Her Wilde Bodyguards (Wilde, Nevada 5)

Gya entered Norma’s Diner on the arms of Aaron and Kyle.

A waitress with short black hair and hazel eyes, standing by the long counter, welcomed them. “Have a seat anywhere you like, Miss Gaynor.” The woman grabbed three menus and then dropped them to the floor. Her eyes went wide. “Miss Gaynor? Oh my God. Is that really you?” The woman ran to them. “It is you. I’m Anna.” She began jumping up and down. “I’m your biggest fan. Can I touch you? I just want to make sure this is real. It is real, right? Oh my God. I just love you.”

Everyone in the room turned around, which was something Gya had grown accustomed to a few years ago. Making a commotion in public places, she’d learned, was something that came with fame.

“Nice to meet you, Anna.” She held out her hand, but Anna didn’t take it.

Instead, the sweet waitress gave her a big hug. Normally not a fan of embraces from strangers, Gya actually didn’t mind at all. Anna seemed so genuine.

“This is the biggest thing that has happened in Wilde since Elvis, and I wasn’t even born yet.” A pretty blonde teenager said. “Mom, do you think Gya would give me an autograph?”

“Janie, what did you say?” her mother answered in a firm tone.

“I mean Miss Gaynor. Do you think she would mind?”

Gya smiled. “I don’t mind at all, Janie.”

“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Janie leapt from her table, grabbing a napkin.

“Would you mind giving me an autograph, Miss Gaynor?” One sweet elderly woman asked. “We just love you here in Wilde. Everybody plays your music.”

“Thank you so much. I would be glad to sign anything anyone brings me.”

Several other customers started grabbing napkins, too.

Aaron leaned in. “You just let the dogs off their leashes, baby.”

“I love this place and these people. Your neighbors are sweet.”

He sighed. “I haven’t lived here in many years, but you’re right. There’s no place like Wilde.”

Anna sat her at a table in the middle of the diner. A line formed. She saw several people on their cell phones, which made her smile, though her stomach growled. It would be a little while before she got a chance to eat. Aaron and Kyle stood behind her, assuming their bodyguard stations, though they seemed fairly relaxed by all of this.

“You devils,” another woman addressed them. “I heard you were back in town but I had no idea you had a celebrity with you.” She smiled. “You should be ashamed of yourselves. Keeping secrets from your neighbors.”

After forty-five minutes, Aaron put his foot down. “Folks, Miss Gaynor has enjoyed meeting you. It’s time for us to sit down and get her some food.”

“Has she tried the King Cakes yet?” someone in the back yelled out. “We’ve heard singers really like them.”

“I have,” she said, remembering Aaron and Kyle telling her that Elvis had tipped two hundred dollars to the waitress after eating them. “But I can’t wait to have them again.”

The crowd cheered.

She turned to Aaron and Kyle. “Given how much time must’ve passed since the King came to Wilde, I’m going to have to tip at least four hundred due to inflation.”

“Anna will be very pleased. You might even get the name changed.” Kyle grinned. “Gaynor Cakes. It kind of rolls off the to

ngue.”

She laughed. “I doubt that.”

Anna came up, still visibly vibrating with excitement. “I can’t believe you are really here, but here you are. Oh my God.”

“Anna, where would you like us to sit?” Aaron’s voice was calm, but still had that take-charge quality that made Gya tingle inside.

“How about the big round booth by the window? It’s the best seat in the house.”

“That will be fine.”