When Day Breaks

CHAPTER 10

WHEN they landed in Paris, Eden was hustled off the plane and into an armored Mercedes sedan. She barely had time to blink over the image before she was inside the backseat, flanked by Swanny and Skylar. Edge rode up front with the driver, and Nathan and Joe rode in another car that led the two-car procession to the hotel where Eden would stay.

She had only today to get her bearings and rest up because the following morning the shoot would kick off and her schedule was packed full, culminating in a formal launch party held by Aria at the end of the shoot.

They drove to the back entrance of the upscale hotel and Swanny issued a soft order for her to stay until he and the others were in position. When she finally ducked out, the five KGI members formed a tight boundary around her and hurried her inside.

Joe went up to the desk to handle the registration, and it occurred to Eden that she wasn’t sure of the sleeping arrangements. She was used to having her own suite and her own space. She didn’t even share quarters with Micah or David.

Having to share space with anyone would interfere in her plans to get Swanny into her bed. She mentally rolled her eyes and shook her head. She should be more concerned with her safety, but instead her thoughts were consumed with how to seduce Swanny and whether they would have the privacy she wanted.

When Joe returned, they began the trek up the stairs and when they reached her floor, she hesitated and turned to look at Joe, since he was holding the key cards.

“What are the arrangements?” she asked. “I mean, who’s sleeping where?”

“Skylar will share a two-bedroom suite with you. The rest of us will take the other two bedrooms on either side of your suite.”

Eden hesitated, unsure of how to put this without sounding either bitchy or just plain obvious.

“I’d rather not share a room with anyone,” she said quietly. “It’s just that I have so much stuff and I don’t want to inconvenience anyone . . .”

She trailed off, knowing she sounded lame.

Joe’s eyebrows furrowed and he exchanged quick glances with his teammates. Obviously they hadn’t anticipated her resistance to someone sharing quarters with her.

“It’s a two-bedroom suite, right?” she asked quickly, gathering her courage. Her face was flaming, she knew, but she just had to be more assertive and blunt.

Joe nodded.

“Then I want Swanny to stay in the other room with me,” she blurted.

Skylar suppressed a quick smile, but she sent Eden a knowing look, and oddly enough Eden could swear she saw encouragement and camaraderie in Skylar’s eyes.

“Edge and I can bunk together,” Skylar spoke up. “Not like we aren’t used to living together. That way you and Nathan can share the other room,” she said to Joe.

Swanny looked a little poleaxed, and she supposed she couldn’t blame him since no one had exactly consulted him in the decision making.

“I’d feel more comfortable with him,” Eden said, refusing to give in to the embarrassment crowding her chest.

“Swanny?” Joe asked, looking in his teammate’s direction.

Eden refused to look at the others, not wanting to see their expressions. She stared at Swanny, pleading with her eyes for him not to refuse her. She hadn’t lied. She really did feel more comfortable with him.

“That’s fine,” Swanny finally said. “Her being alone isn’t an option.”

Eden sagged in relief.

Joe handed her a key card and then another to Swanny. “We’ll be on either side of you, Eden, and it needs to be clear that you aren’t to leave this room without one of us. For any reason. Where you go, we go. Period.”

“Got it,” she said, taking the key from him.

She pushed into her suite, Swanny following behind. Her luggage had been sent ahead and was waiting in the living room. Swanny’s eyebrows went up.

“That’s a hell of a lot of stuff for just a few days.”

She grimaced. “Part and parcel of the business. One whole suitcase is nothing but hair and skin care stuff.”

He glanced ruefully down at his large duffel bag. “Guess I pack lighter.”

Her eyes widened as something occurred to her. “Oh my God. The Aria launch. If you all are going with me, and I assume you are since Joe said I wasn’t going anywhere without you, then you’re all going to need tuxes. Or at the very least a formal suit. It’s a really big deal. Glitzy and glamorous. You’ll need to blend in.”

The deer-in-the-headlights look he gave her was hilarious.

“A tux?” he croaked.

She nodded solemnly, keeping a straight face. “I’ll have to take you shopping and get you all outfitted. It’ll be fun.”

“Fun,” he muttered as if it were the very last word he’d use to describe it.

“So, um, was I too obvious about you staying with me?” she asked hesitantly.

