Page 29 of Keep Her from Them

A pause followed, then interest curled in Dori’s tone. “Go on.”

“Raphael was fired because of me.”

“Use his correct name, will you? Hot Bodyguard has a ring to it. Would telling him about what I’m assuming is at least fifty percent overwhelming attraction assuage the problem?”

“Not if I can’t find him.”

“Gotcha. Then how about you find him and fuck him? All will be right with the world if he’s any good in bed. My guess is he’s a giver. He’s got that air about him, and he is absolutely into you.”

I hissed through my teeth. “If you were in the room, I’d throw something at you.”

“I’d catch it. Is fucking him off the table, then?”

“I told you, I have to work today.”

“Ugh, the toil. What’s the event?”

I filled him in on the afternoon I’d be spending at the Botanical Gardens as well as the outfit I’d chosen, adding, “But my attendance won’t be confirmed until I’m there, so it should be low-key compared to the art gallery.”

“Sounds boring. Do something bad to make the afternoon more interesting.”

“Ooh, I like that idea. A little chaos never hurt a formal event.” Plus it could save me from the speech I needed to give in a week.

“Exactly. Send me pictures. Then tonight, when I have had more than an hour’s rest, we’ll scour the internet to find your man.”

“Are you alone right now? I didn’t ask.” I didn’t even know what country he was in.

Dori made a noise of disgust. “I’m going back to sleep where I can pretend the world isn’t shit and everything is fine. Night, darling girl. I’ll no doubt see your outfit of the day blowing up my phone later.”

“Don’t hang up?—”

He already had, reinforcing what I should’ve known, that Dori would talk when he was ready and not a second before.

A knock at the door brought Riss into the room.

The new head of my security team, as the last guy had been let go along with Raphael, walked me through the plan for the week. Badly, I wanted to ask Riss what she knew, but she was deep into the arrangements, and I owed it to her to listen.

A gap came in the conversation, and Riss put down her tablet. “That’s a wrap. Was there anything which stood out as unexpected or that you wished to bring to my attention, ma’am?”

She’d started ma’aming me in earnest since this morning. I glanced away, trying to be casual. “The team has changed. Can I ask why?”

“I’m afraid I’m not privy to the reasons Jared was let go.”

“And the other bodyguard?”

Her brow furrowed. “The temporary team member from last week?”

“Yes, him.”

“Raphael Gordonson has rejoined the service and will be present today.”

A small gasp escaped me.

Raphael was back. I’d get to see him and give my apology. The hot summer sun shone brighter through the London air.

Riss frowned. “If that’s an issue…?”

“No,” I squeaked. I went to tell her how I’d once known him but held my tongue, suddenly worried that our familiarity might be another reason for him to disappear. “No issue at all. He’ll be an asset to the team.”

---