Page 85 of Trust My Bodyguard

“And no one’s asking for it.” She juts her chin out defiantly.

“You’re not looking at this rationally, Ivy. It’s dangerous what you want to do. Anyone that supports you isn’t considering the risk.”

“There’s a greater risk if I stand by and do nothing. Iris and I will be sitting ducks waiting for him.”

“There are other ways. You just have to give it some time.”

“Time’s a luxury I can’t afford, Brody. I frankly don’t care if you or anyone else supports me, I’m doing this.”

“Just so unreasonable.” I turn to Cliff. “Back me up on this. Isn’t this plan insane?”

Cliff raises both hands. “What’s insane is the quick quips you throw at each other.” He places his hands on his knees and rises with a sigh. “I was on my way to check on a report about a missing snowmobile. Whatever this is, I’m sure you can both handle it on your own.” He pauses. “Eventually.” Then he touches Ivy’s shoulder. “You’re a smart woman. I’m certain you’ll do what is right for you.”

She smiles at him sweetly. “Thank you, Cliff.” That smile falls away as her gaze returns to me.

I scoff.Unbelievable. Cliff has fallen for her act too.

He stops by my side and pats my arm. “You should take it easy on her.”

My jaw drops. “She’s not the delicate flower you think she is.”

The person he’s speaking for is now making crude faces at me because he can’t see her.Go fuck yourself, she signs.

“And you are stronger than you think you are,” he says. With that, he exits the room, leaving me alone with her.

I close the door, Cliff’s words ringing in my head. I could try a gentler approach but that has never worked with Ivy so I’m not holding out hope.

“Don’t use yourself as bait, Ivy. Please?”

“Tacking please on with that tone doesn’t make what you’re saying polite.” She folds her arms, settling back on the sofa and throwing one leg over the other. “Also, no. I’m doing what I can to end this. I have a life to get back to.”

“There are other ways. You don’t have to get in front of a gun again.”

“There are ways? Really? Let’s hear them.”

My brain draws a blank. “We haven’t got enough time to think things through yet.”

“I don’t havetime, Brody.” She stands. “I’m on the verge of losing my job, okay? If I don’t get my act together, I won’t have a roof over my head very soon. And you know what? Forget about me for a second. What about Iris? I can’t give my sister the life she needs to thrive because we can’t even catch a breather. If we don’t get him now, then when? I’m tired of being afraid. I’m tired of being worried. I just want things to go back to the way they were.”

I cross the room to her. The fear and worry plays on her features underneath her defiance. I wish I could give her a timeline, something to hold onto but I can’t.

“You know all those things won’t matter if you’re hurt, right?” I look into her eyes. I can’t believe she doesn’t see it. “Your life is more important than anything else.”

She starts to turn away because she must see the truth. I cup her cheeks and keep her looking at me.

“I don’t want you to get hurt, Ivy.” My voice drops to a whisper. “Please. We can deal with the rest of that shit after we get the shooter, but let’s not get you killed because we’re impatient.”

“You’re being pessimistic. There’s no guarantee that I would get hurt.”

“There’s no guarantee that you won’t.” I lower my head to her forehead. If only she can see what I’m thinking. I’ve seen more foolproof plans with trained professionals go wrong than I can count.

“Aren’t you going to be there?” Her dark green eyes shine with a special kind of trust. Her hands flatten on my chest as she pulls closer. “I know you won’t let me get hurt. As will the police, who’ll help set it up.”

“I know.” I nuzzle her hair, her cheek, drawing in her sweet scent. “I know, but I don’t trust…”Anyone with your life. The words dance on the tip of my tongue but I can’t confess them. Ivy’s a job and it’s best if she believes I see her as that and nothing more. I nudge her face up so her parted lips are upturned. Even though I can’t speak the words, I can show her some other way.

Her eyes blink languidly as she leans into me, head tilting to the side. I give into the urge powering through me and fuse our lips together. My chest expands as she melts against my body, reaching her hands around my neck to deepen the kiss.

Our lips meld, moving together in an almost practiced rhythm. If only our minds worked this way. She’s given me access to her body, urging me to touch her until she pants, but never hermind. Her mind is firm, and her will, even stronger. She will do as she wants and no can stop her.

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