The corner of his mouth lifted into that half grin and his eyes gleamed with amusement. At least he didn’t look pissed.

“Let’s just say that Joe and Edge are probably jealous sons of bitches right now. Nathan is happily married, so he’s out.”

“So in other words, I was obvious,” she muttered.

“I don’t mind,” he said mildly. “I like a straight shooter. It’s nice to always know where I stand with someone.”

“And do you know where you stand with me?” she whispered, staring into those mesmerizing eyes.

He cleared his throat. “I think so.”

“So where do I stand with you, then?” she said quietly.

“Can’t say I’ve ever had a conversation like this with a woman,” he said ruefully. “You have to cut me some slack. You—this whole thing—is way out of my league.”

“But you didn’t answer the question,” she said pointedly. “Look, Swanny, if you aren’t interested in me, just tell me. I’m a big girl. I can take it. I’m not good at the coy meet-cute stuff in relationships. My father always said that I was a take-the-bull-by-the-horns kind of girl, and I guess he’s right. I’d rather know now whether my attraction is reciprocated so I don’t continue to make an ass of myself.”

He crossed the short distance between them and hauled her roughly into his arms. He took her hand and guided it to his groin so she could feel his rigid erection.

“Does that feel like I’m not attracted to you?” he asked hoarsely.

She licked her lips nervously but she left her hand where it was, lightly caressing the denim of his fly.

“Jesus, Eden, you have to stop. This is starting to get painful.”

“After we discuss where I stand with you,” she murmured.

“What exactly are you after here?” he asked bluntly. “Am I a distraction to you? Something to keep you entertained for a few days before you move on to someone else?”

Hurt crowded her chest and she withdrew, her features carefully schooled. She was used to giving the camera whatever emotion or expression the photographer demanded. The last thing she wanted was for him to see that he’d hurt her with his frustrated statement. What must he think of her to have said that? But then she hadn’t given him any reason to believe she wasn’t exactly what he thought. Some bored spoiled woman looking for a good time and nothing else.

“Jesus, Eden. I’m sorry,” Swanny said, regret swamping his face. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

So much for schooling her features.

“It’s okay,” she said lightly, proud of the way her voice didn’t quiver betrayingly. “I understand perfectly and I get it. You don’t have to beat me over the head with it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get unpacked. There’s a lot to do between now and tomorrow morning. Perhaps we’ll order in room service a little later.”

Before he could respond, she turned and grabbed one of her suitcases and hauled it toward one of the bedrooms.

He cursed colorfully and called her name, but she ignored it and shut the door behind her. She’d venture out to get the rest of her luggage later. Right now she wanted a long soaking bath and to lick her wounds.

Swanny watched her go, helplessness seizing him. He’d royally fucked that up completely. But it baffled him that Eden was attracted to him. That she thought him beautiful, for fuck’s sake.

He ran an agitated hand through his hair and stared at the suitcases still lined up in the middle of the living room. He should bring them into her room for her, but she’d likely locked the door behind her.

The hurt he’d seen in her eyes, just for a fleeting moment before her face had become expressionless, made him feel like he’d kicked a puppy. Most men would dream of having a woman like Eden throwing herself at him. But women didn’t throw themselves at him, and he couldn’t fathom the idea that Eden wanted him. She had to have an ulterior motive, but what?

She seemed genuine and sincere. She hadn’t teased or flirted with any of the other guys. For whatever reason, she’d zeroed in on him and he’d solidly stuck his foot in his mouth and likely fucked up any chance he had with her.

He sighed and bent to pick up his duffel bag again before heading to the bedroom. He left his door open so he could stay apprised of Eden’s comings and goings. The last thing he wanted was for her to take off from the hotel room because she no longer wanted to be around him.

To his surprise a knock sounded at the door and he hurried out, meeting Eden at her doorway.

“You stay put,” he ordered, directing her back into her bedroom. “I’ll see who it is. Don’t come out unless I tell you.”

She retreated, her features bland, but her eyes told a different story. Damn it, he’d hurt her feelings and that was the last thing he’d wanted. He wasn’t an expert when it came to women, fuck it all. He had no idea what to do with Eden. Oh, he knew what he’d like to do, but just not how to get there . . . gracefully. Without appearing to be a bull in rut.

