Tycoon Takes Revenge by Anna DePalo Page A

the shortest route to the bedroom.
    He didn’t have time to dwell on his thoughts, however, because when they got to the front of the bar, Tim suddenly turned and motioned Noah over. “Bad news,” Tim said. “The valet mentioned that a paparazzo with a camera has been spotted outside. The staff here have been telling everyone who’s leaving in case they’re the reason the guy is here.”
    Noah muttered a curse under his breath.
    Next to him, Kayla tensed.
    â€œFriend of yours?” he asked.
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous,” she retorted. “Besides, if there’s anyone who has a history of siccing journalists on the two of us, it’s you.”
    â€œJust checking.”
    â€œAnyway,” she added, “we don’t know it’s us that he’s waiting for. This street has lots of trendy places. He could just be on a fishing expedition, hoping he’ll get lucky and snap someone good.”
    Noah pulled his car keys from his pocket. “Maybe,” he said, because he thought she was engaging in wishful thinking, “but the fact is he’s out there now, and he may spot us when we walk out of here.” Catching the panicked look on her face, he asked, “What’s the matter?”
    â€œWe can’t be photographed together! At least not yet, and definitely not leaving a bar and driving off alone together! Not so soon after Sybil published your denial of a relationship between us. It will undermine everything.”
    â€œAh,” he said, because he understood her predicament, having been there one too many times himself.
    â€œWelcome to my world, baby doll.”
    â€œWe can’t go out there!” she reiterated.
    â€œThrowing yourself on my mercy, are you?” he said, then added, relenting, “Fine. We’ll make the most of the fact that he may not know we’re in here.” He looked toward the rear of the bar. “There should be a fire exit at the back.”
    â€œWhat—?” As comprehension dawned, she shook her head. “Oh, no.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” he said, then pretended to grin lecherously. “If there are any walls to scale, I’ll give you a boost—unless you have a better idea?”
    She sighed.
    â€œGreat.” He shook hands with Tim and Ben. “Gentlemen, I believe this is where we part company. Kayla and I are going to use the back exit to make our getaway. I doubt our cameraman is after either of you, but your leaving will provide a distraction in case Kayla and I need one.”
    Tim and Ben nodded, and Tim joked to Ben, “Have you noticed he always gets the girl at the end, too?”
    Noah chuckled and said, “Not always.”
    Kayla rolled her eyes. “Infamous on the West Coast as well, hmm?”
    He winked at her because he knew it would irritate her, and he wasn’t disappointed.
    They left Tim and Ben then and, with the help of the bar manager, made their way to the back of the bar and out the fire exit.
    As it turned out, they didn’t have to worry about scaling walls. There was an alley that ended at a side street. From there, they walked to where Noah’s car was parked.
    Once they’d hit the road, Noah said wryly, “Tonight was the sort of thing that passes as business entertainment among the wonder boys of high-tech. Just be glad there wasn’t a Star Trek convention in town.”
    â€œTim and Ben are nice guys.”
    Her comment amused him. “And I’m not?”
    â€œYou’re grist for the rumor mill.”
    He laughed, then sobered. “When your life is fodder for the tabloids, you become familiar with back exits.”
    When she made no response, he changed the subject. “Seems like you have an interesting job. Makes me wonder why you want to trade it for a hard news beat.”
    The look she gave him said she hadn’t expected him to admit her job had any redeeming qualities. “My