Page 42 of Covert Affair

I need something to take the edge off of this nervous energy.

“I really wish you’d stop meddling.”

“Meddling?” he grunts and crosses his hands over his chest. “Not by a long shot. I’m doing my job.”

“Doing your job? You had one job, Cody. One job. Find a new bodyguard.”

That fucking smirk. Ugh. Smug bastard.

“Right. I did my job. Then I was a good friend and helped you with your flight. Grady said he’ll have his car service pick you and bring you to his guest house. You’re good to go.”

“Oh, great. I’ve got not one but two overprotective buttheads making decisions for me. It wasn’t enough to have my ex calling the shots. Now you two are dogpiling me.”

Cody takes two steps back and holds up his hands. “Whoa. Shit, Stacey. I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about it like that. I swear, we’re only trying to look out for you.”

“Then let me get on a damn commercial flight.”

Not that I’d rather fly on a commercial flight. Grady’s plane is pretty awesome and I’d much rather fly in comfort and luxury from time to time.

“No can do. I’ll admit I should have looped you into the travel plans before now but I can’t let you fly commercial.”

“Give me one good reason why?”

Cody blows out a frustrated breath. “Because we don’t know if Waylon has eyes on you. Who’s to say that he doesn’t have someone watching your every move, waiting to attack? Too much is on the line right now.”

I can feel the color drain from my face and the bile rising in my throat.

“W-w-what?” I never even considered that.Shit.“We would know if I was being watched by now, wouldn’t we?”

He pulls the phone out of his pocket, taps the screen then shows it to me.

There’s an image of the two of us together, walking into Cole Security together.

“Cody! What the hell?”

“It could just be paparazzi, or it could be someone he knows. You can’t blame me for wanting to be careful after what he did to you.”

“Maybe not, but you could have told me.”

“I’m telling you now.”

“Knowing someone was following me is something I think I do need to know. You already know that I don’t like to be kept in the dark.”

“I also know that you fight about everything. Just making sure we’ve got plenty of material.”

“Fuck you, Cody.” Plenty of material to argue about.

My head and my heart are doing a fine job of fighting each other, I don’t really need to be arguing with Cody too.

“When you’re finished being a diva, I’ll order us up some food. Come take a look at the takeout menus and let me know what you want.”

Ready to scream, I decide that he can wait a few minutes while I meditate or something. Otherwise one of us may end up getting our feelings hurt.

20

CODY

Three weeks later…

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