“Oh!” Viv’s head snapped to the side to look at Charlie. Her cheeks turned bright pink as she leaned back.
Charlie clocked the brief disappointment on Rowan’s face as he took in her outfit—no armor or even a wool cloak, just casual street clothes. She’d decided it was more important to have comfortable, familiar clothing than to try and blend in. The last thing she needed was to trip over her own costume if Viv were in danger.
“Sir Mariel.” Rowan stood and bowed. “I was hoping you’d conjured some armor to wear.”
Charlie hoped her smile wasn’t too awkward. “I’m afraid Princess Evelaine’s court magician lost his way to my house, so no conjured armor.”
“And you don’t have your father’s battle armor either? How will you avenge him without it?”
Now she was really struggling to keep the disgust off her face.
He’s only teasing. He has no idea my father is nothing like Sir Mariel’s.
Viv saved her. She stood and said, “Rowan, please stop tormenting my bodyguard, would you?”
Charlie forced a laugh. “Are you ready? Or are we waiting for Maddie?”
“I gave her the day off, poor thing. Shopping in Cherry Creek is much more her speed than hanging around us olds at a RenFaire. She looked relieved when I handed her a company card and told her to go have fun.”
“She’s aBattleLorefan though, right? I’m surprised she didn’t want to come along.” They started walking toward the hotel entrance.
“I think she exaggerates her love for the books.” Rowan held the glass door open for Viv and Charlie. “She’s not fluent in Elven like we are.” He winked at Charlie.
“So where’s your pooch?” Viv asked.
Charlie’s heart squeezed. “I wish I could have brought Flo, but dogs aren’t allowed in. I was told they upset the elephants.” It just figured she couldn’t bring Flo with her on her first detail after getting her. Instead, Flo was spending the day back at the Watchdog kennels. Charlie hoped she didn’t think she’d been rejected and sent back. Even if she hadn’t worked out—and she had because Flo was the best dog ever—Charlie would have begged to adopt Flo. Her apartment finally felt like a home now that she had someone to share it with.
“This way.” Charlie led them to one of the unmarked white SUVs Watchdog used when their clients needed to stay incognito. It was parked with its hazard lights on under the porte-cochère.
Rowan opened the passenger side door for Viv before Charlie could, then let himself into the back. Charlie got in and pulled into downtown Denver traffic. The Ren Faire was a forty-five minute drive away.
Viv pestered Rowan the entire time.
“You won’t even give me a hint who this surprise person is?” She pretended to pout.
“Then it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?” He sat back in his seat looking totally smug.
“I’m not happy about it, either,” Charlie added. “I don’t like surprises on my watch.”
“Trust me, ladies. you won’t be in any danger.”
It turned out Charlie was in far more danger than Viv when she saw who the surprise was.
I’m going to throttle Shane the next time I see him.
Why the hell hadn’t he mentioned that Ben was a blacksmith at the fucking Renaissance Faire?
For that matter, why didn’tBentell her he knew Rowan McCrae? Or that he and Rowan were buddies? They’d been talking about theBattleLorebooks like two nerds in a pub, and she’d sat there in her office nodding like a fool.
He didn’t tell you for the very same reason you didn’t tell him you were about to guard Viv and Rowan,she thought grimly.Because you wear thicker armor than Sir Mariel’s.
She hated that it was true almost as much as she hated that lately she was starting to notice how heavy the armor had become. Maybe she was tired of hiding inside it, tired of being the one who never let anyone see the soft spots.
No, stop. She needed to be sharp. To stay aware of any danger that might threaten Viv. This was why she didn’t take off her armor. She needed to focus on her job, not on the absurd possibility that some man—no, notsomeman, agoodman—was actually interested in her.
And yet…
As she walked away from his forge, she could feel Ben watching her. She didn’t have to look back to confirm it; the air changed when he focused on her. Heat, weight, tension—like the moment before a storm breaks.
