From the street, Brandon led Ash to a back alley with a service elevator. He flashed his all-access badge at the touch screen, and that was when she realized that Brandon intended that she should accompany him upstairs to meet with Nash.
“I should wait in the lobby,” she said. Surely her presence would only complicate things. Especially if she got all drooly when she saw Nash live and in the flesh.
Brandon pulled her into the elevator. “I’m afraid I need you to be my human shield, Ash.”
“What?” She had no idea what on earth he was talking about.
“Until I can figure out a plan B,” he explained, “I’m hoping Nash won’t want to pound me to smithereens in front of my sister.”
Before she could protest, they were on the top floor, and the elevator door was opening.
Brandon knocked on the lone door on the entire floor. “Nash,” he called out, “it’s Brandon Sullivan.”
Nash yanked the door open. “What the hell is going on outside? It sounds like the Beatles came to town.”
It instantly struck Ashley that Nash Hardwin was by far the best-looking man she’d ever set eyes on. She’d always thought he was ruggedly attractive, of course. But seeing him in person? All she could do for the moment was stare.
“As soon as I figure out who leaked the news that you’re here,” Brandon was saying, “I promise you that he or she will be barred from all future hotel jobs, in every city in the world, for the rest of time. And my team is already working with the local authorities to safely send your fans home. But because that could take some time, it’s imperative that we get you out of here as soon as possible and to a secret location.” He ran a hand through his hair. “If only I could figure out how to get you past the fans who are literally stationed at every exit.”
Ashley didn’t know what prompted her to speak up, only that the words were out before she could pull them back. “What if Nash wore a disguise?”
Nash turned to her, and she realized that in his initial fury, he hadn’t seen her standing behind her brother. His eyes smoldered as he looked at her.
She almost started laughing at the word smolder popping into her head. But there was no other way to describe it. Without trying, Nash was shockingly sexy. And she knew he most definitely wasn’t trying, because unlike the waiter at breakfast, there was nothing whatsoever about Nash’s current expression that could be read as flirtatious.
“Who are you?”
“Ashley Sullivan, Brandon’s sister.” She could feel her brother bristling at the tone that Nash had used while speaking to her, so she put a hand on Brandon’s arm to stop him from saying something he might later regret. “I was just thinking that if you looked more like a tourist than a superstar musician…” She gestured to his black jeans and black T-shirt and black boots. “Maybe you could escape unnoticed.”
“I’ve tried to disguise myself before, and it has never worked,” he said, instantly discounting her idea. “The fans always know it’s me.”
Well, that was her told. Which didn’t make him any less sexy, she had to admit to herself. Just as she also had to admit that actually coming face-to-face with him might very well fuel some hot new late-night fantasies. Ones where his scowls turned into kisses… Feeling a flush rise to her cheeks, she worked to push down her inappropriate thoughts.
“Actually, Nash,” Brandon said as he moved his gaze from Nash to her and then back again, “I think Ashley’s on to something.” For some reason, her brother suddenly looked a great deal more positive. “If you’ll let us in, I can explain why I think a disguise might work this time.”
Ashley wondered what her brother had in mind. And why he kept looking at her this way. She knew when Brandon was up to something.
Still, she couldn’t imagine how his plans for Nash could possibly involve her.
CHAPTER TWO
Though he didn’t look happy about it, Nash stepped aside to let them into his luxurious penthouse suite. The deeper they went into the room, the louder the crowd outside sounded.
“These are the best soundproof windows money can buy,” Brandon grumbled, “and it is still ridiculously loud in here. No wonder the police are calling with complaints from every neighbor within a half-mile radius.” He looked at Nash. “Why the hell are so many women nuts for you?”
Nash shrugged with the nonchalance of a man who had clearly never had a woman turn him down. “It’s the music. Doesn’t matter who’s at the mic or holding the guitar. It’s not me they’re crazy for.”
While it was a surprisingly modest thing to say, Ashley didn’t think Nash was right about his appeal being solely about the music. Yes, his songs were great. But there was something special about Nash. Something that made it hard to look away from him. Something that made even a straight-and-narrow-walking woman like Ashley fantasize about him.