“That's kind of you, but I don't need?—”
“Riven.” Antonia peered at a place over my shoulder. “Yourguesthas arrived.”
I followed her gaze and gulped. Damn, I might have drooled, and I definitely stared. The man walking toward me had to have been ordered from a bodyguard catalogue. He literally took my breath away, and I had to remind myself to breathe. In, out, in, out. He was tall with broad shoulders, dark hair, and eyes that matched the green of the pine trees outside.
But just as Antonia had, he sniffed, and unlike the front desk manager, he screwed up his face as though he was in pain. But he managed to get out my name, and when he said, “Indigo,” it reminded me of syrup, swirling and spiraling onto pancakes.
He shot Antonia a glance, and she shrugged. “Good to meet you. I'm Riven Morris.”
Riven. I repeated the name in my head. What had I done to deserve a Christmas present like this? I must have been very good this year.
“I'll be staying in the cabin with you.”
Goody. Merry Christmas to me. “Is that… normal? For this kind of thing?”
Riven and Antonia shared a glance.
“Every situation is unique,” Riven said. “But yes, it'sstandard protocol when guests have special circumstances.”
I picked up my bag. “Well, I should head to the cabin.”
“Absolutely.” Riven pointed to a side door. “We'll go this way. It's more private.”
Walking in the woods as the sun set with a man assigned to be at my side would have been disconcerting when it appeared I wasn’t who they were expecting. But Riven was droolworthy, and I was already imagining him naked.
“Ummm, I can find it by myself if you give me the key.” Riven could come later ‘cause I was sure he had other things to do besides babysit me. Not that I minded being looked after.
“Nope, I’ll escort you.” He insisted on taking my bag, and our footsteps crunched on the snow, making almost as much noise as my heart.
As we walked, I eyed a clump of something in a tree, and he explained it was mistletoe. Hard to believe, it didn’t look like what I’d seen hanging over doorways in people’s houses. But Riven said it was a parasite. Ewww, I’d never look at it in the same way.
When we arrived at the cabin, there were huge candy canes plonked in the snow outside. It was at odds with the more measured decorations elsewhere.
Riven followed my gaze. “That was for the guest we thought we were getting.” He lowered his voice, saying the guy had a thing for plastic candy canes.
Wow, they really treated their special guests well.
He unlocked the door, and just like the lodge lobby, the interior was luxurious, with a modern kitchen and a sumptuous living area. The couch was as big as my bed at home.
“My… my handler…” It was weird saying that word. “He didn’t tell me the accommodation was so nice.”
“Handlers rarely explain all the details.” Riven put my bag down. “But you're safe here.”
Safe. I'd been trying not to think about the implications of needing protection, but having Riven say it out loud was reassuring, and my heart slowed and my palms stopped sweating. But I suspected the heart palpitations and perspiration were due to him and not my circumstances.
“So how does this work?” I asked. “Are you some kind of contracted security, or…”
“I work for the lodge.” Riven moved into the kitchen. “But I specialize in guests who need extra attention.”
“Extra attention. Is that the official term?” If the situation were different, I’d enjoy extra attention from him.
“Mmmm.” Riven peered in the fridge and asked if pasta was okay. Was he going to cook for me as well? Witness protection was turning into a proper vacation, with my own personal bodyguard. And I was beginning to enjoy it.
“You don’t have to,” I protested, hoping he’d disagree with me as he chopped vegetables. I wasn’t much of a cook, and it was soothing watching him prepare the meal.
“Nope, I do. It’s my job.”
Something similar to jealousy unfurled inside me as Iwondered if he treated all his special guests like this. But I pushed that thought away. I was warm and safe, and surrounded by a stunningly beautiful landscape, far from anywhere and with 24/7 protection. Not to mention having a personal chef.
