Internally, I shudder.
Really, Alan?
A nanny?
I’ve spent most of my life taking care of my brothers and sisters. Mom has never had more than Lourdes except for brief moments of necessity. You’ve got us for four months, Alan, and you hire help—ghastly help, at that.
I ignore her and wait for my dad.
Finally.
Alan stops in front of me with Krystal.
Prune Face extends her hand to my dad. “Hello, I’m Mrs. Barton. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am a big fan.”
What a suck-up. Like hell you’re a fan. Your music died with the dinosaurs.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he says, but even I can tell that fails the sincerity test. “These are my daughters, Kaley and Krystal. Those are my sons, Ethan and Eric. Eric is the one with the tiny birthmark beneath his left ear. It’s the only way I can tell them apart for sure. Collect the boys. The girls can manage on their own.”
She stares like there’s something wrong with us. Hell no, I’m turning my brothers over to her. I’ve had enough. I start moving toward the metal steps with Eric and Ethan.
“Stop,” Alan orders.
Crap. I turn back from the open door.
“Same routine as last time,” he says. “We walk off the plane. Say nothing to anyone and climb into the car they direct you to.”
OK, this shit has got to stop.
Everyone is telling us different shit.
“We already know this,” I snap. “You don’t have to repeat everything a thousand times. This is nothing new. We’ve traveled with Mom. You keep telling us exactly what she makes us do.”
Alan’s eyes go wide. “Good. I won’t do it again.”
Krystal nods.
Way to suck up, baby girl.
I step off the plane with my brothers. Cameras explode in every direction. Ethan’s fingers tighten around mine, but Eric looks like he’s enjoying it.
I spot Graham on the tarmac waiting and a row of microphones lined with press. And fuck, why are they calling my name? That’s never happened with Mom before.
When my feet touch earth we’re surrounded by security.
“This way,” Graham instructs.
I shut out the flashing cameras, the shouting voices and the screaming by focusing on getting my brothers into the waiting SUV.
I hang back after they’re in the car, watching my dad sprint down to the tarmac with Krystal in his arms. He’s smiling and waving and moves quickly past the rest of the band already at the microphones. Good, he’s not making the press stop. Maybe we’ll get to the hotel before Ethan and Eric melt down.
Oh shit, who’s that?
Why is she stopping in front of Alan?
Fuck, I don’t like the way she stares at my dad while she talks to him.
“Kaley, climb into the car,” Graham orders.
I shift my gaze to him. “Who is that with my dad?”
Graham looks over his shoulder. “Jen. Our resident courtesan.”
Courtesan?
My lids fly wide. “You mean my dad travels with a girlfriend? Is that what you mean by courtesan?”
Grahams grimaces. “Oh crap, I shouldn’t have said that. And no, she’s works for your dad. She’s PR with the promotion team and a giant pain in the ass. I just don’t like Jen. She gets in the way. Makes it hard to do my job.”
My gaze narrows on her.
In the way, huh?
Oh, I bet she gets in the way.
I shake my head. “Don’t be like the rest of them, lying about everything to me to cover his ass.”
Graham’s eyes flash with surprise. “I wouldn’t do that. And I’m not now. The cornerstone of a good security team is trust. You have to trust me if I’m going to do my job well.”
I lift my brows. “Then don’t ever lie to me and we’ll get along just fine.”
He grins and I feel something stir in my veins.
“Who says I want to get along with you?” he murmurs. “Something tells me you’re trouble. I should keep us adversarial.”
A little tingle comes out of nowhere.
Did Graham Carson just flirt with me?
I bite my lip. “If you want me to believe that you need to stop looking at me the way you do.”
He steps back and smiles. “And you, Kaley, need to get into the car.”
Nice change of direction.
OK, he’s sort of cool.
And definitely good-looking.
I climb in, scan the already crowded SUV, and decide to sit in the second row, I’m guessing behind where Alan will sit since there’s no one on the bench seat in front of me.
I look at my brothers. “You guys OK?”
They nod.
I put in my earbuds, blast the music, close my eyes and try to will myself not to think.
* * *
The screaming is so loud it’s deafening. I jerk awake and quickly try to orientate myself. The SUV has stopped. We’re parked in front of what I can only assume is the hotel. My dad’s gone. Krystal and the boys are staring out the windows, anxious and nervous. The security team is talking fast back and forth on their headsets. Graham Carson is crouched by the open door, alertly scanning the crowd.
Holy moly, what a profile and physique. He definitely deserves to be a Kodak moment. I slyly pull my camera from my bag and start snapping pictures.
“Not now, Kaley,” Graham barks. “I’m working.”
“I’m working, too. I’m the only photographer on this tour.”
He smile, but doesn’t look at me. “Nice. Very nice. You talked to your dad while I was napping. But stop screwing around and pack up your stuff. Change of SOP. We are now in this order of movement until further notice. Your dad. You. And then the rest of the kids with Mrs. Barton.”
Frowning, I put my stuff away. “Why is that? It’s a stupid change and I’m not doing it. I’m not going anywhere without my brothers. They need me with them.”
“You’d know if you hadn’t slept though the drive into Mumbai. Never seen anything like it on any tour. I’m now lead of your private security team.”
I tense and wonder if he’s messing with me.
“What? I don’t need security.”
“Your dad thinks otherwise and so do I. Look out the window. Damn, girl. You’re a global sensation. When you want people to listen to you, they listen. You might want to rethink how you channel that in the future.”
I turn to stare out the window.
Oh fuck.
There are people out there holding signs for me.
Bring back Kaley’s World?
Speak truth to power?
My picture?
Are they really screaming my name?
“All the way from the airport they’ve lined the roads for you,” Graham explains. “And whether you like it or not, you’re in the bubble just like your dad until you get back to California. There are a whole lot of places in this world it’s not safe for people to know your face and that you’re a rich American. Mumbai is one of them.”
Oh crap.
My gaze shifts to find Mrs. Barton glaring at me in disapproval. Like I could have foreseen this. Sorry to ruin your day, Mrs. Doubtfire.
“Roger that,” Graham says into his headset. “We’re moving.” He turns toward me, gesturing with an arm. “Your dad is safely inside the hotel. Come on, Kaley. Out of the car. Don’t stop. Don’t talk to anyone. Into the building, the elevator, then the room. Dillon and I will be with you every step.”
I stare at the broad back clad in black just outside the door. Dillon; yep, I recognize those shoulders. It could be worse. At least Alan gave me a security team made up of two hotties.
CHAPTER 26
Three weeks later
“Kaley, stop pretending you’re asleep. Get up. Get dressed. Mrs. Barton says now.”