What Goes on Tour(40)

Libby's willpower melted away. "All right."

He smiled.

Some of her doubt faded. Libby stepped back as George spoke.

"The only lie is that she was fired. It's the magazine implying things."  He frowned. "She doesn't mention that Kate is your niece, so the press  are going to keep right on speculating."

"What's going on?" Kate asked, looking up from her book.

"There's a new story, kiddo," Adrian said, showing her the magazine.

Kate read the article, snorting at some of the things written.

"It's all lies. Can't you tell them that?" Kate looked at her uncle.

"I don't think they'll believe me."

"We need to say something," George told him. "This isn't going to go away, especially if Emily gives more interviews."

Adrian ran a hand through his hair. "Why don't you draft something up and we'll go from there?"

George nodded.

Before Libby asked what she could do to help, an airport attendant came  over to tell them it was time to board. As they gathered their things,  Libby realized she needed to address the article this time, no matter  what Adrian chose to do. Emily was portraying her as some kind of  harlot. Libby needed to consider her own statement. Would people read  the article and stop buying her books for their children?

She couldn't discuss it with Adrian now. There were already people  taking their seats in business class and she didn't want to be  overheard. She took her seat next to George. She would talk to them when  they got to the hotel.

She might not be able to protect her heart from Adrian but she could protect her career.

***

The flight was uneventful, but as they drove into the hotel, Libby's heartbeat sped up.

"Paparazzi." George swore.

"We have to get Kate straight inside the hotel." Adrian turned to Libby. "Can you manage on your own?"

"Sure," Libby said, her skin tight with nerves. The car pulled in and  cameras flashed. George got out of the driver's side and pushed his way  around to the back door closest to the hotel entrance, where Kate sat.  He opened the door while Adrian got out of the front seat. With George  on one side and Adrian on the other, together they hustled Kate into the  hotel.

Libby clambered across the seat to follow. The reporters had closed in  behind the three of them and Libby was left by herself. As she stepped  out of the car, Adrian, Kate and George disappeared into the hotel. The  doorman barred the media from following.

They turned, saw Libby and surrounded her.

Cameras snapped wildly and she was jostled back and forth as the  reporters jockeyed for space. She was only a couple of yards away from  the entrance but she couldn't move.

Voices clamored around her, yelling questions.

Libby took a deep breath and smiled. "Excuse me," she called. "I'd like to get through."

No one moved. Bodies pressed up to her and microphones were shoved in her face.

"Libby, is it true you're dating Kent Downer?" one man yelled.

"Did you force Kent to sack Emily?"

"Who's the little girl with Kent? Is she Kent's daughter?"

Libby put up a hand to ward them off. "No comment. Please, I'd like to  get through." She couldn't move and she was being blinded by the flash  of the cameras.

Being polite was not going to get her into the hotel.

Fear slowly built as the air seemed to disappear and she struggled to  breathe. She had to get inside. Lowering her shoulder, she pushed  forward and rammed up hard against one of the reporters who wasn't  budging.

"Answer our questions and we'll let you through," he said with a wink and a grin.

Anger bit its way through the fear.

She brought her knee up right into his crotch and got a jolt of pleasure  as his eyes widened, his jaw dropped and he crumpled over.

Pushing past him, Libby came face to face with Adrian.

He'd come back for her.

He grasped her hand and pulled her after him as he muscled his way to the door and then gently pushed her through before him.

Libby gasped in relief. She turned back to see the reporters all pressed up against the glass windows, peering in.                       
       
           



       

"This way." Adrian kept hold of her hand and led her behind the  registration desk to where Kate and George were checking in. Adrian  exhaled deeply.

Kate gazed at Libby, concern on her face.

Libby smiled at her. "Are you all right, Kate?"

Kate's nod was hesitant, her eyes uncertain. "What about you?"

"Fine. Your uncle rescued me." She smiled her thanks at him.

"You seemed to be handling yourself. Did you knee that reporter in the crotch?" Adrian was bemused.

Libby shrugged. "It was the only way to get past."

"I don't want to think about the headlines tomorrow," George commented,  but grinned at her. He turned from the desk with keys in hand. "Let's  go."

Libby followed along behind them to the service elevator, feeling calmer  and more relaxed with each step she took. This attention was utterly  ridiculous.

For the first time in her life she hoped another celebrity would have a major meltdown.

Anything to draw attention away from Adrian and Kate.

***

After Libby had settled her things in her room, she headed to Adrian's suite to spend the afternoon there.

In between getting her butt kicked playing the dancing game, she, George  and Adrian put together a couple of statements for the media. Libby  planned hers methodically, making sure she answered every question that  had been posed. Kate had helped, pouring over the articles and  identifying different points that needed to be addressed.

In the end Libby kept her statement brief, avoiding any mention of a  relationship with Adrian and instead simply stating that she was working  for Adrian. She posted a copy on her website and blog, and forwarded a  copy to her publicist.

After Kate had gone to bed and George had left, Libby finally had some  time alone with Adrian. She wanted to know more about the Emily  situation and how Adrian was coping, but she wasn't sure how to broach  the subject.

Adrian shut the door to Kate's room and settled with a groan on the couch beside Libby. "What a day."

"Kate seems to be coping well," Libby said.

"Having to go through the reporters again shook her up, but spending the  afternoon doing routine things has settled her," Adrian said.

"Do you think the media will go away now we've made statements?"

"As long as Emily doesn't continue her claims they should."

"She's quite disgruntled, considering she quit."

Adrian heard her unasked question. "I promise you there was nothing  between Emily and me." He looked at her intently to see if she believed  him. "Susan recommended Emily, and to keep the peace, I agreed.

"It was a few days into the tour before I suspected Emily might want to  be more than just the nanny. I wasn't comfortable around her, but she  and Kate seemed to get along and I didn't want to upset Kate.

"The night of the talk show, Kate had gone to bed and Emily suggested  she could help ‘relieve' some of my worries. She thought we could leave  Kate alone and go to her room."

Libby gaped at him. "Did she know about Kate's nightmares?"

"She'd seen them herself."

"What did you say?"

"I told her I wasn't interested. She got embarrassed or angry and quit."

It was no wonder Emily was disgruntled. Adrian had rejected her but not  Libby. A tiny doubt pried its way in. Emily was far more attractive than  she was. Libby couldn't work out why Adrian wouldn't be attracted to  Emily. Had Adrian just got bored?

"Hopefully she'll leave it alone now you've made your statement," Libby said.

Adrian murmured an agreement. "I hope this doesn't affect you too much,"  he said. "Though that reporter today will think twice before getting in  your way again." He chuckled.

Libby pushed away her concerns and smiled. "I honestly didn't think  about what I was doing. It was a gut reaction to go for the crotch. He's  not likely to write anything nice, I'm sure."

Adrian slid closer and put an arm around her. "We'll deal with it together."

A thrill went through Libby as he drew her toward him. He sounded like he meant it.

"You've helped me so much. I won't let you down," he said.

Before Libby could respond, he kissed her. It was a gentle kiss, soft  and caring. Libby's heart sighed as she kissed him back. She wouldn't  let the experience with Clint make her mistrust every other relationship  she had. She would enjoy this while it lasted.

Adrian deepened the kiss and pulled her closer so she was on his lap.  One hand twined into her hair while the other one slid up her jumper to  her breast.                       
       
           



       

A tingle of heat ran over Libby as he caressed her, running his thumb  over her nipple. She gasped and arched into him for a moment before  needing to touch him as well. She ran her hands down his chest before  slipping them under his top and running them over his smooth, hard body.