Page 2 of Guarded By an Alien Hunter

But this time, I got picked to be in the jury. That was a shocker. And then on top of that, it turns out it's a high-profile case of a celebrity accused of tax fraud. After the jury was chosen, my identity was leaked, even though we were supposed to be anonymous. Great. Soon the press was all over me, with my picture on the evening news. The defendant, who is out on bail and talking every day to the media, said it wasn’t appropriate that I was on the jury because I was “too young and didn’t look very smart.”

Grr.

And then the death threats started.

I take a deep breath, trying to settle my nerves, because that part really does freak me out. I look out the windows again, this time noting the police car stationed out front.

Dad went ballistic. He wanted me off that jury, asap.

But, you know, I think I should not be intimidated.

I refused to step down and told the judge that I was staying, even though I'd been outed. The police warned me that they couldn’t provide the amount of extra protection I would need.

My parents wanted me to move in with them, but my older sister had recently broken up with her cheating ex-husband and now she lives in my parents’ home with her three small kids, one of whom is a small, colicky baby. And she brought along four hyper dogs. And two iguanas.

I love them all, but no.

That's when my dad said, “If you’re going to stay on that jury and live in that old, exposed house, then I'm hiring private security for you.”

And that’s exactly what he did.

I know. I feel bad because it’s not cheap. In fact it’s fantastically expensive. And my parents canceled a long-ago planned anniversary cruise to Hawaii, out of Pier 39 in San Francisco, to instead stay in town to make sure that I’m kept safe.

But, again, I think it’s important that I’m not intimidated and instead allowed to remain on that jury to perform my civic duty. Yes, I’m a woman still in her twenties, but I’m not a wimp. I might be young but I’m not stupid. I’d like to think I’m stronger than I appear. And if I have the ability to stick this out, then I should do it.

I look at the clock. My new bodyguard arrives in five minutes.

Eeek. I run my fingers through my hair because I still cannot get over this change in my life. The craziest part is that my bodyguard isn’t even human.

My dad was so proud. “I got you an alien hunter from Spartan Shield Corp.”

“What?” I sputtered. “I don't even know what you're talking about. How can a bodyguard not even be human?”

He sent a blurry picture over the phone of someone from a distance, walking off a freaking spaceship. “That’s him.”

“Dad, isn’t this a little over the top? Can’t you just hire security from an agency right here in the city?”

“His name is Vander Best. I was lucky to get him. He's new to the planet, and I want you to have the best.”

“His last name is Best?”

“Yes. Because he’s the best.”

I snort-laughed while sipping coffee, which was a mess.

“Vander feels the only way to truly protect you is to move into the apartment with you.”

“Ugh, okay.”

Now I have to clean more, which makes me irritated. Last night I made sure the bathroom sparkled, because my apartment only has one bathroom. I'm going to have to share a bathroom with this alien.

I hope this doesn't mean that his wife and kids are going to be here too, because that would be weird. I mean, I'm just trying to get used to one alien. I wonder what his wife and kids look like. I mean, I assume he's married, right? He's older, I think, than me. I mean, hopefully he's not too old and that he really can do this. Maybe he needs to stay in the same apartment, because he's not that strong?

Oh, God, I don't know.

Okay, the guest bedroom now looks decent and isn’t embarrassing anymore. The house smells like air freshener. I make the small twin bed that I hope is going to be big enough in the guest room.

My hair is a sweaty mess and I’m still wearing my shortest shorts and my favorite tank top, an oversized cardigan and well-used slippers. I need to change, brush my teeth and put on some makeup.

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