Page 8 of Guarding the Singer

She yawned and Selene had to fight off a yawn herself. "I know that. I'm not stupid!" She gave an exaggerated sigh and flopped back onto her bed. "What are you doing there?"

"I was asked to be a guard."

"Guard?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Is it going to be dangerous? 'Cuz if it's going to be dangerous then I don't think it's so exciting."

Selene was troubled by the worry she heard in his sister's voice. She waved her hand at him to hand over the phone.

"It's not that I'm guarding that's the fun part, Squirt. It's who I'm guarding."

"Oh, yeah? Who wouldyoube guarding thatIwould think is fun? Huh?"

Selene laughed and held out her hand. "Give her over."

William put the phone in Selene's hand, and she turned the screen so she could see his sister.

"Hey, Mary, I'm-"

"Selene! O. M. G. SELENE! OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY-"

Selene laughed as Mary screamed and shouted and a moment later, she fell right off of her bed.

By the time Mary was able to get up off of the floor, she was staring wide-eyed at the screen.

"O.M.G. It's you! My dorky brother is guarding you!"

"Well, like he said, it's more of a ceremonial thing. I'm going to sing the National Anthem at the ceremony and he's going with me from here to the Capitol and then walk me up to the stage and back again. It helps when the TV cameras have a handsome guy to focus on."

"Wait. What? Did you just call my brother handsome?"

Selene nodded. "That's what I said."

Mary slanted a concerned stare at the screen. "Do you need glasses? Naw... just kidding. He's okay looking."

The door opened and Selene looked up to see Cali holding the door open for the designer and her assistant.

"Mary? I-"

Another ear-splitting scream had William shaking his head.

"I can't believe you know my name!"

"Mary, I need to go and get dressed for the ceremony, but before he leaves tonight, I'm going to make sure that I have your address, okay? I'm going to sendyou some things as a thank you for letting me borrow your brother for the day."

Mary's blonde hair had almost completely escaped her braids. "If you send me anything, an-y-thing, you canhavemy brother. Forever. He's yours."

Selene grinned as William moved restlessly beside her. "Uh, thanks, Mary. I'm not expecting you to give me your brother, I'm just happy to send you some things. Thanks for being a fan!"

"Well, of course!" She covered her heart with her hand. "I'm a devoted fan. Ever since your first album!"

Cali cleared her throat, and Selene met her eyes for a moment.

"Thanks for that, Mary. I'm sorry, I have to go and get ready."

Mary waved off her apology. "You go and wow the world! And tell my brother he better be on his best behavior or I'm going to kick his ass." Mary clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh shit, I just swore in front of... I did it again! I'm such a dork!"

"Yes, you are, Squirt."

William leaned in against her shoulder and Selene pulled in a breath and held it. His arm was so... big. Big andmuscular.

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