At today's signing, there'd been at least twenty blondes, thirty if I counted the guys. I asked, "Which one?"
Ignoring the question, she said, "And that burly guy with the baseball cap. I sawhimagain, too."
Something in my chest tightened as I realized what she was getting at. In a carefully neutral tone, I asked, "Anyone else?"
"The tall guy with glasses. He wasn't theretoday, but I've seen him like a dozen times."
I was stunned. "And you never said anything?"
"No. But I'm saying it now."
"Why?"
"I don't know." She sighed. "I guess I was waiting for you to tell me. It just seems like you would've opened up by now."
We were standing within arm's reach. I wanted to gather her close and kiss away her concerns. But from the look on her face, that wouldn't do the trick.
Not this time.
So I simply said, "I'm not lying to you."
"You are by omission," she said. "Like even now, why aren't you telling me who those people are?"
"Because you already know."
Her mouth tightened. "Oh, do I?"
"Sure. Go ahead and tell me."
"No," she snapped. "For once,youtellme." Her tone grew desperate. "Please?"
"All right. They're security."
"I knew it," she muttered.
"See?"
"See what?"
I tried for a smile. "You already knew, just like I said."
"Still, it would've been nice to hear it from you."
"And you did."
"When?" she scoffed. "Just now? Are you serious?"
"I meant in Ohio," I said, "when I told you I'd handle security." I searched her face. "You remember, right?"
"I guess." Her shoulders slumped. "But you never told me that you'd be hiring people.And, you never mentioned when you actually did it."
"Yeah. And I shouldn't have to."
She stiffened. "Why not?"
"Because I'm running the tour, not you."
"I know. But that's not the point."