Page 45 of The Bodyguard

As soon as I hear the front door close I sit up, look around me, and then stare out of the window, watching as Mum’s car drives off down the long, gravelled driveway. I won’t have to call Bodie. Give it a minute and he’ll be here.

Getting up off the couch I go over to the bookcase and look at what my mother’s latest reading material is. Because this is very much her room. The living-room at the back of the house is more Dad’s domain, I rarely go in there. Not because he doesn’t allow us to, it just isn’t a room I feel particularly relaxed in.

Pulling out a Jackie Collins paperback, I flick through it and try to work out whether I’ve read it or not, I can’t remember. I’ve read most of her books, and it doesn’t really matter whether I’ve read it or not it’s exactly the kind of reading material I’m in the mood for today. Pure escapism. Yeah. I need a whole lot of that right now.

“Hey. Your mom’s gone out, so…”

I turn around and there he is, leaning against the doorpost, hands in his pockets, that cocky smile back on his face.

“Here you are,” I sigh, and, to be honest, I’m not actually too bothered that heishere. He doesn’t have to be tied to my side, he just has to be aware of where I am. This is a big house, we can still have our own space.

“So, now that wehaveto be together today, I’ll ask you again, is there anything you feel like doing?”

I look at him, hugging the Jackie Collins novel to my chest. “You do know that we don’t have to pretend to be a couple when we’re alone.”

“I know.” He moves further into the room. “I just thought you might want to get out of here, maybe head into town, go for a drink, grab some lunch out.”

“But then wewouldhave to pretend to be a couple.” I frown, and he smiles.

“Yeah. I know that, too.”

“Isn’t it less stressful if we just stay here?”

“Probably. It’s a nice day outside, that’s all. Seems a shame to waste it.”

I can feel my brows meeting, my frown deepening. “Youhaveseen the size of our garden, right?”

He laughs and drops his head, digging his hands back into his pockets. “Where’s your mom off to, anyway?”

I shrug and sit back down on the arm of the couch. “Something’s kicking off at the village hall. Don’t ask me what, she wouldn’t say.”

“Okay. Are your dad and Ollie still around?”

“Ollie’s left, apparently. Dad’s still here, but he’ll be leaving soon. Why all the questions?”

“No reason. Just wondered if we were completely alone yet, that’s all.”

I’m still frowning, but I’m too tired to ask any more questions. “Do you want a coffee?”

“Yeah. That’d be great. Is your dad in his office?”

“Probably.” I get up and head out of the living-room and into the kitchen. And, of course, he follows me. “You don’t have to stick to me like glue, you know. I’m sure, once Dad’s gone, you’ll do your many checks of the perimeters to make sure everything’s okay, and as long as I stay here, and you know where I am, we don’t have to actuallybetogether.”

“I know, but, it might be nice to hang out for a while. Don’t you think? I can get a bit tired of my own company, to be honest.”

I slip a pod into the coffee machine and watch as the hot liquid starts to trickle into the cup.

“But, you know, if you’d rather be on your own…”

He leaves that sentence hanging, and I turn around and look at him. “Well, I’d hate you to feel lonely, so…” I sigh, but it’s a bit of a forced one. I don’t actually mind spending time with him, now. Or maybe I’m just getting more used to having him around. And when he smiles I try to pretend my stomach didn’t just do that tiny somersault, or that my brain didn’t begin another replay of the, admittedly rather fuzzy, memory of a kiss that wasn’t forced because we had to show some public display of affection to keep up a pretence. I pretend none of that is happening. And I almost breathe out a rather too loud sigh of relief as my dad walks into the kitchen, stopping me from doing, or saying, something else I might really regret later on.

“Hey there, sweetheart.” He comes over to me and drops a quick kiss on my forehead before turning his attention to Bodie. “Can you give us a minute? I need a word with my daughter.”

“Yes, of course.”

I watch as Bodie leaves the kitchen, and then I look at my dad. “Is something wrong?”

“No. I’m just checking in with you, that’s all.”

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