“Better let him in.” I shrug, glancing at Penelope.
As soon as the words are out I wish I hadn’t said anything because it seems the guy’s not alone. The usual meet and greet after the show crowd all seem to have banded together.
Miles misunderstands my meaning and within seconds, my dressing room is overrun with fans and security.
Miles tries to act as a human shield for me while I can only try to keep sight of and reach out for Penelope.
I match the raspy voice to the face I recall from the front row.
“You must be?” I ask him, offering my hand that he grabs as if he’s gonna kiss the pope’s ring.
Fans… Gotta love ‘em. They come in all shapes, sizes, and degrees of mental stability.
“Tony Favela, sir. And I just gotta say… Wow! Whatta show you put on for us tonight,” he gushes, shifting his weight from one heavy foot to the next.
Nervous and excited, but suddenly vexed when he spots Penelope.
All in the same expression.
“We really have to go, but I was just wondering…” he says.
And I couldn’t agree more.
He really does have to go.
“Tony? Pleasure. I’ll have Miles here arrange a souvenir pack for you and all your… friends,” I smile. Jutting my chin for security.
Time to take out the trash.
“Give them some signed stuff, a discount coupon, and tell ‘em I’m still recovering after my little mishap,” I murmur to Miles.
“I think I’ll keep Penelope, just for a little longer,” I call to Tony before I lean back heavily on the door once they’re all gone.
The click of the lock makes Penelope jump.
Alone at last.
Except maybe her.
My favorite fan.
My Penelope.
CHAPTER SIX
Penelope
If today proves anything so far, it’s that magic can and does happen.
But we might not always like the results.
Here I am, alone with Jett Masters in his dressing room of all places, but the one thing he wants to talk about is my relationship status.
He’s dismissed Tony.
And my ride home…
Home.
Where is that exactly?
If tonight has shown me anything it’s that the Penelope Briggs I thought I was is even more hopeless than I thought.
I’ve had a taste of Jett Masters, but all I have to go back to is the same sad life. The same crappy jobs and the same shoddy one room apartment…
I watch Jett’s face after everyone’s left as he leans his huge bulk against the door. His smile makes me feel like I could enjoy all this.
Just for a little longer.
Even if I have no idea how I’m getting home.
The sound of the door, us suddenly and truly alone makes me jump a little, but Jett seems pleased as punch.
Like he has a secret or something.
“C’mere,” he growls in a low voice, giving me butterflies and adding a new dimension to my already insane attraction to him.
He makes a subtle movement with his chiseled jaw. Urging me to come closer.
He’s really got me thinking I could literally just move on over to him and he’d kiss me.
A proper kiss.
Not like the one I gave him before his stunt.
But Jett being the man he is has other responsibilities, others always wanting a piece of him. And it’s only moments after being left alone, seconds after I’m in front of him and he’s leaning into me when there’s a firm knock on the door.
The familiar voice of his agent on the other side.
“Jett? Jett, open up.”
“Not now, Miles,” Jett says loudly, straining a smile for my benefit but I can see he’s not impressed by another interruption.
The knocking continues, and something tells me his agent is more familiar with the great magician than I ever could be.
“Excuse me,” Jett says, turning to open the door just a fraction.
I can hear every word he says and none of it is polite.
But the reply from his agent seems to have an effect on Jett and he turns to look me in the eye again.
“Could you wait here? Just for a minute?” he asks, looking like a man who’s trying to contain his emotions as much as his anger.
But his eyes tell me a different story.
His eyes are telling me to wait. To give him some time to do what he has to so we can be alone again.
Why he wants me alone with him is anyone’s guess, but seeing as I have nowhere else to be right now…
He turns to go, and looks back at me to say something but thinks better of it.
He leaves the door to his dressing room open a crack and in a second I’m left on my own.
I can still smell his cologne in the air, and before long I gravitate towards his clothes.
The whole place is filled with his manly scent as well as his power.
There’s that word again. Does the guy…Can a guy really have magical powers?
I’m supposed to be fact-finding to judge otherwise, but right now I would have to say yes.