The only guy who was supposed to be here tonight was Ian, which meant Tucker had nailed it—she knew he wasn’t the series star. It also explained why she hadn’t engaged with him and why she’d been sitting here all night. She was waiting for Ian.
Fucking figured.
He turned fully toward her and asked, “Are you with ABC Studios?”
“What?”
“The studio,” he said louder,
unsure if she didn’t understand the question or if she couldn’t hear over the noise. “The film studio.”
She huffed a breath. “No. And I’m not a reporter or a cop or a librarian or a teacher. But I do need to talk to your other half. And it’s important, so I don’t want to leave if—”
“Hey there.” A blonde pushed in between them. Her lush breasts rubbed Zach’s biceps, her lower body pressed against his hip. And she smelled like a still. “We haven’t been able to get to you all night. My friends and I are staying at the hotel next door.” She flashed an inviting smile, then glanced over her shoulder toward two other women grinning his way. “Want to join us?”
“No, thanks, ladies,” he said. “I’m here with frien—”
One of the other two wet dreams slipped behind him, leaned her curvy body to his back, and slid a hand over his ass. “We’ll be real good to you.”
Her warm breath skittered over his neck, and Zach’s body reacted the way it should when two bombshells of the opposite sex were fused to him. Especially when he hadn’t had a woman’s hand sliding over his ass in months. Only, he didn’t want to have anything to do with these women. “Look, ladies, I’m—”
“Jesus Christ,” Miss Prim muttered just before she stood and wrapped her hand around the biceps of the woman between them, pulling her to the side. “He said no. Haven’t you ever heard no means no? Have some respect—for yourself and others.”
“Hey,” the girl whined. “Mind your own business.”
“Hello, you walked right into my business. Learn to take no for an answer, or wait your damned turn.”
Zach’s gaze snapped to her face, and he found her calm and confident. A strange hush fell over the conversations nearby. He cut a look around and found others equally stunned.
“Ms. Drake.” Malo’s smooth, authoritative voice boomed over the din, and space magically appeared around them. “Is everything all right?”
“Fine, thank you, Malo. These ladies were just going to give us some room to talk.”
Malo glanced at Zach. “You cool?”
“Sure.” After Malo dispersed the drunks, Zach told her, “That was—”
“Rude,” she said, easing to a seat. “I know. I’m sorry. I should go before I really lose my patience.”
“I’d kinda like to see you really lose your patience,” he told her, grinning. He was thinking he’d really like to see her lose a lot more—like those glasses, the bun, her stiff clothes, and every last ounce of composure. “And I wasn’t going to say rude. I was going to say amazing.”
Her head came up, her expression suspicious.
“If you’re not with the studio,” he said, “how do you know everyone’s names? Are you a local?”
“I wish,” she said with a little whimsy. “I got here early. We were talking about Malo’s daughter before the crowd came.”
How novel was that? A woman who took the time to get to know the help. She might be out of place and a little different, but she was growing on him.
“Look,” he said shifting closer. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the guy you’re waiting for won’t be here tonight.”
“Damn,” she exhaled. “I figured that about two hours ago. I was just hoping… Do you know where I can catch him? Your security is better than the Secret Service.”
Zach chuckled, but then winced. “Sorry—again—but he’s gone.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“I mean he flew to Los Angeles. He’s done with his part in the film, so he won’t be coming back.”