Chapter 10: Award goes to

Tom wasn't kidding when he said he arranged a morning flight to New York. Kevin and I where expected at the airport by 3am New Years morning. Since Liam was on Duty I had Kevin take us to the station just before midnight. Luckily his crew was there.

Liam: Baby!

Liam smiled wide as I walked into the firehouse with pizzas for everyone.

Willow: I'm so glad you weren't on call.

Liam hands the pizzas off the Noah. And takes me into his arms. The guys have the ball drop recording on the tv in the lounge area and begin to count down. Right at the count of one Liam locks his lips on mine. He pulls back staring me in the eyes with love and loss.

Willow: Don't look at me like that.

Liam: I can't help it. We haven't been apart since you first came into my life a year and three months ago.

Willow: Liam, we're apart four nights a week.

Liam: That's not the same thing.

Willow: I know.

Liam: Promise me, you'll call the second you land. And when you get to the hotel and every chance you get between.

I laugh and claim his lips just as the alarms set off. Liam lifts me pressing his lips to mine with longing.

Liam: I love you.

Willow: I love you.

Liam runs back inside as I retreat back to the car where Kevin is holding the door open. He goes around and gets in the other side and gives James the ok to take us to the Ontario airport.

Willow: Happy New Years you two. Sorry you're stuck with me. But I appreciate it.

Kevin chuckles.

Kevin: Happy New Years Mrs. O'Bryan. And believe me when I say. You are by far the best client to ever be stuck with.

James: What he said.

As soon as the jet takes off I get comfy in the luxury recliner and fall fast asleep. Five hours later the sun is shining brightly as we step off the plain in New York. A younger version of Kevin awaits us by a black SUV. He's actually a hair taller than Kevin with dark brown hair slicked back and green eyes. He's clean shaven and obviously works out the way he fills out his dark grey suite. They give each other a half hug and pat on the back.

Kevin: Karl this Mrs. O'Bryan. Willow this is my kid brother Karl.

I shake his hand that he holds out. We hop in the SUV and head for headquarters where I meet Karl's team assigned to the award ceremony at the hotel. It would ordinarily be a little intimidating being surrounded by a bunch of big guys mostly made of military or law but I'm use to it being around Liam's crew who are all quiet equivalent. I find my self at ease as Karl introduces me to them. Liam on the other hand would be just a ticking time bomb right now.

Karl: The blond twins are Mike and Mick

I say hello. They are average 5'11 maybe? Mike has short scruffy hair while the other one Mick has his head shaved.

Karl: This is Jason but we call him Moa on account of he looks like Jason Mamoa.

He curls one side of his lips into a knowing smirk as he nods his head in my direction. With brown hair pulled back into a tight tail, his sun kissed skin and short scruffy beard, he really does look like aquaman.

Karl: And that's Benny our tech specialist.

The shorter, skinnier and much younger of the bunch Italian with glasses and short slick black hair smiles and nods.

Karl: This is Mrs. O'Bryan our client and her bodyguard my older brother Kevin.

We all take a seat in a small conference room going over details for tonight. Who's going where and doing what. Soon after Karl escorts Kevin and I to the hotel. The rest of the team follows and quickly disperses to attend to their jobs before taking their posts later tonight. Back in my room after several missed calls back and forth I finally get a hold of Liam.

Liam: I've been so caught up in this stalker shit I don't think I ever told you how proud I am of you. I know how much this means to you and you have to know that means something to me too.

Willow: I know.

Liam: Call me after! Let me know how it goes.

Willow: I will. I love you.

Liam: Love you.

Kelly my publicist sends a text telling me where in the lobby to meet her before going into the ball room. After a quick shower I toss on my ankle length black long sleeve velour form fitted dress and lightly pat on a little powder and mascara. I rub my lips together to blend the fleshy pale lip color, give my hair a comb through and pull it all to one side. Then smile at the image in the mirror.

The smile soon fades. Anxiety has been hovering in my gut all day and causing my heart to beat heavy in my chest. I try to suppress it telling myself it's nerves for the award but I know it's not. I hate admitting it but I'm afraid something bad is going to happen. My thoughts turn to Liam and I say a small silent prayer that he's safe. The idea of this guy coming after me also weighs heavy. But I stand tall as I give myself a wink before answering Kevin's knock.

Kevin: If I were 15 years younger!

I giggle as I take his compliment with ease. Kevin and I share innocent banter often out of ear shot of Liam for obvious reasons but I know he sees it from time to time and of all the guys Kevin is the only one he seems most comfortable around.

Willow: You clean up pretty nicely for an old man.

He holds out is arm for me to take as we head down the elevator to find Kelly in the lobby.

Kelly: Willow there you are.

