Page 6 of One Step Sideways

“Where?”

“Geographically or service?” Danny asked, and I couldn’t tell any difference in his tone or voice, but the dog immediately stepped close and brushed his leg. Danny’s hand dropped to its head.

“So you guard millionaires, TV stars?” I asked, pretending that I wasn’t changing the subject.

“Not personally,” he said lightly. “I do the tech. Work the back office.”

“Cool,” I nodded. “So you’re good with computers.”Duh.Talk about insane questions.

“I keep up,” he said lightly. “Not something you ever wanted to get into?”

“I was on restricted duty and education,” I said, trying to keep the light tone he’d set, but even I could hear the bitterness in my reply.

Danny scoffed like he didn’t believe me. “Restrictededucation?”

I nodded. “Anything that was deemed unsafe advancement I wasn’t allowed to do.”

Danny met my gaze. But I could tell he wasn’t convinced.“I was going to enlist once upon a time as soon as I could, but—” I gestured to my face.

“We were in the Rangers,” Danny said by way of an answer, which seemed to come out of nowhere.

I nodded. I’d heard of them but nothing specific. Not like the Marines who seemed to get mentioned with every other breath. Once upon a time I wanted to be one, but then once upon a time I’d imagined a life as well. An escape.

“I’m going to try to get some sleep,” I offered.

“What happened with the dog?” Danny snapped out. I paused.What dog?“The dog?”

“Your dad’s.”

Fuck.Shame rolled through me. I’d been terrified of them, but it wasn’t their fault and I’d shot one.

“No answer?” Danny asked, and I could hear the condemnation in his voice. And suddenly, I was sick of having to justify myself to people who never believed me, just saw my scar. I brushed past him, tossing “he annoyed me” over my shoulder and went back into my room.

I might have stewed for a couple more hours, regretting my words and ready to explain, but when I went into the kitchen just after six, it was just Rawlings sipping coffee and scrolling through his phone. He put it away and returned my nod as I helped myself to more coffee.

“I know you’ll have a ton of questions, so we’ll start with the contract.” He pushed a printed copy toward me and I glanced down. Then my eyes widened as I saw the salary.Fuck.He chuckled. “Remember the gas prices from yesterday?”

Even so. This still seemed generous.

“It’s for three months initially, then another three during which you get extra benefits like pensions and paid leave. You can still quit at any time, and I can still fire you, but it includes full health care as of today. I would expect you to live here for the first three months, then the next three you choose and get an allowance toward living expenses.” He pointed out the line referring to that dollar amount. I mentally said fuck twice that time.

“In return, you work the jobs I say when I say them. Your first three months are mine. Whatever team you work with, the team leader will assign down-time, but if you’re undercover, there won’t be any.”

“Undercover?” I glanced up at him. “I thought this was a bodyguard gig.”

He grinned. “Let’s just say that sometimes our clients require subterfuge.”

“What sort of clients?” I pressed.

“Government ones that might have to fly under the radar,” Rawlings said bluntly.

Fuck.It was getting to be my new favorite word.

“My first question, and I am phrasing this honestly and carefully, is—possibly obviously—are there any abilities you currently have you feel able to share?”

My heart picked up, and I considered the question.Feel able.So, he wasn’t expecting full disclosure, and he might never get that anyway. What could I say? “I can see in the dark. I also have good long-distance vision.” Rawlings’ own eyes widened. “What were you expecting me to say?”

He grinned. “You look like a mix of Talon and Vance.”

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