“Yes, you’re protecting me from the perils of pedicures so well,” I say, then return to the why. “Why did you say no to her? You obviously adore her.”
“Yeah, I do. Good observation.” He sighs deeply, like he’s giving the question real thought.
“Is it because you don’t like relaxing?”
“Maybe I thought I was too tough for pampering,” he says, a little sheepish.
I can see that in him. He has to spend his days being badass. It can be hard to let go. “Big, tough Marine and all?”
“Something like that,” he says, and his smile is self-deprecating. “Kind of ridiculous now that I think about it.”
“Or maybe you’d always wanted one and you finally gave yourself permission to get one with me. Since you had no choice but to follow me into the salon to save me from all the dangers in Darling Springs.”
“Damn, look at you psychoanalyzing me.”
“Am I wrong? You seem to be enjoying it,” I say, gesturing to him relaxing in the chair, resting comfortably, looking like he’s having a good time as he gets his feet buffed and beautified. “Just like I unexpectedly enjoyed yoga yesterday,” I add.
He studies my face, like he’s looking for the answer in my eyes. Then he sighs thoughtfully. “You might not be wrong.”
I don’t bother to hide a smile whatsoever. Maybe this is my victory after all. “Score one for the farmer girl.”
Banks shakes his head, likenot so fast. “I’m not sure you won. Since you actually wanted to shake me today but didn’t.”
But he’s wrong there. “No. I didn’t entirely want that.”
“You weren’t trying to shake me by taking me on a girlie outing?”
“I was trying to rise to the challenge,” I say with a confident lift of my chin. But I don’t addI may have met my match.
“Have you evernotrisen to the challenge?”
I tap my chin. “My friend Chloe dared me to bungee jump, so I did it once to prove I could do it. So I’d have to say no. Also, itwasfun.”
Smiling, he leans back in the chair as the tech pats his feet dry. “You,” he begins, then shakes his head, as if that’s all he can say—justyou. But it’s said with affection, exasperation, and honestly, a little unchecked desire.
Like how I feel.
When we leave the shop a little later, a pretty woman with sleek chestnut hair nearly bumps into me on the street.
She’s not a photog though.
It’s Bridget. Then, a redhead knocks into me. Chloe.
Gee, it’s almost as if they’re stalking me since they knew I’d be here at this time. “Fancy meeting you here,” I say.
Bridget says, faux innocently, “This must be your hot bodyguard.”
The look on Banks’s face is pure satisfaction.
I want to kill my friends.
20
HOT BODYGUARD MOVES
RIPLEY
Since I did serve up the details of my whereabouts with them this morning, I only have myself to blame for their appearance. Still, I can’t be responsible for the way I introduce them. “This is Bridget. She’s Chief Troublemaker,” I say, squeezing her shoulder so hard. Then turning to Chloe and giving her the same treatment. “And Chloe is Number One Pain in the Ass.”
