“Because I don’t want to have to answer a million questions about you, that’s why.”
“Probably be less questions if I’m sitting with you than there would be with me outside in the car watching the house.”
“You can just stay here. It’s right next door.”
He shook his head. “It’s not a secure location.”
“You left and ran errands while I was at my meeting this afternoon.”
“Because that building has tight security, and anyone who walks in has to go through metal detectors.And I also spoke to the guards before I left—both are ex-cops.”
“Youwent intothe building where I was for my meeting?”
“I needed to determine how secure it was. Speaking of which, it would make my job a lot easier if you could give me the addresses of the places you’re going a day ahead of time so I can look into the security beforehand.”
I felt heat crawling up my neck. “I’ve worked very hard to create a new identity out here—one not associated with my father and his business. People are going to talk if you’re following me around, asking questions every place I go.”
“I’m discreet.”
I flailed my arms in the air. “Discreet? There isnothingdiscreet about you!”
Wes folded his arms across his chest, and my stupid eyes followed.Damn, his forearms were veiny and sexy, too. Pissed off for even thinking that, I shook my head and marched back to my room. “You know what? I’m going back to bed. Don’t answer the door anymore. And for God’s sake,put a damn shirt on!”
Slam!
A half hour later, I was lying in bed in the dark, feeling too riled up to sleep. I decided to download the audiobook my book club would be discussing tomorrow night and listen. At least I’d know what the story was about, even if I didn’t make it through the entire thing. I popped in my AirPods and settled back, hoping the narrators were good and the story would help me relax enough to drift off.
But it only took a few chapters to realize what I was listening to wasnotgoing to help me relax. It was going to do the exact opposite because the damn book was about a celebrity who had an affair with her bodyguard.Great. Just freaking great.
***
The following morning, I woke up thinking about a steamy scene between the heroine and her bodyguard, so I hoped to avoid Wes. But of course, he was already up and making himself breakfast in the kitchen. I guess I should’ve counted myself lucky—he at least had a shirt on. The smell of bacon wafted through the air as I went to the coffeemaker.
“Morning, sunshine.” He smiled.
I rolled my eyes. “Morning.” Noticing the Erewhon label on the half-empty package of bacon on the counter, I tried to remember if I’d bought any. I didn’t think I had. “Is that mine?”
“Nope. Did a little food shopping earlier this morning.”
“You can’t leave me next door for my book club, but you can go downtown to food shop and leave me alone in the house?”
He lowered the flame on the two burners he had going and turned to face me. “I had the house covered for an hour by an associate of mine. I wanted to go get you new berries before you woke up. I also tossed my smelly chorizo and cleaned out the refrigerator to get rid of the smell.”
“Oh.”
He smirked. “It pisses you off when you don’t have anything to complain to me about, doesn’t it?”
I narrowed my eyes. “You enjoy pushing my buttons, don’t you?”
Wes chuckled and went back to cooking. “You want some breakfast, sunshine?”
I looked over at the sizzling bacon and scrambled eggs. “It’s okay. You made it for yourself.”
“There’s enough for two. Sit.”
My initial impulse was to argue, but then he lifted the bacon pan, and I got another delicious whiff, so I took a seat. I’d never admit it, but it was kind of nice to have someone make me breakfast in the morning. Lord knows it had been a while since any other man had stayed over.
Wes plated bacon and eggs for both of us and took the seat across from me. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?” he asked.
