Page 10 of The Bodyguard

We barely said two words to each other on the drive over to the cottage.Mycottage. Bought with money I earned myself. Clean money. This place is mine. A modest-sized end-terrace, it’s situated on the outskirts of a quaint little fishing village just a few miles away from my parents’ place. It’s right on the coast, I can see the sea and the harbour from most of the rooms, and the views from my front garden are just perfect. The location is what sold it to me, it’s a haven away from the busy city, I come home and I escape. And I want to be here, this is where I live. This is where I’m happy. So being told I have to leave and move back in with my family, it’s still not sitting right with me. None of it is.

“It doesn’t seem a very safe place, for someone like you to be living.”

Oh,nowhe’s speaking to me?

I turn around and watch Bodie as he takes in the surroundings, his eyes narrowing as he shields them from the warm spring sunshine.

“It’s surprisingly private, actually.”

He looks at me, one eyebrow raised, but he can think what he likes. I’ve lived here for years, and I’ve never had any problems.

“You lived here alone?”

He’s using the past tense, like I’m moving out permanently. Which I’m not, this is temporary. All of it, it’s temporary.He’stemporary.

“Yes, and no.” Although why this is any of his business I’ll never know.

He keeps that eyebrow raised, and it’s something that’s beginning to irritate me now.

“When I bought this place, I was single. Then I met someone. He moved in with me, but when that ended I went back to living by myself. Is that enough information?”

“My job is to keep you safe, Lena. That’s what your father pays me to do, and in order for me to carry out my job properly I need to know as much about you as possible.”

“Really?” I’m not sure about that.

“Really.”

I still beg to differ.

I keep my eyes on his for a few seconds more before I head inside, into the small hallway and through into the cosy living-room. It’s light and bright, thanks to windows on two of the walls, one of which looks out over the beach across the road, and all I want to do is sink into one of my comfy couches, curl up with a book, and read for a couple of hours before taking a walk down to the harbour for lunch at my favourite pub. That’s how I usually spend my weekends, and that’s how I wish I was spending this one.

“Wait down here while I go upstairs and grab some clothes. If you want something to drink the kitchen’s just through there. I won’t be long.”

I go back out into the hall and practically run upstairs, yanking a case down from the top of the wardrobe in the spare room before I head into my own bedroom. It also looks out over the beach, and it’s my favourite room in the house: the reason why I have a lot of early nights. I love curling up in bed, watching TV, especially in the winter when the fire and the string of fairy lights strewn across the mantle on the fireplace fill the room with a warm, cosy glow.

I start to grab clothes from the dresser drawers and the wardrobe, I’m trying to pick out a mixture of work-wear, casual stuff: dresses in case I need to go to some event or a party, but I have no clue how long I’m going to be away. This is something I have no control over, and I’m really not comfortable with any of it.

Dragging the case out of the bedroom, a holdall hanging from my shoulder, I come face-to-face with Bodie as he steps up onto the landing.

“Let me help you with that.” He reaches out to take the suitcase from me, but I pull it back. I don’t need his help, and yes, I know that’s just me being stubborn again, but I think I can manage to get a suitcase down the stairs all by myself. I’ve managed before, so, no. I really don’t need his help.

“I’m fine.”

Ollie used to joke that stubborn was my middle name, and I can’t deny that it’s probably one of my more annoying traits, but I want this man to know exactly where he stands. I’m no princess. No spoilt rich kid. I had no choice in who my parents were.

“Okay.” He holds his hands up and takes a step back. “Have it your way.”

He goes back downstairs, and I follow, hoisting the case up slightly as I slowly descend the stairs, setting it down by the front door, alongside the holdall that’s just slipped from my shoulder.

“You got everything?” Bodie asks, leaning back against the wall.

“Not yet. I need to get some work stuff from the kitchen.”

I go back into the living-room and through into the kitchen, at the back of the house. I don’t have a desk, as such, I work at the kitchen table most of the time, and that’s where my laptop is now.

I slip it into its case, make sure the charger’s packed away, and gather together a pile of files and paperwork, taking them back out into the hallway and sliding them into the holdall.

“Are we done now?”

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