Page 9 of Trust My Bodyguard

“I remember you.”

“Of course you do. I have a face that’s hard to forget.”

I want to say, “It took some trying, but I managed,” but nope, I’m not about to come down to her level. Kerianne was a Grade A Mean Girl back in high school. She bullied anyone she deemed less than her and sucked up to anyone she believed she could gain from. From me she wanted the status of dating the aloof kid who was “unattainable.”

All her flirting didn’t work then and it definitely isn’t working now as she rambles on about shit I can’t care less about.

“It looks like you’ve had a busy morning.” Her eyes fall on my biceps. “What were you up to?”

She’s so close I can smell her perfume. After the fresh breeze from the outside, her scent feels toxic.

“Skiing.”

She giggles, throwing her head back. “You haven’t changed a bit. Always giving one-word answers.”

I’m not sure what to do with that so I just nod. “It’s lovely to see you again, Kerianne. I have to—”

“Are you staying at the resort?” Her eyes sweep over me. “That’s awesome. My friends are too. They came into town and I’m showing them around.”

My gaze flicks to the said friends. “Oh, yeah? Maybe you should go and keep them company. They look a little lost standing in the middle of the lobby that way.”

She laughs, slapping my arm. “Oh, stop that, silly. They’re fine without me.” Somehow, she’s closer now than she was before. I fight the urge to step back. “Last I heard you were in the military. What brings you back to Pine Peaks?”

Only two steps would take me down the hallway that leads to my room. Based on Kerianne’s clingy behavior, she’d follow me just to keep chattering.

“I’m here visiting my mom.”

“Aww.” She makes sad kitten eyes with duck lips. I want to barf. “I didn’t know you were a mama’s boy.”

“Didn’t say I was.”

“No need to be shy about it.” She runs a manicured nail down my arm. “I’ve been known to like mama’s boys.”

That’s it. I’m done being civil. I start to turn her down when a familiar voice calls my name. I lift my head, searching for the owner of the voice. I’d take anyone but Kerianne right now.

I find Callum Holton marching toward me in quick, efficient steps. Two women follow behind him. He is not who I’d expect to show up out of the blue in Pine Peaks. We were in the armytogether and now he’s a detective in Denver, which is a good bit away. What is he doing here? And so early in the day to boot.

“That’s Iris Ross,” Kerianne whispers.

Shit, I forgot she was right beside me. It’s almost a jump scare, hearing her speak.

She clutches my arm, her fingers digging into my bicep. “Oh, god, she’s coming closer.”

I clench my teeth and attempt to tug my arm free. As mildly as possible, of course. Anything overt and I might send her delicate frame sprawling on the pristine floors.

The hard lines on Callum’s face don’t ease as he reaches me. “I tried to call your phone but it wasn’t connecting.” He stretches a hand out.

I pull my arm away from Kerianne, and this time she lets go. I take Callum’s hand in a firm grasp. “The service can get dodgy up here sometimes.”

I look behind him to the women flanking his sides. I intend to simply take stock of the people I’m meeting, but deep green eyes connect with mine. A jolt shoots straight through me. The world blurs and mutes. Leaving nothing but her. Dark circles ring her wide gaze, and shadows contour her high cheekbones. Her pert, upturned nose and full, pink, albeit chapped lips, curl at the same time. My head snaps out of the trance and everything comes back in a rush.

“I have something urgent to discuss with you.” Callum draws my attention away from the woman.

I’m almost annoyed by this intrusion. My gaze flicks to her again.Still staring. No one looks at me for this long without backing down. Many have said I look intimidating. This woman clearly begs to differ.

“Could you spare a moment?” Callum glances at Kerianne.

I sidestep to place some distance between us before someone gets the wrong idea. Nothing more annoying than being connected to someone I don’t want to be in the same room with.

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