Kissed Blind (A Hot Pursuit Novel Book 2) by Emerson Shaw Page B

can arrange for me to meet him?” She crossed her hands over her chest and sighed. “I’ll die. I’ll just die!”
    “I, um, might be able to get you on set or something. I could ask after I see what he’s like a little more. Yesterday was the first time I worked with him, so I don’t know him all that well yet.” I peered at her. “How’d you know I was working with him?”
    “Only because your face is all over television this morning! Have you seen Channel 9 News ?”
    My heart dropped into my stomach. “What? No, I just sat down.”
    “Yeah, it’s all over that Oliver and Camille—don’t even get me started on her, I would totally love to meet her too.” She plopped on the couch. “Were almost jumped downtown last night until you stopped the guy. Some photographer was there and caught the whole thing. You are a total badass, by the way.” I had never seen her so excited. She was talking a mile a minute. “I can’t believe you got punched in the face.”  Stunned, I lowered myself on the couch next to her. She leaned in and inspected my eye. “Kudos on your makeup job. I can hardly tell you got hit.”
    I turned to the television, and, sure enough, a photograph of what went down was on my screen. It was a shot of me holding the assailant’s wrist, and the moment his fist landed on my face. Vance was pictured in the background shielding Camille and Oliver. “Uh, this is a problem.” One big problem, and its name was Gabe. I cringed. We’d finally gotten over the hump of him accepting my job and the danger that came along with it. In recent months, my assignments had been low key, so it hadn’t been a challenge. This would do me the service of giving him a painful reminder. Super . I could barely contain my excitement.
    “Why? Everything worked out okay, didn’t it? Oliver and Camille released a statement saying the incident was ably handled by their security staff, and they’re working hard to put it behind them.”
    I slumped back and sighed. “Yeah, they aren’t who I’m worried about.”
    Becca drew in a quick breath through her teeth. “The Gabester, huh?”
    “Yeah. Gabe.”
    “Well, maybe he won’t see it?”
    “Not a chance.” My phone buzzed on the kitchen table. I didn’t have to look at the screen to know who it was. “Speak of the devil.”
    “I guess I’ll go and let you handle that.” She hopped off the couch and walked to the door. “Let me know if I can sneak a peek of Oliver, would ya?”
    I smiled. “You bet. Totally dig your shirt. Taylor Swift?”
    She glanced down, holding out the shirt. “Oh my gosh, she rocks. Gotta run! Catch you on the flip side.”
    After she left, I returned Gabe’s call.
    “Hey!” I said, trying to inflate my level of excitement to compensate for what I guessed was going to be his reaction.
    “Hey,” he said, surprisingly calm. “Are you okay? I just saw on the news that some punk punched you.”
    “I’m totally fine. It wasn’t a big deal at all. Vance came in behind me and took care of the situation. He was actually hurt worse than I was.”
    “Just so long as you’re okay. It drives me crazy thinking some guy punched you.”
    “I’ve taken worse hits in training. The picture was one tiny moment blown way out of proportion. You know how the media is with this type of stuff. It’s just because it was Oliver and Camille that it even made the news. My eye isn’t even bruised.” Welcome to the art of downplaying, and I was laying it on thick.
    “Good. I like your face the way it is.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Why didn’t you call and tell me what happened?”
    “The day was jam packed. That’s all. And when I got home, I crashed.” What was I going to tell him? I’d patched up a shirtless, bloodied Vance, and we sat around and played cards all night? Nope, not a chance. I’d already dodged one bullet.
    “Okay, be safe out there. I worry about you.”
    “I know, but you don’t need to. I’ve got