Grounded (Up in the Air #3)(83)

We wound up watching movies with Stephan for most of the night. The guys insisted that we watch Princess Bride again. James leaned into me at one point and whispered, "As you wish, Buttercup," into my ear.

I shot him a look. I suddenly recalled that he'd said that to me before, a few times in fact, and what it meant in the context of the movie, but we'd only been seeing each other for a few days the first time that had happened …

"You're insane," I told him quietly.

He nodded, smiling. "Completely off my rocker," he agreed.

He was on my flight to Vegas the next morning, doing his rich man stalker thing. He was even more attentive than usual on the flight that morning, rarely taking his eyes off me, as though afraid I would just disappear. As seemed to be his habit, his most distant mood was being followed by his most attentive.



       
         
       
        

Still, I was busy from wheels up to wheels down, with barely a moment to spare for him, aside from the expected service. We had a decent tailwind speeding up our flight time, so the trip was nice and quick.

We were staying at my place. I carpooled with Stephan. A car full of security tailed us closely. James was meeting us at the house.

He was waiting in my driveway, and looked to be yelling at a paparazzo when we pulled up.

"Shit," Stephan cursed. "Wish I had your garage door opener. We'll go directly into mine, and you can just jump the back fence into your yard. You shouldn't have to deal with that mess."

I sighed. "My security will have a conniption if I go anywhere before it's been searched, even your garage."

"Oh yeah," he said. "They've even been giving me the royal treatment. Did you know that I have a bodyguard when I go out now, too?"

I hadn't. I just stared at him, dumbfounded. I'd been so oblivious lately. But I felt an instant wave of relief, and got the warmest feeling in my chest. I loved that crazy man. So much.

He parked in his driveway, and we gave the security plenty of time to flank the car before we got out. Stephan and I shared a look before we got out of the car. The look said, 'This is crazy.'

James was at least done yelling at the photographer as we approached the house. He saw me and strode to us. Clark was blocking the paparazzo with consummate skill. So well, in fact, that I couldn't even see the man.

James took my arm, his face tense in annoyance. He nodded at Paterson to go ahead into my house. A bodyguard that I didn't recognize was already going into Stephan's house.

We waited just outside while Paterson searched the first room.

"Bianca! How does it feel to be living with a porn star? When are you planning to release your own video?" the paparazzo shouted loudly to our backs.

I turned into James before the man had even finished yelling. He'd gone tense, and I knew what he wanted to do. I threw my arms around his neck. He hugged me around the ribs, but his head was turned in the direction of the obnoxious man.

"Let's go inside. Somebody get the door open!" I said loudly.

"Do you like to be spanked too, Bianca? I'll spank you anytime you want!" the foolish man shouted.

My hug turned into a death grip. James would have to take me with him if he went after the man. I sent a wild look at our security, who all seemed useless to me at that moment.

"If James hits that guy, I'm firing you all!" I shouted at them. "Get us inside, or get that man out of here!"

Finally, mercifully, we got into the house. James ended up carrying me inside, since I wouldn't let go of him. 

I didn't realize that Stephan wasn't with us until I let go of James. I glanced around.

James was still seething, but he sounded calmer than he looked when he spoke. "You stopped me, but there's only one of you, and I wasn't the only one getting riled up."

I was out the door again before James saw my intent. He caught me just outside, his arms wrapping around my shoulders. There was no need, though.

Stephan and Clark were striding towards us, grinning.

"What happened?" I asked Stephan. There was no sign of the photographer.

Stephan shrugged. "I went to give Clark a hand with that prick, but he had it handled."

We all looked at Clark.

He shrugged. "I just explained some things to him, and he left. Some other paparazzi might come here, but that guy won't be back."

"What did you say to him?" I asked, beyond curious. Those photographers were hard to shake.

Clark laughed. He had a great laugh. "I just explained to him that what I would do to him if he didn't leave would affect him for the rest of his life, whereas I would only serve five to ten for it. And I explained that the millions of dollars that would be waiting for me on the other side of that five to ten, combined with the mood he'd put me in, would make doing the thing more than worthwhile for me. He just sort of went poof after that." He gestured with his hands as he spoke.