Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

PAYTON

L ennie and I left Dazzle, rings still on our fingers, and took another rideshare to the airport.

Neither of us said anything in the car. I guess the shock of the past twelve hours finally caught up to us. First waking up in bed together, then the realization of our midnight wedding, and now the full weight of what we'd done.

Add to that, I nearly passed out when Lennie called me ‘ angel '. I don't think he even realized he'd done it. Or maybe he was joking, teasing me the way I did him. Either way, why the hell did I like it so much? Why did I like everything about this man?

There had to be something wrong with him. Maybe he was a total slob. Or picked his teeth. Or scratched his ass in public. Then again, I'd been around him long enough to notice if he was doing stuff like that.

He was a self-admitted hard-ass, especially when he was on the job, but I didn't consider that a bad thing (hard-asses forever LOL). Lennie was intense and focused. He had to be. In his job, there was no time for fooling around. And I liked the fact that I was one of the few people that could make him laugh. Make him trip over his words, and his feet.

Lennie. Leonardo. Why did I want to swoon at the sound of his full name? The more I learned about him, the more I wanted to know.

The man was a bundle of nerves at this point, his knee bouncing up and down. I knew he was dreading the wedding conversation with his mother. But I envied him. What I wouldn't give to talk to my mom one more time. Even if she was giving me hell for sassing her—as I often did—it was better than nothing. I swallowed down the painful lump that lodged in my throat.

Lennie's left hand suddenly reached out and covered my right. Like he needed comfort from me. Why did he keep doing that? Opening doors, offering his hand, giving me reassurance, offering his. He was so thoughtful and protective. A true gentleman. A rarity in my world.

He protects people for a living. He's being nice.

Still, the gesture had my pulse kicking up. Worse than that, it made me wish for things. For a man who'd want me, not for one night, or as friends, but for so much more.

If only…

I was so caught up in my head that I didn't realize we'd pulled up to the departure zone at the airport. In fact, I didn't notice how long it took us to get here or what time it was. I hadn't even checked my phone since we'd left the hotel.

Of course, Lennie got out of the car first and held out his hand. I was spoiled at this point. And it had to stop. He wasn't my husband, not for real. I needed to put distance between us. After all, I was an independent man, and I was going to stay that way.

Thank fuck I had my sunglasses on, because I didn't want him to see how much his gesture affected me. Channeling my inner diva, I ignored his hand and stepped out of the car, then thanked the driver for unloading our luggage. Turning around, I prepared to reach for my suitcase, but Lennie beat me to it, grabbing the handle and starting inside.

"I can haul my own baggage, thank you very much," I snapped when I caught up to him.

"No."

"No? What the hell, Len?" I reached for my suitcase.

"Our plane is due to leave in twenty-seven minutes. Do you want to stand here and argue, or do you want to get through security and catch our flight?"

Shit, the last thing we needed right now was a missed flight and another bill. The tab for this weekend was already higher than any vacation I'd ever taken in my life.

"Fine."

"Good. Let's go." He started off again.

"Wait a minute." I stopped short and shoved my sunglasses off my face. "What does our being late have to do with you insisting on taking my luggage?"

"Nothing. It was a diversion," he said over his shoulder and kept walking.

A what now? God, this man drove me crazy. What's next? Was he going to buy me flowers and call on me? Whatever, I didn't care about my luggage at this point. If he wanted to haul my heavy-ass bag, he could go for it.

As we stood in line, Lennie leaned into me. "You know, it's okay to let someone take care of you once in a while."

I met his intense blue gaze, and a strange ache settled in my chest.

"Only in the bedroom, darling."

Then I strutted past him, stepping up to the kiosk to scan my e-ticket. But it wasn't registering. Lennie walked up beside me and pulled out his phone. A minute later, he showed me his screen.

"Seats 2A and B," Lennie announced.

I forgot that he'd rearranged our flights.

He motioned for me to walk ahead of him.

"This isn't about you being a gentleman," I commented. "You just want to stare at my ass."

"Not true," Lennie laughed. "Watching your ass is an add-on."

"Add-on? Please. It's the freaking star of the show," I stated confidently and sauntered off, putting extra oomph in my strut.

Other passengers stared at me, but whatever. I was used to it.

When we got through security and finally boarded, I was surprised to find out we had two first-class seats.

"Are you determined to make this the most expensive elopement ever?" I asked him.

Lennie got our cases stored in the overhead bins and turned to me. "It's a three-and-a-half-hour flight and we've had a stressful day. And night. Might as well relax in comfort. And, like the rings, I'm gonna cover it. It's not a problem."

