15
Hunter pulled the limo into a VIP parking space, putting the vehicle in park and then switching off the engine. He took a moment to double check the vehicle’s security system, then nodded to Payne in the seat beside him. Payne grinned as he got out of the car, and Hunter quickly followed, catching up to Payne before they reached the hotel entrance.
It was a swank place, even for Atlanta, but the production company in charge ofDead Reckoning, the most hotly anticipated television series of the year, could afford the luxury. Hunter hadn’t bothered to keep up with the entertainment industry during his time in the field, but Payne had given him a crash course once Herc had offered them the assignment as bodyguards to the youngest cast member for the show.
Hunter had watched all three of the currently released movies in theDead to Rightsfranchise, with Payne pointing out eight-year-old Chase Sanders, who played a younger version of Jon Baldwin’s character, Duke Wyatt, in several flashback sequences. Fan reaction to Chase had been wildly positive, which had spurred the producers to develop a TV show based on Duke’s youth and the events leading up to where the movies began. Chase had been signed to an initial three-year deal, which made him a hot commodity. Hot commodities, Payne said, rated protection, and since Jon Baldwin was an executive producer for the series, Hercules Security landed the primary contract for celebrity protection.
When Herc had approached them about the assignment, he’d mentioned it was only interim, which had appealed to Hunter, who still wasn’t sure he was cut out to be a bodyguard. The assignment was for a month, while Gabriel “Mojo” Crowe, half of the original security team, dealt with a family emergency. Mojo’s partner had elected to take a leave of absence, which left two positions open for Hunter and Payne. Hunter had hesitated briefly when he learned they’d be guarding a kid, but Payne had reminded him they weren’t in the field, and unlike their last assignment, there was no imminent threat. The previous team had been in place for eight weeks with no problems at all, so likely it was only a matter of ferrying their young charge from hotel to set, and their nights would be free, since a six-man team was in place at the hotel where all the actors were being lodged.
They were already halfway through the second week of the assignment, and the tension Hunter had felt during the first several days had faded gradually. It helped that Chase was as smart as he was cute, and despite his tender years, he was an old hand at acting. Plus his mother, Barbara, was always around, leaving Hunter and Payne free to concentrate on curious and sometimes rather aggressive fans who wanted to get close enough to the location shoots to see what was going on or who wanted to get an autograph from the stars. Hunter and Payne traded off positions, one of them staying close to the filming while the other patrolled the perimeter with several other Hercules Security personnel to make sure no one got too close.
They reached the elevator, and Hunter punched the button to summon a car. “The forecast today calls for rain,” he told Payne. He’d meant to mention it at breakfast, but he’d gotten sidetracked when Payne had sashayed into the small kitchen of their suite at a far less swanky hotel nearby wearing a towel low on his hips, a heated smile, and nothing else. “If they move filming indoors, we might have a few hours free this afternoon. I looked on the internet and found a club nearby, if you wanted to have a little fun.”
“Missing our playroom already?” Payne glanced up at him with a teasing smile. “Maybe I should have packed a paddle and some cuffs.”
Hunter gave him a wicked grin. “Ididpack them. Sir.”
Payne appeared delighted by the news, and he smacked Hunter’s ass playfully. “Good! But we could visit the club if we get a chance. Hotel walls are notoriously thin.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Hunter cast a glance over his shoulder, making sure they weren’t being observed, and then he leaned close to Payne so he could whisper in his ear. “That bed also isn’t sturdy enough for what I’d like to do.”
Payne shivered, and his expressive eyes went half-lidded. “In that case, I hope it rains buckets so we get some free time.”
The elevator arrived, and Hunter straightened up. “Me, too, sir,” he drawled, then motioned for Payne to step into the car ahead of him.
The ride up to the fourth floor was too short to do anything more than grope Payne’s ass, and once they stepped out, they were on duty. Hunter stopped in front of their client’s suite and knocked. Within moments, Barbara Sanders opened the door and motioned them inside.
“Sorry, it’s one of those mornings!” she said. “I was up all night with Lucy throwing up. I hope Chase doesn’t catch whatever she’s got.”
Lucy was Chase’s ten-year-old sister, who had a small part in the production as well. “I’m sorry she’s sick,” Hunter said. “Do you think Payne should have a look at her?”
“I’m a former medic,” Payne said. “I can check to make sure she’s not getting dehydrated from the vomiting.”
“Would you? I’d appreciate it,” Barbara said, looking relieved. “I was going to ask you to take Chase on to his call, then ask the concierge to recommend an on-call medical service, but if you don’t think she needs anything but rest, that would make it easier. I don’t think she has a fever.”
“I don’t mind at all.” Payne offered her a reassuring smile. “Let’s go see what’s going on, shall we?”
Payne determined it was likely a stomach bug, and he recommended rest and clear liquids. Barbara was relieved, and after a quick consultation with Chase — who hadn’t been allowed into the sick room — Hunter and Payne agreed to take Chase on without his mother, then bring him back to the hotel when filming wrapped for the day.
“I’d tell you to behave, but I know you will,” she told her son, kissing him on the top of his head of brown curls, which made Chase squirm.
“Of course I will, Mom.” he said, then grinned at Payne. “Maybe if we get some time between scenes, you can show me more of those martial arts moves. Jon said he’s been training with the mercs, and Duke’s gonna have some great moves in the next movie.”
“We wouldn’t want little Duke to fall behind big Duke,” Payne said, appearing amused but pleased by Chase’s enthusiasm.
“Or to be late for his call,” Hunter said. “Come on, you two. I’ll watch them, Mrs. Sanders. You don’t have to worry.”
“I know he’s in good hands. I’ll see you later, boys,” Barbara said.
Chase chattered all the way to the car about the scene he was shooting that day, where Duke had to hide a group of children from townspeople who were being driven mad by the sickness spreading among them. “I get to push one of the sick guys down a flight of steps. Of course he’s a stuntman and won’t get hurt. Jon said you would have made a great stuntman, Payne. Didn’t you ever want to be in the movies?”
“Not really,” Payne said. “I didn’t want to fall out of buildings for a living.”
“What about you, Hunter?” Chase asked, as Hunter opened the rear door of the limo and held it.
“Be in the movies? Nah. I’m big and scary enough in real life, don’t you think?” Hunter bared his teeth in a playfully ferocious smile.
Chase laughed. “Yeah, you look more like a bodyguard than Payne does.”
