“What do you think, Hazel?” Kelly asked.
Crap! I’d been so caught up in my thoughts about the Hero Society, I hadn’t been listening. “Sorry, what are you asking me about?” Heat blossomed on my cheeks, I hated saying those words.
Thankfully, no one cared that I zoned out. Hell, they probably expected it after my night. However, I liked to hold myself to higher standards.
“We were talking about seeing if you could get a cameo in the movie. It would only help the buzz for both the soundtrack and movie. I don’t see why they wouldn’t go for it.”
Everyone turned toward me as the excitement buzzed around the room. They waited for my thoughts. I’d been approached about getting into the movie business before but it just didn’t vibe with me most of the time. However, this movie was based off of the Hero Society, and I’d be happy to play a small role.
“It sounds like a good idea. I know Shayla can make it happen.”
My agent nodded confidently.
“Now for the final piece of business before you are free to go. We are the label and Shayla agrees that you need more protection for your safety.”
My mouth opened to object but Joe held up his hand.
“It’s non-negotiable. We care about you, Hazel, not just because you are our highest-earning artist but because you are family. You’ve told us no to a bodyguard before, and we’ve relented. But not after yesterday. You will be getting only one, though I will say he is enough.” Joe slightly trembled, which made me curious about my new bodyguard.
“He’s here, isn’t he?” I don’t know why I even asked. Of course he was here if he’d be with me all the time. I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking about how this would affect my nightly adventures of saving people.
“Yes, and where you go, he goes.” Joe reached over to the speaker in the middle of the table and pressed a button to ask Cari to bring the bodyguard in.
“How long do I have to have him for?” I wanted to stomp my foot in frustration.
“Hopefully as long as he can last. If he fails at his job, another will take his place.” Joe mustered up a smile to ease the process. I didn’t want a bodyguard, I really could handle myself, but they didn’t know that. Sometimes living a double life sucked.
The door opened, and I refused to look at my new guardian.
“Welcome to Blue Waves, Mr. Vollan.”
Everyone gaped at the newcomer while the air inside the room seemed to thicken, as if the man had brought in the humid air from outside with him.
“It’s Maddox, sir.”
I didn’t recognize the voice, and the intrigue on everyone’s face had me spinning slowly in my chair to see my new protector.
Muscles bulged underneath the green shirt of a tall, well-built man. The strained material covered portions of his tanned skin, which appeared to be from days in the sun rather than a tanning bed. His messy blond hair slightly covered familiar eyes. He oozed dominance, and restraint, like a freaking Norse god. Held captive by his gray gaze, his lips tilted up into a half smile I’d know anywhere.
My body froze, and my mouth gaped at the truth that stood before. I didn’t recognize this man because when I last saw him, he’d been a boy. Not this hardened, god of the male species before me, staring me down. He knew who I was and suddenly I sensed this was not a coincidence. My fingers lifted to my lips, shock etching my face.
“Maddie?” I whispered, and my heart clenched saying his name aloud.
Chapter Three
Hazel
“He who must not be named” trailed behind me like someone would pop out of thin air and grab me. The shock of seeing him in that conference room quickly evolved into anger.
No one said a damn word about me recognizing him. Even said giant mountain man just nodded curtly and said my name—not Hazel but Ms. Kennedy—like a professional or something. I wanted to scream, to tell the label to fuck off, that this couldn’t happen but I knew it wasn’t a cause I’d win. I didn’t want to leave the label and that’s the only threat they wouldn’t want but would also call my bluff on. Now I had to deal with my past towering over me with a snowy mountain scent assaulting my senses.
We didn’t talk, and I tried so hard not to look at him on the plane, then in the front seat of the SUV to my house. Seemed like not much had changed since his teenage years. He was still quiet, observant, and attractive.
Scratch that! Not attractive. He was too . . . unyielding. He hadn’t even given me that half smile since our meeting. All he did was stay near me. I’d taken the time in the plane to look over the folder of his information given to me by Joe. He didn’t want me feeling like a complete stranger stood guard for me, and at first my stomach churned at the thought of the details I might find beneath the paper barrier.
The mysteries of what he did after leaving would be exposed. Where did he go after he left me? Was he married? Did he wind up in jail? The truth was not like the nightmares I’d imagined in my youth, but not all unexpected, either. He managed to keep to himself until he was old enough and went into the Air Force, where he jumped out of helicopters and participated in elite secret missions that redacted on paper. He never married and had no attachments, not even a dog. He always tested negative on his drug tests and never went to prison.
“Almost home, Hazel,” my driver announced and the vine-covered iron gates appeared, covered in purple-and-white blooms from the spring temperatures of Seahill. My sanctuary on two hundred acres contained everything nature could offer. Home.Myhome.
