Page 34 of Flirtatious

Angry Ainsley returns, and she snaps, “But?”

I’m beginning to think this woman has multiple personality disorder and all her personalities are having a field day inside her today. All I want to do is eat a good lunch and return to work, but when I glance over toward the doorway and see no Cecelia with my sandwich and soup, I resign myself to the fact that I’m going to have to continue this conversation for the time being.

Even if it upsets Ainsley, which I suspect what’s about to come out of my mouth next will.

“But you and the rest of her crew are a lot to deal with, which makes my job harder. Like with this stalker. Why the hell didn’t any of you think to tell Andrea to give me that stalker’s letter instead of handing it over to Mia? All of you are to blame for her unraveling because of that letter. She didn’t have to be upset like that.”

I stop for a moment, but I need to get the rest of my ideas out, so I continue. “And you know what? I think all of you thrive on the chaos that happens here, and the reason you don’t like me is that I want to create order for her. If I had gotten that letter instead of her, I would have investigated where it came from and who’s behind it before I even mentioned it to her in the first place. That’s my job, and you all make my job much harder, which hurts Mia, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

Ainsley opens her mouth to snap back at me but closes it like she’s rethinking whatever she planned to say. With a frown, she shakes her head.

“We don’t mean to do that, but you’re right. You should have gotten that letter instead of Mia. I can promise you none of us would ever want to hurt her. We love Mia. We only want her to be happy, and what happened last night made her feel anything but happy.”

Feeling the tension between us ease, I smile. “We’re all on the same side here. I’m not trying to change Mia or anything that happens in this house. I just want to make sure that I can protect her the best I can, and the chaos that seems to happen all the time in this place makes that much harder.”

Ainsley nods, although I’m not sure she agrees with me. That’s okay. I don’t need her to agree with me on anything. I just need her and the rest of the crew to stop the madness so I can do my job.

With skepticism filling her expression, the life coach says, “Mia told me you said you’d lay down your life for her. Is that normal in your business?”

“Yes.”

She screws her expression into a look of disgust and says, “Michael never told her that.”

As much as I want to unload about how bad my predecessor was at his job, I restrain myself and simply say, “Michael wasn’t good at his job.”

With a smile, Ainsley says, “Michael was a tool who didn’t appreciate how wonderful Mia is.”

“That too.”

Hoping this little conversation has ended, I look over toward the doorway and see Cecelia walking in with my lunch. Thank God. Another couple minutes of Ainsley and I’d have indigestion before I even got to enjoy a bite of my delicious meal.

She senses it’s time for her to leave and stands up from the table. “Well, I’m glad we had this talk. I guess I’ll go and let you enjoy your lunch.”

I force a smile, even as I’m thrilled to see her leave. “Nice talk.”

As Cecelia sets the plate with my grilled cheese sandwich and chips in front of me and then sets the bowl of tomato soup next to it, she pats me on the shoulder. “You enjoy your lunch, Liam.”

This time, my smile is genuine. “Thank you. This smells incredible.”

“By the way, don’t tell anyone I said this, but I think you’re just what Mia needs here. She doesn’t need any more craziness. Keep up what you’re doing. It’s good for her.”

“Thanks, Cecelia. I’m just doing my job.”

She smiles and points at the sandwich waiting for me. “Well, don’t stop. I put extra cheese on there special today. I thought after that little pre-lunch meeting you could use it. Enjoy.”

Finally alone, I take that first bite and love how fantastic her grilled cheese sandwiches taste. She’s right about needing something more after having to deal with Ainsley and whatever the hell she was trying to tell me.

After that, what I can use is a good stiff drink, but that will have to wait until later. I’ve got more work to take care of today finding out who Mia’s stalker is and getting the extra men I need to make sure he never gets close enough to hurt her.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Mia

As much aslast night ended up going badly, I can’t deny I like how I feel when I spend time with Liam. Somehow, even though he’s my bodyguard, he makes me forget about stalkers and their stupid letters, my mother and her hysteria, and everything else surrounding me.

So tonight, I want to lose myself in a marathon of the greatest seventies TV show and educate him when it comes to The Brady Bunch. I still can’t believe he’s never heard of it. That perfect couple in the picture definitely have one flaw, for sure.

Not five seconds after I knock on his door, he opens it wearing a pair of gray sweatpants that look different than the others I’ve seen him in. These have front pockets, and I swear they act like a frame around his hips and crotch so all I want to do is look there.

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