Page 4 of My Cowboy Bodyguard

Wait! Is someone crouching by the library door?Are theystaring my way? I breathe faster, trying not to let panic overwhelm me. I hate the surge of fear flooding my body and pinning my feet to the floor.

My hand grips the door lock, and I hold on like I’m lost at sea and it’s the only life preserver in sight.

The shadow moves, its large tail wagging furiously as a dog bounds down the steps toward someone calling for it. My shoulders sag and I instinctively clutch the necklace I always wear.

It’s nothing but a cheap red ladybug on a chain to others, but a priceless gift given to me years ago by a boy who cared when I was afraid. A boy who tried to make the hell of Gentle Children’s Home not so bad for me. I rub my fingers over the initials he’d scratched into the back of the ladybug after telling me to be brave and someday I’d be able to fly away.

Headlights sweep along the road, biting through the darkness. The car slows, idling in front of the shop. My heart calms once I recognize it. My friend Ruly gets out and walks to the door.

She recently married her best friend Dash and I’m glad she finally got her happily ever after.

I unlock the door and open it to let her in. “What are you doing here?”

“Taking you to the self-defense class.”

“How did you know about that?”

“Butterfly Buck saw Leo in the bookstore earlier and figured he was inviting you.”

I smile at the mention of Buck, the town’s oldest artist. He’s going on ninety and used to shuffle around town painting small, colorful butterflies on things.

A series of butterflies painted on the hood of the mayor’s car caused a huge ruckus and now Buck is a lot sneakier when he paints.

I get into Ruly’s car, glad for the ride and the company. She and I met one night after she got drunk and climbed the water tower. I’m deathly afraid of heights but I couldn’t leave her there and didn’t have my phone on me to call for help.

I’d gotten her down and we’ve been friends ever since she came to the bookstore the next morning.

She pulls to a stop on Pearl Street right in front of the building where I’m guessing Leo awaits somewhere on the other side of those doors.

After I glance around the area, I get out of the car, then realize I was the only one who did. I lean down and ask, “Aren’t you coming in?”

“I will if you want me to.”

She’s asking if I’m okay. I haven’t told her too much about my past because the less she knows about it the better it is for her.

“No, I can do this.” I shut the car door and then turn and walk resolutely toward the building.

The inside is brightly lit and that eases my mind. It’s also not empty. A group of women in workout clothes speedwalk around the common area. A handful of people in hard hats and safety vests are pulling late hours to work inside one of the spaces soon to be rented.

At the end of the building, a small sign by a door announces it’s the place for self-defense classes.

I stride toward it, my sneakers making no sound as I move.

Opening the door, I step in. It closes quietly behind me and I’m directly across a tall reception desk but there’s no one working there.

“You’re here.” A voice says.

Hisvoice. The one that makes me want to curl into him and snuggle against his side.

I nod and point to myself because I’m awkward like that. “Yes. It’s Amanda.”

He blinks and raises a brow when I say my name.Disappointment?

Gesturing toward a room with mats on the floor, I ask, “Is that where everyone is meeting?”

“Yes, but it’s only you and me.”

The two of us. Alone together.

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