I didn't believe him, but I was too tired to argue. As soon as I sat down, the exhaustion from the trip set in. I stretched my legs out, buckled up, and pushed my seat back, closing my eyes.

"Wake me up when we get home," I muttered.

Instead of replying, Lennie gave my thigh a firm squeeze.

So much for sleeping.

After fitful dreams, I woke up to the quiet hum of chatter and the clank of a trolley cart. When I blinked and looked around, Lennie was awake and working on his laptop.

"How long was I asleep?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

He turned and smiled. "Almost two hours. You want a drink?"

"Oh, yes."

The steward stopped by our seats. "What can I get you?"

"Diet Coke with lots of ice, please," I replied.

"I'll have the same," Lennie nodded. "And two cheese plates, thanks."

The steward poured our drinks and pulled out two plates filled with different cheeses, crackers, and fruit.

"I'm not really hungry," I said, but I took the plate, anyway.

Lennie shut his laptop, shoved it back in his bag, and took his offered plate.

"What were you working on?" I asked.

"Security plans for the world tour. It's the biggest gig I've ever been a part of. There's a ton of prep work, but it'll be worth it."

I was going to make a dirty joke about prep always being worth it, but given that the steward was still nearby, I reined myself in.

"I can't wait," I replied, then took a long sip of my drink, enjoying the crisp, sweet taste. "I've never traveled to Asia before. It's been on my bucket list for ages."

"I've been to Japan. But it was only a stopover on my way to Hawaii when I was done my tour of duty in the military."

"What was that like?"

Lennie paused, then took a sip of his Coke. "Take a na?ve twenty-two-year-old, ship him halfway around the world, and drop him into a war zone. It was scary, dangerous, and haunting. Nothing prepares you for the reality of war. Nothing."

I reached for his hand, holding it tight. "I'm sorry."

Lennie shrugged, taking a deep breath, blinking fast.

"At least I came home. So many of my friends didn't. With time and therapy, I did okay," Lennie sighed and turned to me. "And what about you? How'd you start working for a rock band?"

"Didn't you read about my background in your security check?"

"Before my time," he whispered. "And I'd rather hear it from you."

Lennie looked at me with those big blue eyes of his and I let myself get lost in them.

"I was born and raised in Atlanta, an only child, raised by a single mom. I studied hair styling right after high school. Mom was sick at the time with a rare form of brain cancer, and I supported both of us, working a full time job while I was studying. She passed shortly after I got my first big gig, doing hair and makeup for a movie production."

"Oh Payton, I'm so sorry for your loss."

I blinked away the tears that threatened. "At least she got to see me find success. I take comfort in that. And the fact I was able to get her the best care."

I tried to take a deep inhale, but my chest was tight.

"After she passed, I moved to New York," I continued. "And I traveled to LA for private clients and movie productions. A friend of mine was doing hair and makeup in Nashville and when he had to cancel a job for Wayward Lane, I stepped in. And that was it. I liked being in Nashville so much, I made it my home base."

"Do you still have private clients?"

"Yes, but mainly in the Nashville area. I gave up on the monthly trips to LA. But I have several clients that fly to me."

"You're incredibly talented, so no wonder."

I squeezed his hand. "You have to stop complimenting me, Len. You know I'm a diva. My ego doesn't need any more stroking."

Lennie's face flushed. "You're so not a diva."

"That's not what I've been told."

Lennie stared at me. "I've watched you at work. You put in long hours and you never complain. And you've got a knack for people, always making them feel at home. You're sexy, smart, funny, sexy?—"

"You said ‘ sexy ' twice," I countered.

"It needed to be said twice. For Christ's sake, people turn their heads when you walk by."

"Yeah, and they usually have something judgmental to say."

He shook his head. "Then they're fuckheads. You're gorgeous. With makeup, without. With heels, without. With clothes, without?—"

"Okay," I burst out laughing. I couldn't believe the words coming out of Lennie's mouth. The people in the aisle next to us turned to stare, but whatever. "I get it."

Lennie nodded, his expression suddenly serious. "I hope so. You're an amazing person. Special. Which is why, most of the time, I'm tongue-tied around you. That's not my normal, Angel. That's all you."

"Stop it. You're gonna make me blush," I teased him. "And what's with the nickname?"

He leaned in, his lips so fucking close. So tempting.

"I'm not a believer, but watching you walk into a room is definitely a religious experience," he confessed.

Now my cheeks were on fire.

"And why hasn't an incredible man snatched you up yet?" I asked him.

"He already has," Lennie replied with a wink.

If only that were true.