Page 30 of Control

“Oh, that’s okay. Why don’t you just drop me off, circle the block, and come back around to pick me up? Hopefully, I’ll be done by then.”

I sent a warning look her way. “My job is to be your bodyguard. Sending you off on your own isn’t how this works.”

“But there’s no place to park, I’m starving, and I’ll be inside the bagel shop. Somebody would have to be pretty bold and not care about getting caught if they were going to do something in a public space with this many people around,” she reasoned.

Even though she had a point, I didn’t like it. So, I ordered, “If you finish in there and don’t see me waiting out here,do notwalk outside. Wait until you see me here before walking out.”

Alana saluted me. “Yes, sir.”

My lips twitched, but before I could respond, she opened the door and got out. I waited in the middle of the street until she was safely inside, doing it while laughing at the salute she’d just given me. My eyes lingered on the store for several moments afterward until someone pulled up behind me and honked. That’s when I drove off and circled the block.

Minutes later, I was back in front of the shop, and the timing was perfect. As soon as I pulled up, Alana walked out. I threw on my hazards, got out, and opened her door for her. Then we were on our way to the next spot on the list—the public library.

As soon as I pulled in and parked, Alana dug her hand into the bag she’d gotten at the bagel shop and asked, “You don’t mind if I eat in your car, do you?”

I shook my head. “Not at all.”

She pulled out the sandwich and held it out to me. I took it from her, assuming she needed me to hold it while she pulled outcondiments, but when I saw a second sandwich, I asked, “What’s this?”

“Breakfast.”

Though it was wrapped in parchment paper, it was obvious the sandwich was huge. “You’re eating two of these?”

“What? No. That one’s for you.”

“Alana, you didn’t need to get me anything.”

She cocked a brow. “And you don’t need to be doing this, being my bodyguard, for free.”

I winced.

As Alana unwrapped her sandwich, she explained, “I had the chance to talk to Avalon this morning while I was waiting for you, so I asked her about completing the paperwork and setting up the payment for your services. She informed me that I wasn’t being charged at your request. I thought we could take a few minutes, have breakfast together, and you could explain that to me.”

Direct.

Straight to the point.

I didn’t think Alana would ever be the kind of woman who could do to anyone what Evangeline had done to me. Sure, she had to make up a story about doing a piece on Annie Sanders in order to get people comfortable with her, so they’d be willing to talk. But even if that had started out as a lie, she was now compelled to follow through on that part as well.

“I’m not sure what you want me to say,” I replied.

“I want to know why you told Avalon not to let me complete the paperwork or allow me to pay.”

I watched as she lifted one half of her sandwich to her mouth and took a bite. My eyes focused on her mouth for longer than was reasonable before I snapped myself out of it and went with something I thought might work. “Maybe I’ve been inspired by Annie Sanders.”

Alana raised a curious brow. “So, I’m your charity case?”

My stomach dropped. “Absolutely not. No. I guess that didn’t come out right. I just meant that I wanted to do something good. Plus, if you really think about it, maybe we’re spending a good chunk of the day working together now, but once you go back to work, it’ll just be later in the day after I’m already done at work.”

“It’s still your time, and you should be compensated.”

I nodded. “Yeah, but I’ve wasted plenty of time on things that weren’t worth it before. Trust me.”

Alana stared at me in silence, her eyes swirling with questions. Whatever they were, she didn’t ask. Instead, she made a ridiculous declaration. “Every day that you are with me and we’re working on this, I will be buying meals.”

Shaking my head, I insisted, “That’s not necessary.” I held up the breakfast sandwich. “This is nice. I appreciate it. But I don’t want you buying me meals every day.”

There wasn’t a hint of anger in her voice when she retorted, “And I don’t want you to work for free, but I guess we don’t always get what we want.”

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