She stands frozen staring at my hand in the crook of Kevin's elbow and looks between us with a squint.

Kelly: Who's this?

Willow: My body guard.

She raises a brow.

Kelly: Why do you need a body guard? Where's Liam.

Willow: I apparently have a stalker and Liam couldn't get this week end off. This is Kevin. Kevin my publicist Kelly.

Kelly: Welcome to fame love.

She gives me the run down of what's to expected and how it all works before leading Kevin and I in the dark ball room covered in black drapes along the walls and black table cloths while strings of white lights line the ceiling. She seats us two tables away from the stage with another three other people.

Kelly: Willow this is Doria Wade author of the ghost love series, her husband Daryl and Peter Gram of the Guardians among us series. Everyone this is...

Peter stands abruptly interrupting Kelly as he anxiously reaches out a hand.

Peter: Willow Grayson it is an honor to meet you.

Kevin tenses up next me. Peter notices and quickly takes his seat.

Willow: The honor is mine. I absolutely love Seths character.

Peter: Thank you, you know in the world of fantasy Seth and Sky would have made quiet the couple.

I smile and shake Doria's and her husbands hands. While introducing Kevin before taking our seats. A band plays classical music as food and drinks are served.

Doria: You know Willow I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome of In light of darkness. The beginning had me worried I was up for some ghostly competition and then you just went a whole other route and made it a sequel. Well done.

Willow: Thank you. In truth when I first started I hadn't intended it to be a sequel. I had meant for it to me a bazar ghost love story but then it just kind of got away from me.

Doria: I can't tell you how many times I've done that but those don't usually work out so well for me. Congratulation on Goddess of the moon. It was rather refreshing. Do you plan on going back in time for a sort of prequel.

Willow: My original thoughts were to start with Luna and Thomas but when I finally got around to writing again my focus fell on Willow. So I don't know, maybe someday.

Peter: I find it interesting that you can switch genres like you do. Most authors have one that tends to stick.

Willow: Well I mean they are all of the short story adult erotic fantasy genre. But yes I know what you mean. I'd say the mystery suspense fantasies are more my yearly, where as my supernatural are more seasonal. It's not something I have much control over.

After the main course is served the older hostess with short curly purple hair begins calling out the awards. My palms begin to sweat and butterflies flutter through my stomach into my chest. I was never one for the spot light and yet here I am frozen as my name is called.

Hostess: And the award goes to Willow Grayson.

The amount of applause was a surprise, even Kevin seemed proud. With a big smile I take the stage as I am handed the small trophy of a platinum sculpted book and pen. With a plaque that reads 2020 best author award.

Luckily the lights weren't blinding like you always see in the movies. They were soft and subtle unlike the gut clenching fear rising inside me as I spot a man standing at the door way of the entrance to the ball room that looked like Mark. Kevin noticed me and follows my eyes. But when I look back he's gone and Karl is standing on the opposite side of the door way. I say a quick thanks and rush back down to me seat.

Kevin: You ok.

Willow: I don't know. I swore I saw him in the door way but then he was gone and Karl is there so I think I'm losing my mind.

Kevin: Tricks of the light maybe but it's never a bad thing to be sure.

Kevin taps his ear and whispers something to Karl. A few minutes later Kevin leans in close.

Kevin: No sign of him. Benny checked all the cameras. Karl assured the guy at the door wasn't him.

I nodded with appreciation. Desert was now served along with night caps as the end of the awards were coming to a close. Before I had a chance to escape back to my room several people stopped to congratulate me along with a few magazine writers, and bloggers. Kelly did most of the talking assuring a few of them private interviews tomorrow. Karl walked ahead while Moa tailed us as Kevin escorted me through the lobby crowd and back to our floor. Waiting outside my door was one of the twins. Mike the one with short scruffy hair.

Willow: You're not seriously going to stand out here all night are you?

Mike: No, just the first few hours then Mick will take the second shift.

Kevin's laughing as he knows how I am. Most nights he's assigned watch duty when Liam is away I make him come inside. This how ever is different. Mike is a stranger and it turns out they have the room just across from mine.

Willow: Well at least take one of my chairs.

I open the door to my room not thinking and Kevin swiftly brushed past me to sweep it. I let out a huff. This all so crazy, there's nothing special about me

Kevin: Clear.

He walks over grabbing one of the chairs and sets it out side my door for Mike.

Mike: Thanks.

Kevin: Willow I trust you will stay in your room and not go anywhere with out me!

Willow: You don't have your car and this is New York how will you keep up with me when I go for my morning jog.

His mouth drops.

Kevin: We're only here for two nights I thought you would take a a break or something?

Willow: See you at 6!

I wink at him and shut my door. I could hear Mike laughing at Kevin as Kevin Retreats to his room next to mine.