“The biggest reason you don’t have to worry about any of those other women is because I love you. Only you.”
Lacy’s eyes went wide and she swallowed hard before asking, “Are you sure? I mean we haven’t known each other all that long, and mostly only through texts and phone calls.”
“I know, Lacy. I’ve known almost from the beginning. The way you wore that unicorn t-shirt and the bows in your hair when you were directing us on how to pose. Do you realize those were the only pictures your cousin has sold?”
“Really?” Lacy’s eyes went even wider before she blinked and then leaned over the center console to wrap her arms around him. “I love you, too, Daddy. And I’ll try really hard not to be jealous when you’re hugging and smiling at those other women.”
“Thank you, Lacy-girl. Now, shall we take Snowball inside and get him out of that box so he can settle into our room?”
Chapter 17
Lacy forced herself to wait five minutes after Drake left the room before gathering her camera bag, room keycard, and wallet. She then picked Snowball up and hugged her tight.
“Wish me luck,” she whispered. “But tomorrow will be the real test. Guard the rooms, Snowball. We’ll be back later.”
She left by her room door and was not surprised the hallway was empty. Walking toward the elevator bank, she wondered if there were really people staying in the other rooms, or if they were the only ones on the floor.
Then she reminded herself that the evening’s party was due to begin in the next five minutes. Any convention-goers were probably already downstairs, waiting to be let into the room. She should probably be there already, taking pictures of the partygoers, but the organizers had not been too specific about what they wanted photographed. She would have to find one and get more specifics as to exactly what they wanted from her.
Drake’s declaration continued to haunt her, and she could not help smiling as the elevator opened with a half dozen women already on board.
“Room for one more?” she asked as they shifted around.
“Sure, always room for one more,” an older woman said, grabbing her hand and pulling her into the moving box.
Lacy turned just in time to watch the doors come together just inches from her nose. Her heart began to pound and she slammed her eyes shut and began to count, not listening to the chatter of the other passengers, just waiting to get out again. Thankfully the trip was short and the doors opened before she passed out from not breathing. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t like crowded elevators, but she didn’t. One or two other riders were okay, but more than that and she became claustrophobic.
Quickly exiting the elevator, she hurried to the lobby. She needed a soda and preferred a bottle she opened herself. After buying that, plus a package of crackers that she slipped into the pocket of her bag, she headed to the back of the building where the evening’s gathering was being held.
Skipping the line of a couple dozen readers who were checking in, she slipped around the table and grabbed one of the volunteers. “I’m looking for Cressida Brioni. Do you know where she is?”
“You’re Lacy, the photographer, right?” the volunteer asked as she reached for a walkie-talkie.
“I am.”
The volunteer nodded and turned away. After a minute, she returned with a cloth bag, which she handed to Lacy.
“This is for you. It’s got the schedule, your t-shirt and mug, and some swag. Cressida is on her way. If you want to head in that direction, you’ll run into her.” The woman pointed to the left of the table where Lacy could see a hallway ran down the side of the room where tonight’s event was beginning.
“Thanks!” Lacy took the bag and headed in the direction the volunteer had indicated.
She really wished Drake was beside her, but she suspected that wouldn’t happen nearly as much as she might want thisweekend. After all, they both had responsibilities to the people who had paid them to be there. She would just have to make the best of the time they could be together.
Turning the corner, she saw the short, slim, brunette powerhouse who was responsible for organizing the book signing weekend. She looked just like her pictures on social media.
“Hi, Cressida, I’m Lacy Grey,” she said once they were a few feet apart. “I just wanted to get confirmation of what you wanted me to take pictures of this weekend.”
“Oh, Lacy, great to meet you in person. To answer your question, shoot everything. Anything. People, table decorations, the dance party, whatever strikes your fancy. Tomorrow morning, I want to get everyone together before the sighing for a group shot, and if you could go around and take pictures of each author at their table that would be great.”
Lacy nodded as she mentally filed away the information. “That sounds totally doable.”
“Great. Oh, I’ve also had a couple of authors ask if you were available to shoot new headshots for them.”
“Sure, I’d be happy to. Tell them to find me and we can set up times and places.”
“Wonderful. Thank you. You’re a doll. Now, you’ll have to excuse me. I have a dozen fires needing me to put them out. But we’ll talk again, yes?”
“Sure,” Lacy responded to the back of Cressida’s head as she hurried away.
