me that his girlfriend had laughed about it, I was able to find the humor too. I was keeping in close contact with Louisa these days and I made sure to bring it up with her so I could laugh about it and assure her that I wasn’t flitting from one man to another.
With Sean back in town, there were plenty of photos. In fact, I was fairly certain that a few photographers were camped out in front of my OB’s office as I waited to be seen. I was getting a little more used to it. I didn’t shrink like I used to. I was learning to hold my head up and just keep walking. They were lessons I’d never wanted to learn, but oh well.
Everything with my little peanut looked good and when I finished, I waved to the receptionist and we waited for the elevator.
“How far along are you?”
I turned in the direction of the question and found a smiling young woman to my right. I returned her smile. “Thirty-five weeks.”
“Getting pretty close,” she commented.
“Yup.” I rubbed my belly, enjoying the kick against my hand.
The elevator arrived and we traded places with the handful of people getting off.
“I don’t think I’m ready for kids yet,” the girl continued as the doors closed.
I chuckled. “Well, you look plenty young. I don’t think you have to be in any kind of hurry.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” She waved her hand in front of her as if shooing her worries away.
The elevator opened and I gave her a smile before stepping off. It surprised me when she hurried to catch up with me.
“So, you really think you’re good enough for Sean Amity?” Her brow was lifted and she looked me up and down.
I pulled up short, shocked both by her question and her change in demeanor. “I’m sorry?”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I know who you are.”
Clearly. “And?”
She raised her chin. “You don’t deserve him.”
I studied her for just a moment, my head tilted a bit. “I know,” I said. After all, could anyone really deserve a person?
Nick stepped closer to me, holding a hand between me and this woman who was clearly an overeager fan. “Ma’am. Can you step back, please?” he asked her with cool authority.
“No.” Her words were low and vicious, her face twisting. She jabbed a finger toward my face. “You. Don’t. Deserve him. And if you know that, then you should get away from him so that he can find someone who will give him what he needs!”
I didn’t respond. Nick had put himself between her and me the moment she’d gotten aggressive, and he continued to talk her down as he backed her up. I held her gaze. The situation was unsettling, and I desperately wanted to shrink away and go hide in my bed. Instead I stood straight and tall as she continued to yell at me. She had no right to tell me what to do, certainly not when it came to Sean. All of my protective feelings rose up, the flames fanned by this so-called fan who thought she had a clue what Sean did and didn’t need in his life. As if any of them knew him at all.
A security officer joined Nick and forced the woman away from me. She kept yelling (and yes, even crying) at me. I simply looked her in the eye, even as Nick escorted me outside.
Stepping into the parking garage was like being jarred into another world—the cool air and deep echoes of doors slamming and feet clacking against concrete. Nick took hold of my elbow to keep me from stumbling. The adrenaline that had built up in my system suddenly had nowhere to go, leaving me shaky.
Nick tucked me into the car and then practically peeled out of the garage. I was aware enough that I noticed the smattering of people who had come out, cell phones raised to capture the drama. I stared straight ahead, determined to maintain my dignity.
“Well,” Nick said after a few minutes. “I was wondering when we’d run into one of those.”
“One of what?” I asked as my mind went a hundred miles a minute.
“A ravenous fan,” Nick clarified. “A stalker personality. Someone who thinks they really know Sean.”
“She’s delusional,” I bit out.
“Yes, ma’am,” he confirmed. “Which is why it was strange to hear you agree with her.”
“What do you mean?” Had I agreed with her?
“About you not deserving Sean.” He cut his eyes over to me then