‘I was going to anyway.’He casts around, mentally planning.‘Donotgo out onto that balcony and don’t cross the room unless the curtains are drawn and the doors are closed, which they must be at all times.’
‘You’re lucky Ilikebossy, Bodyguard.’
‘And you’re lucky I love bratty.’Lachlan kisses him.‘Go freshen up.’
?
Lachlan rearranges the entire bedroom within the hour.
Jules’ bed, seating, even the side tables are all dragged away from the balcony side of the room and repositioned along the interior wall with direct access to the hallway.Nothing remains in clear view of the ocean-facing French doors.No reason for Jules to cross open sightlines anymore.
It looks… not especially pretty, Lachlan will grant, but it’s safer this way.
Once he’s satisfied with the layout, Lachlan locks the balcony doors, draws the curtains shut and tracks down housekeeping personally to make it clear that under absolutely no circumstances are Julian’s balcony doors to be opened for airflow or cleaning while Jules is staying there.
‘Sir, if you are worried about lizards—’
‘I’m not remotely worried about lizards,’ he half snaps, regretting it instantly.‘Sorry.What’s your name?’
‘Paola, sir.’
‘Paola, I’m Lachlan, and I’m security, notsir.’ She smiles a little, visibly relaxes.Lachlan knows he comes off as intimidating, but he hates to make anyone feel uneasy, especially staff.‘Would you do me a favour and tell me about the kind of drills you do?’
‘Drills?’
‘Where would you go if there was an emergency?’
‘Nothing bad ever happens here.It’s very safe.’
‘Can you show me the panic rooms?’
‘I’m not allowed down there, no one is.’
‘Just show me the door, please.’
Paola leads him to an unremarkable door at the far end of the mansion.It looks no different from any other until Lachlan tests the handle and is met with a soft rejection beep.His eyes drop instantly to the built-in fingerprint reader set flush against the metal.
‘Where are staff quarters?’
‘Behind the pool on the lower side.’
‘It’s a different building?’
‘Yes.’
‘Would you show me?’
‘All due respect, I have so much work to do today.We’re so stretched, I had to bring my cousin.’
‘You’re right.I’m sorry.Thanks for your help.’
‘No problem.’
She turns to leave.
Lachlan calls her back.‘Paola.I’m sorry, just…’
She stops, eyeing him.‘Yes?’
