Page 29 of Trust My Bodyguard

I open the refrigerator and start to set out the ingredients. That’s when Iris waltzes in.

“Is it normal to ache this much after skiing?” She stretches left and right, and winces as she does. “I can almost feel my bones knocking against each other.”

“You had a lot of falls so it’s not surprising.” I slide a bowl of tomatoes onto the counter. “In a couple of days, the pain will be gone and you’ll still retain your skill at skiing.”

“I’m skilled at it?” Her eyes light up. “Really?”

“No. You were terrible out there, but at least now you know how bad you are and you can work on it. You could say knowing your limits is a skill.”

“Those are the kindest words anyone has ever said to me.”

I snort a laugh.

“What are you doing?” She plops onto a stool next to the counter.

“Making dinner.”

“Since when do you make dinner?” She grabs a cherry tomato from the bowl and pops it in her mouth.

“Since forever. I’m the son of a single mom. I had to grow up fast and help around the house. Sometimes she had to pick up extra shifts at work or come home late or was just plain tired. Hence, I learned to make dinner.”

“Huh.” She chews thoughtfully. “You have a mom.”

I raise an eyebrow. “That’s what you took from my speech?”

“You’re so serious, if someone said you were hatched from an egg I’d believe it.”

A disbelieving snort left me. “Is that how you see me? Or did your sister give you that idea?”

“You may be obsessed with Ivy, but not all of us are.” She slips another tomato into her mouth. “I can form independent thoughts outside of her.”

I rescue my tomatoes from her poaching fingers, hoping my face is not as red as they are. “I’m hardly obsessed with her. Just constantly annoyed by her. Here’s a thought: maybe she’s the one obsessed with me.”

“Two truths can coexist.” She shrugs.

“You Ross sisters are the most troublesome pair I’ve ever come across.”

A smug smile covers her face. “You’re doling out the compliments in droves today, aren’t you?”

Ivy has less than stellar opinions about me. No surprise there. I’d like to believe Iris is on my side and I want to keep her there. At least so she tempers her sister’s fiery fury toward me.

“Believe it or not, I’m a regular person. I’m not a bad guy.” I grab two packs of penne pasta and toss them on the counter.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to finish that,” she says.

“We are having guests.”

“We are?” She sits up, already bubbling with excitement. “Who’s coming?”

“My friends, Nick and Zane. I think Sera will tag along too. It’s only partly a social call. We have to discuss the investigations related to your case.”

“Oh.” Her jolly expression evaporates. Probably because the reality of her situation comes back. This is not a vacation with a grouchy host in an idyllic location. This is real life and she’s in real danger.

Even so, there’s no reason why she can’t have a fun evening.

“We won’t be talking about it right away. It will be relaxed and easy. The guys are cool. Well, Nick is. He has enough coolness for all of us. And you know Sera, she’s as friendly as they come. And Zane… You’ll understand him when you’ve spent some time around him.”

I’m rambling. Why I feel the need to say what she needs to hear to preserve her delicate emotions is beyond me. Maybe I’ve started to see her and her stubborn sister as more than just a job. But that can’t be. I’m best at being aloof. Locking my emotions behind a tough exterior is what kept me from breaking down when I lost my friends and brothers during my service in the military.

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