When I get more bars, I call him back. “Sorry, lost you. Listen, if Kyle gets called up, his boots need to be off the ground in a matter of minutes. You got someone who can fill in, just in case?”
“Yeah. I got a couple of guys on leave, looking for a few extra bucks. No problem but where’re you off to?”
To my right, the sun rises, lighting one side of all the skyscrapers of the city in bright gold. I’d much rather stay put. “Fucking Utah.”
He laughs and I just know he’s picturing me out west with a bunch of holy rollers. “Are you becoming a moron-I mean a Mormon?”
“Very funny but who knows, it may take two wives to keep up with me.”
“You don’t even have one.”
“Working on that.”
“No shit? Who?”
“The psychologist who’s filling in for Mel. She’s doing some damn documentary on the Church of Heavenly Bliss.” We pass LaGuardia and I check the time. Still good.
“Don’t tell me. You got a bad feeling.” Slate, for the first time, sounds a bit worried even though he hides it well.
I don’t let on. “Hey. My gut has an accuracy rate of almost one-hundred percent.”
“I know, I know. I fucking hate it. How much backup you need?”
“Can you call a couple guys and have them on standby?”
“Sure. Your stomach acids are better than the fucking barometer we had in the Bahamas. We could’ve used it back then. Who’s picking up the tab for all this?”
I laugh. “I’ll have to figure out a way to charge CJ. He’s the one with deep pockets. After all, the woman I’m guarding is filling in for Melanie. CJ knows his wife won’t move if her girls aren’t left in good hands.”
“Works for me. I’ll let Andy know.”
“Is he still with that singer?”
“Yeah, he and Sienna are getting hitched soon.”
“Another one bites the dust.”
“You should try it.”
“Who knows, I might.?” I think on the pretty doctor, way out of my league. We might have some good sex in our future but I’m not the marrying kind and she deserves someone better than an ex-marine, bodyguard.
“One more thing, could you check to make sure my mother got home safe and sound?
“Fuck. She run off again?”
“Yeah. I’m going to have to put a GPS tracker in her. Christ. Talk later. Thanks, buddy.”
“Stay safe.”
I chill in the short line for first class, show my permit, and open my gun case at security. As is the norm, I’m taken aside for some standard questioning before I’m let through.
Feeling naked without my weapon, I head to my gate, keeping my eyes peeled for a pretty blond. When I spy her, my heart races and I grin. That kiss last night kept me hard for half the night. I wonder if she’ll be pissed or delighted to see me. Probably both.
When her eyes lift, they widen, and a hint of a grin spreads across her face.
Excellent.
Before she can ask, I lean over and brush my lips across hers as our cheeks meet in a casual but not-so-casual greeting.
