Bodyguard Reunion. Beverly Long

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СКАЧАТЬ was a few days. If they were indeed the best, that’s what she wanted, right?

      She did not believe that the car last night had deliberately tried to kill her. If so, why back off? But the letters were not so easily dismissed. In a world where crazy things seemed to happen more and more often, the idea that somebody had come unhinged and was intent upon causing trouble for the CEO of a drug company was not a comfortable one. She’d been all for reporting them to the police.

      She was all for staying safe.

      She certainly didn’t want anybody on her team to get injured because she couldn’t get past history.

      Plus, she had a very good reason for staying in Vegas. Family. She hadn’t told Barry, didn’t intend to. Knew it would get back to her father, and there was no way she was ready to have that conversation yet.

      “It’s fine, Barry. We’ll make the best of it.”

      Royce had said he was coming back with clothes. Which meant that he intended to stay with her.

      There were two bedrooms in the suite. Plenty of space.

      Right. When he’d run back to Texas and she’d stayed in New York, that had barely been a comfortable distance.

      “I’m going to get some work done,” she said, “before Royce comes back.”

      “I’ll stay,” Barry said.

      She shook her head. “It’s not necessary. Go back to your own room and get some rest. I don’t think either one of us got much sleep last night.”

      “You heard Royce.”

      “I know, I know. I won’t open the door to strangers. I promise.”

      Barry stood up. “I appreciate you going along with this. I really do.”

      “I appreciate that you haven’t said anything to my dad about the threats.” She’d asked him not to and he’d reluctantly agreed. Of course, he had no way of knowing how strained her current relationship was with her father. For so many reasons, some known only to her.

      “I won’t as long as we’re doing everything in our power to keep you safe. I’m not underestimating how uncomfortable it might be to have a shadow 24/7. But you know your safety is important to me. For a lot of reasons.”

      She reached for his age-spotted hand. Squeezed it. “I know that it might be highly improper for the CEO to say this to the chairman of the board, but I love you.”

      He smiled. “You’ve always been like a daughter to Eileen and me.”

      “I know.” She walked him to the door and locked it securely after he left. Then she stood with her spine against the door, feeling the wood press against every one of her vertebrae.

      Eight years ago, she’d made a bad decision for what she thought were all the right reasons.

      And after he’d stormed out of her father’s house, she’d tried to forget about the hurt in Royce Morgan’s eyes. The hurt she’d caused.

      It hadn’t been easy. Even though she’d thrown herself into her work, into planning her wedding.

      And then into her marriage.

      Her short, disastrous marriage.

      Royce had looked shocked when she’d said she was divorced. He hadn’t known. But now that he did, would he demand an explanation? Would he think he was still entitled to one? Or would he not care enough to even ask? She wasn’t sure which question scared her more.

      The only answer was to keep it strictly professional between the two of them, to not even venture into conversations that could take on a personal bent. To avoid a trip down a memory lane that was blighted by deep potholes full of deceit and regret.

      She walked over to the table and picked up the folder that Barry had tried to show her earlier. Skimmed the executive summary that had likely been prepared by Barry’s assistant. It hit the high points of three different Vegas agencies and ended up with a paragraph that supported the recommendation of Wingman Security.

      Elite security team. Top-notch references. Impressive clientele. Professional demeanor.

      There was a handwritten note. “A little more expensive than the others, but consensus is, they’re worth it.” She didn’t recognize the writing.

      That’s probably what had swayed Barry. He was nicer about it but came from the same school of thought as her father. If it cost more, it must be better.

      Royce had clearly made a success of himself. And security made sense. She remembered him telling her that’s what he’d done in the military.

      He’d been a decent and principled young man, although there were times when those qualities had been overshadowed by his beat-up leather jacket and motorcycle boots, his hair that was long enough to pull back in a ponytail and his language that was likely appropriate for the battlefield but not the boardroom.

      He’d been different than anyone she’d ever met.

      Now he was wearing silk pants, shirts with monogrammed cuffs and Italian shoes.

      Time had changed them both. Things had been said. Actions taken. There was no going back.

      Only forward. And the best thing she could do was try to get a few things done before Royce returned. Her laptop was still in her bedroom. She pulled herself away from the door.

      As she crossed the threshold of her bedroom, she heard a buzz from the cell phone that she’d left on her bed. She glanced at the number and let out a sigh of relief. Charity was finally calling back.

      “Hi,” she said, trying to sound casual. “How’s it going?” Their relationship was too new, too fragile, for her to chastise the young woman about taking a full day to return the call.

      “Not so good,” Charity said, her voice barely a whisper.

      “What’s wrong?” JC asked, picking up her pen. She always thought more clearly when she had something to write with.

      “Nothing.”

      Charity sounded...bad. Not that JC had that much experience talking to her. This was only their second conversation in two months. “I was hoping we could meet for lunch,” JC said.

      “That’s probably not a good idea,” Charity said.

      No way. She was not going to let Charity blow off the meeting. She’d told Royce that she’d come because Miatroth was a major sponsor and she was presenting. That was true, of course. But the real reason she’d agreed to attend was that it gave her a reason to be in Vegas, an opportunity to get to know Charity better.

      A woman should know her sister.

      “I won’t take no for an answer,” she said, still keeping her tone light.

      There was silence on the other end. Then a sigh. “Listen,” Charity said. “I’m in trouble.”

      “What СКАЧАТЬ