever they are. They’re out there.”
“Yes.”
She gritted her teeth, and he tucked some hair behind her ear.
“The death threats didn’t stop, Kate.”
“Well, I know I got one in the hospital, but I’ve not had any since.”
“The threats against you haven’t stopped. I’ve been dealing with them. The moment they arrive, I get them sent over to my office for analysis. I make sure every inch of that paper is checked out. I have three forensic specialists checking.”
“And?” She was beginning to shake now. Fear was gripping at her, demanding that she take notice, and she was afraid. The fear took hold of her once more, and she didn’t want it to.
“Anyone could have typed them. You can’t locate where they were printed, and there’s no way of determining who wrote them. There are traces all over the paper. Not one person can be identified. Whoever is doing this, is taking the effort to make sure they’re hidden. We really don’t know who.” He nodded at the television. “It’s been over a year. I want to increase the security detail around you, Kate. I’m not taking any risks.” He cupped her face, wiping away the tears that had already fallen.
“I don’t … what do I do?”
“You continue being you. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.”
“You’re not going to leave me, are you?”
“No, I’m not. I’m also not going to do any interviews.”
She frowned.
“They’ve been calling all morning asking if I’m ready to spill the beans on the angelic Kate Swanson. What goes on between you and me, it stays between us.”
“That’s good.” She smiled and cupped his cheek. This man was old enough to be her father, yet she didn’t have any fatherly feelings for him. She always turned to him. The love she felt for him was unlike anything she’d ever experienced, and that scared her. Did he have any feelings for her at all? Part of her was afraid that the moment they found the person responsible for hurting her, he was going to leave her, and she didn’t want him to go.
Did that make her selfish?
You want him to stay because he wants to.
Even as she thought it, she couldn’t help but feel a little broken because of it. There hadn’t been a man in her life before.
He pulled her into his arms, and she closed her eyes, breathing in his scent, not wanting to let him go.
“I’ve made some lunch.”
Her stomach chose that moment to growl.
“Come on.” He took her hand, leading her through to the dining room, and she took a seat. Waffles, bacon, and eggs were waiting for her; not a piece of sliced fruit in sight.
“I know I’ve asked this before. Do you think there’s anyone that would want to hurt you? Wish you harm? Anything?” he asked.
She stared at him. “Not that I know of.”
“Every single time I see that damn footage it makes me so angry. I can’t figure it out. There’s so many people, and you have a lot of people around you.”
She nodded. “It had gotten crazy. It was an awards ceremony, and I was nominated for best song and music video, and best artist. I won one award that night, but I wasn’t there to take it.”
She’d been hurt and was in the hospital. The ceremony had carried on, and of course they’d kept the crowd updated on Kate Swanson.
“You were also due to perform that night, right?” he asked.
“Yes. I was. It was the song that went straight to number one. Sixth anniversary, I believe, of my rising to the top, and my team had all organized a huge celebration for it.” She stared at him, and she saw his mind working. “What are you thinking?”
“Nothing, but I want to get back to the drawing board on this. While someone out there is intent on hurting you, you’ll never be safe. I don’t want you living a life filled with fear.”
She held onto him, not wanting to let go.