A woman like Eden deserved to be made love to. Not fucked without finesse and have it all be over in two seconds.

He looked through the peephole to see Skylar standing in the hallway gesturing for him to come out. Perplexed by what she could want, he followed her out and shut the door behind him.

A small smile flirted at the corners of Skylar’s mouth. “Look, I’m here to save you from yourself. Because if I have to guess, you’ve probably already fucked this up royally. You can thank me later.”

Swanny sighed. “I don’t need you to tell me how badly I’ve fucked up.”

“Yeah, you do,” she said bluntly. “Look, Eden has a thing for you. I think it’s wonderful. It’s obvious she’s not some obnoxious snob who thinks she’s better than the rest of the human population. And she’s very interested in you. While you’re doing your best to fuck everything up. You couldn’t have looked more displeased when she asked you to room with her. She looked crushed.”

It irritated Swanny to be lectured by his own teammate, but at least it wasn’t one of the guys giving him shit. Skylar had a heart of gold and he knew he could count on her to keep her mouth shut.

“Look,” she said quietly. “Eden appears to be a very special woman. I’d say even more special in my eyes because she recognizes the good man you are and isn’t put off by the scars that would put off lesser, more superficial women. And she’s beautiful. But more than the fact that she’s beautiful on the outside, she seems to be genuinely beautiful on the inside. And that’s what’s more important. So don’t fuck this up, Swanny. I know you. You’ll spend all your time befuddled and asking yourself why instead of just going with it. I’m certainly not going to lecture you on not getting involved with a client because hell, the Kellys have made a regular practice of it. Not to mention our esteemed team leaders, Rio and Steele.”

Swanny sucked in a deep breath, embarrassed at what he was going to ask Skylar. “What am I supposed to do?” he asked in a desperate voice. “I’ve already hurt her feelings by suggesting I was just a distraction for her, a quick lay to pass the time and that she’d move on when this was all over.”

Skylar winced. “Ouch. Not cool, Swanny. No woman wants to hear that. That’s more of a man’s M.O. We women tend to be more emotional creatures. Having sex or making love, whatever you want to call it, means more to us than it does to men. I’d say you have some groveling to do with her now.”

“You really think she wants me,” he said bluntly. “Look at me, Skylar. I’m not a typical guy. Eden is surrounded by men a hell of a lot more polished and sophisticated than I am. Hell, she told me we all had to wear tuxes to her launch event, and I broke into a cold sweat.”

Skylar grinned. “Now that I’m taking pictures of.”

“Be serious a minute,” he pleaded.

“Yes, I think she wants you, Swanny,” Skylar said in a more serious tone. “She’s certainly made herself obvious at great risk of embarrassment to herself. She doesn’t strike me as the ho type who’ll make it with any available dick. Most men would be on their knees because she chose them. Any particular reason you aren’t?”

He took a long moment to answer as he grappled with his thoughts. “No,” he finally admitted. “Not a damn reason at all. I’m just not into the whole one-night-stand, casual-sex scene.” He was a little embarrassed to admit that to Skylar, but her face softened in understanding.

“I know you aren’t, Swanny. But if you think your scars make you any less desirable to a woman, you’re an idiot. I see the looks women throw your way. You, on the other hand, are oblivious. You’re so conditioned to see the worst in people that you never notice when you don’t get just that.”

He had no idea what to say to that. “You don’t think I’m . . . ugly?”

Skylar’s face softened even more and she briefly touched the scar that puckered his face. “I don’t find you ugly at all, Swanny. In fact I find you very handsome.”

The door opened and Eden stood there, a startled look on her face. Then crimson flooded her cheeks as she stared at Swanny and Skylar, Skylar’s hand still cupped over Swanny’s cheek.

“Uh, sorry to interrupt,” she mumbled.

She hastily slammed the door back and Swanny swore viciously. “I can’t do anything right with her, it would seem. Now she’s going to think you and I are involved. Jesus, but when I fuck up, I fuck up big.”

“Let me go in and talk to her,” Skylar said. “It’s a woman thing. I’ll explain better than you. Men aren’t so good when it comes to words. Give me half an hour. Go wait in the room with Edge. I’ll be back in a bit.”