Page 17 of Trust My Bodyguard

“No. I’m not that talented.”

Who is he? The staff we have passed by have treated him with much respect.

“I’m Clifford Harbor, by the way,” he says. “You may call me Cliff.”

“I’m Ivy Ross. It’s lovely to meet you, Cliff.”

He nods. “I hope I’ve convinced you to stay.”

I smile. “I wish. My sister and I can’t afford this place.”

“Oh?” Concern narrows his eyes. “I assumed you were on vacation.”

I link my hands, pulling at my knuckles. How much can I tell Cliff? Imagine the disappointment when he realizes he wasted his time showing me around when I won’t be staying. But I also know he won’t judge me and my sister for the trouble we’ve run into. But talking about my problems has always been a challenge.

“We are not,” I say and add nothing more.

His head cants to the side like a curious bird would. “Then why are you here?”

He seems harmless so I let it out.

“My sister and I had to leave our home in Denver because someone is after her. My apartment where we were staying was broken into and the place was left in a shambles. Detective Callum brought us here to meet his army friend Brody, hoping to hire him for security services.”

By the time I’ve finished talking, a well of compassion has grown in his eyes. “I’m so sorry you’re facing this. Where is your sister?”

“She’s still waiting in Brody’s sitting room. He’s meeting with his team to find out if he will take us on.”

“He will. He and the boys like a good challenge.”

My eyebrows lift. “You know them?”

He nods. “Very well. Since they were boys.”

I almost ask if Brody was always a pain in the derrière, but I hold back on the sass. Cliff may not take kindly to me saying that. “You seem to have been around here a long time.”

He chuckles.

“Are you the owner of the resort?”

He nods modestly.

“Wow. Thank you.” I doubt even paying guests get the privilege of getting shown around by the man himself. Hell, if he didn’t speak to me, I wouldn’t have connected the dots. He’s so simple and unassuming.

“You know, if you reach an agreement to work with Brody’s security firm, you could stay in one of the cabins here at the resort.” I start to speak but he raises a hand. “I’m not asking you to pay for it.”

My eyebrows go up. “You’ll comp us?”

He nods once.

I open my mouth but no words come out for a long second. “I... I don’t know what to say. How can you be so kind to us?”

Cliff frowns like the question doesn’t make sense.

“Thank you.” I clap my hands together. “Thank you so much.”

I sense someone’s presence down the hall. I glimpse at them and of course, it’s our dear Brody standing like a sentinel. He’s far away assessing us, but in mere moments, he comes to a stop right in front of us.

“Oh, good. You’re here.” Cliff claps a hand on his shoulder. “Ivy was just telling me about her predicament so I offered to comp her a cabin if she agrees to hire you.”

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